And where is the new husband in all of this? She had enough money to fly across the country but not enough to get back to her child--and the new stepdad couldn't help out with that? Who knows, maybe he doesn't even know there is a kid at home. And I'll bet once the airline records are checked, they'll find that the flight wasn't canceled. She just wanted some more time to enjoy herself. That 12 year old must have felt so lonely.

Looks like the new husband was also left home alone.

Twelve was the age of adulthood from the founding of the first civilizations until the 20th century. Most girls would be married by 15, with the understanding that three years was plenty of time to be an independent adult and learn the responsibilities necessary to be a mother and raise a family.

Both the mother and child however are undoubtedly the progeny of liberal society, i.e. they demonstrate the dysgenic trend. Neither would have survived to reproduce in a more civilized age that didn't treat humans like pets. It is quite telling the mother is an animal horder - since we no longer value the ideal form of humanity, and simply believe mere existence is enough, we of course place great value on other living mammals who cannot even possess human virtue.

Progress!

bunch of sissies in this country, 12 is almost high school, was the mother negligent? Of course. Is a week too long? Of course. Is imprisonment + $100,000 bail + life destroyed by media/ trolls appropriate or going to help?

Judging by the description of the house, yes.

You can leave 12-year-old alone for a day, MAYBE even two if they're exceptionally mature - they'll live. But much longer than that? Fuck you, horrible "mother."

You COULD leave a 12-YO for 2 days but-- as Nixon said-- it would be wrong.

No, it's too young. That's why there are laws.

Anyone remember the 2 home-alone girls several years back who were, I think 7 and 4? Their parents left them to go on vacation. Nice!

Yeah, I could stay home by myself on Friday night watch Fantasy Island when I was 12.

this sounds like it's being blown way out of proportion, the girl is 12 not 5.

might be, if the law governing the legal age of a minor stated that adulthood started at 12, but it doesn't especially in NJ (one of the states with a specific legal system dedicated to protecting the rights of its children).

The kid was legally a minor and in NJ it is illegal to abandon a minor, which is what that woman did, and she still belongs in Caldwell.

How many dogs do you have? 3 is too many for a child to take care of for a week. If 12 was acceptable an age to leave children alone, 12 would be the age of adulthood. But seeing how it's not, the mother has to be responsible. She is only 12! She has 6 years to go before she can start making adult choices. What if a stranger had knocked on the door? I find it very scary that you think leaving a 12 year old home alone for a week is acceptable.

Would it be any different if it was a 12yr old son instead of a daughter? I mean as long as she has enough food in the fridge to last her a week I don't see much of a problem. The friend checked in on her 3 times during that week. Although yea, that door lock def should have been fixed.

That's just ridiculous logic. So you can't leave a 16 or 17 year old alone either? A child has to learn how to make adult choices long before they're 18. Leaving a 12 year old alone isn't bad -- for an entire week, with no money,and animals to take care of? Now,that's wrong -- really bad judgment on the mother's part.

I guess you missed the parts where Mom left only $10 to last the daughter all week in the filthy house and where the daughter was even "afraid to shower because she was scared since the front door unlocks itself." It's obvious that no intelligent and responsible person would have ever left this child on her own in these circumstances.