I hate to think about my kids being in a dangerous situation, but I hope and hope and hope that if they ever were (god forbid!!), they'd know what to do. Like 11-year-old Luis Gutierrez, who did exactly what I'd want my kids to do if they were home alone and somebody broke into the house (god forbid!!). When the boy heard the sound of shattering glass, he didn't wait to find out who or what broke that window -- he ran straight to his room, hid under his bed, and called his dad.
Good thinking, kid! I mean, this is an 11-year-old boy we're talking about here. Faced with intruders, he could have just as easily set a bunch of elaborate booby traps or tried sneaking up behind the thieves with a snow shovel. (Get it? He was Home Alone?!) Anyway, he did the right thing. And so did his dad, who told Luis to call 911. (Can you imagine getting that call from your kid? Help, I'm hiding under the bed cause somebody broke into the house!)
But the best part of this story? Luis didn't just save his own neck by thinking fast ... he stopped the robbers from getting away! Thanks to that 911 call, police arrived just in time to nab the 3 suspects (all of whom are apparently 17 years of age) AND rescue Luis through his bedroom window.
I don't know about you, but I'm definitely planning on having a talk with my kids about what happened to Luis Gutierrez. Main things to remember: Hide. With a phone! The only thing I'd want my kids to do differently would be to call 911 first.
I'm also never leaving my 11-year-old daughter home alone. Maybe freshman year of high school? If she's lucky.
How do you think your kid would react in this situation?
Image via rabble/Flickr
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Comments 30
I wouldn't leave that age of a kid alone at home.
If this was reported in the UK the parents would lose their kid to the Social Services for child cruelty. As leaving your kid alone without a minder under about 14 is not exactly illegal, but, not considered to be correct parenting.
My child is 13 and I dont even leave her alone longer than it takes to get the mail. When I cant afford an adult to supervise my kid, I set up a group for my child to hang out with. Its usually one or two girls from her school that can come over until their parents get off work so NONE of them are home alone. I always tell them to put one of their cellphone into the bathrom(the only room with a lock )because i've worried about this scenerio. I also always leave a tv or radio on so people will think someone is home too.
Some states 11 is totally legally able to be home alone. Stop freaking out on that.
These parents obviously raised a smart boy, and thought ahead enough to teach him how to handle a crisis. Too many kids would run to the window ot check it out, or go crazy all over the house in a panic. And I'm talking even adults would act like this!
Then again, the parents could have just let the boy watch "Taken" with them. Same concept. lol
Oh, and another thought:
If I got that call from my kid, I'd probably be the first person to ever spontaneously teleport.