Читать книгу A Smart Girl's Guide: Staying Home Alone - Dottie Raymer - Страница 13

house rules

Different families have different rules. Talk with your parents about your

family’s house rules. That way, you’ll all know what to expect about what

you can—and can’t—do when you’re home alone.

Check In

You get home, lock the door behind you, and then what? You probably

need to check in with an adult to let him or her know you got home. Ask

your parents who you should check in with and how.

Hel-lo?

What should you do when the home phone rings? Do you answer it?

Let the call go to voicemail or the answering machine? Should you check

messages? If you answer the phone, what do you say? Is there a time

limit on calls to friends on your cell or home line?

Ding-Dong!

The best house rule is not to answer the door at all. If you have a short

list of people you can allow in when you’re alone, come up with a system

so that you know who’s at the door before you open it.

Net-Wise

Are you allowed to e-mail friends? Check certain websites? Enter chat

rooms? Surf the Internet? Find out how your parents feel about you

logging onto your computer or smartphone when you’re home alone.

Home Turf

For some girls, “home” means “in the house.” For others, it means

“in the yard” or “in the neighborhood.” Ask your parents what your

home territory is.

Snack Time

What are you allowed to snack on when you get home? Can you make

it yourself? Are any foods or appliances off-limits?

On Schedule

Do homework . . . or play with the cat? Shoot baskets . . . or clean your

room? Your parents might have one opinion. You might have another.

Talk about it, and work out a suitable schedule.