Okay. I am now 'childsitting' for my next door neighbors' kid.

[Are_grits_groceries]

I know them in passing, but that's about all.
She is the 6th grade and her sister didn't arrive from middle school on time. She rides a bus too.
Her father isn't home either.

She came to my door and she was crying. I talked to her a little and asked if she needed water or anything. She doesn't know anybody to call or doesn't know their number.

I let her have at it on the computer and she is playing games. I hope somebody comes soon.

3:30-Her daddy just came home.

I guess I don't look like the devil incarnate.

[nolabear]

1. You did good. Hope you and the folks become friends.

I'm a great believer in the power of good neighbors.

[DURHAM D]

2. Well done and good for you.

[seabeyond]

3. wowser wowser. good for you dude. that you were there for the girl. nt

[Shrike47]

4. Good job. But apparently awfully scary for the child.

[Worried senior]

5. Several years ago

when we were still living north of Milw a little boy about three showed up in our back yard, had no idea where he lived or anything. So finally husband and I took him in the car and started driving the neighborhood to see if we could find someone looking for him. He finally recognized his house and his mother was in the car, we got him back to her but she never said thanks or anything.

[The2ndWheel]

6. A tricky situation

As a man, I think it would be difficult to invite a 6th grade girl(or boy) into my home, crying and looking for help or not. Especially so if you barely know their parents.

Hang outside with her while being at least a few feet away until somebody shows up? That I could do.

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. I am an older female.

I had to consider all the options very quickly.
I let her in. I left the door unlocked and told her to check on her apartment when she wanted to.

I hesitated to leave her outside because she was so upset and who knows what is lurking nearby. I had no idea how long it would be so I didn't want to sit outside. I wanted her to feel as safe as she could under the circumstances.

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. u did good. did the parent appreciate your help?

[Are_grits_groceries]

14. They thanked me. That was enough. nt

[kestrel91316]

7. I always like to make friends with kids that live next door, just in case they ever need help and no

adults in their family are around. I also meet the parents. But I always tell the kids if they ever need help with ANYTHING that they can come to me.

I'm not particularly fond of the little monsters, lol, but I do think they need to know a little sense of community and feel safe.

[Are_grits_groceries]

9. I have spoken to them and exchanged names.

I did tell them I would help if They needed anything.
I have seen the kids around a lot and wave.

We just haven't interacted much more.

[MineralMan]

10. My wife and I are the surrogate grandparents for our neighborhood.

Some kid is always showing up at our door to tell us that their mom isn't home yet, to report a hurt bird, or something. We're always around, and our neighbors have told their kids to go to our house if there's a problem.

They pet the dog and hang out until the problem is solved. One time, one of the neighbor kids came over and said she thought someone was in her house. So, we called the police and they came and took a K9 officer through the house. False alarm.

Whatever. We put bandaids on, I fix flat bicycle tires, and so forth. We've become a neighborhood resource, I guess.

[Mariana]

11. A sixth grader

unless she has some kind of disability, is generally old enough to have a house key, and is also old enough to memorize and/or keep track of phone numbers. Maybe after this incident, her parents will see fit to provide her with these things.

[aroach]

15. Agree

My 5th grader, who does have a disability, would be expected to come in, get a snack, and entertain himself until his sister or I got home. That wouldn't be hard since the same thing was expected from him in 4th grade.

[Egnever]

12. That is what being a neighbor is about

Good job neighbor!

A year or so ago I was walking outside to take my kids to school and found a little 3 year old boy standing in the street with n shoes crying. I knew where he lived and took him to his door and rang the doorbell and knocked as loudly as I could for several minutes but got no response. I actually went as far as opening the front door which was unlocked and yelling inside for someone to respond. After getting n response I started to get freaked out. We had had a couple of home invasions in the area recently that had left people dead so all sorts of crazy ideas started running through my head.

I ended up bringing the child into my house and feeding him some breakfast while I called the cops. I didnt really want to call the cops but i didnt know what else to do at this point my children were missing school and as I said there was no sign of life inside the childs house.

Three police cars showed up with three of the kindest officers I have had interactions with. They went into the house to find the father passed out in bed. I probably could have gone in and waken him myself but walking into someones house is not a good idea unannounced.

The end result was the cops making sure the father wasnt drunk or otherwise impaired and them telling him he needs to keep a better eye on his kid and then going on their merry way. No harm no foul for anyone.

Every time I see people posting how cops are all bad guys, I think about the cops that showed up that day and it is all I need to remember that there are plenty of good cops out there I met three cars full of them at once.

I was really worried when I called them I would be starting down a path that would end up with a bad outcome like having the child removed from the home. Instead I got what we should expect, three cars full of caring cops working to make sure a small child is safe and doing it in the kindest way possible.