Ask Amy: Ex-spouses continue their financial entanglement
– Concerned Neighbor
Dear Concerned: Thirteen-year-olds are capable of being home for a number of hours on their own. For many of us who were raised by single parents (or raised our children as single parents), this “latch-key” life is completely normal.
A few years ago, I became curious about the longer-term impact on children who had been left on their own at home after school while parents worked.
I asked a group of young-adults about this and they all claimed that they usually had a few chores they were expected to do, that their parent checked in regularly, and that they filled the rest of their time doing homework, watching TV, and basically enjoying their independence.
Obviously, there are risks for anyone being alone in a house.
If you are truly concerned, you might offer this neighbor your phone number, in case their child has any emergency needs.
Dear Amy: Sometimes I laugh reading your responses to people. I wonder if you realize how inadvertently funny you can be?
– Chuckling
Dear Chuckling: Sometimes when people disagree with my point of view, they will claim I’m being hilarious, but if I inject humor into a response, it is very much on purpose.
To answer your question, if I realized I was being inadvertently funny, then it wouldn’t be inadvertent.
========
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
©2023 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
