Kids Left Home Alone, Mom and Dad Woop It Up in Vegas

[tmdgirl]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blog...XN0Aw--;_ylv=3

A Chicago couple faces two counts of misdemeanor child endangerment after police said they left their two children home alone and headed to Sin City.

Antowain Johnson, 36, and Shanpreta Howard, 34 were charged this week with two counts each of misdemeanor child endangerment, police told ABCNews.com.

The couple's 12-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter were left alone in the the family's uptown Chicago home from Feb. 22 until Feb. 24, while the couple went on a trip with friends to Las Vegas.

Unlike the Chicago kid played by McCauley Culkin in the movie "Home Alone," police said the couple purposefully left their kids behind.

"I am really excited about this trip……ready to go n enjoy myself," Howard posted on her Facebook.

"Hangover Part 3," Johnson replied.

The couple left their kids at 6 p.m. on Feb. 22, police said.

The 12-year-old informed his teacher he was home alone the next day. The teacher then notified police, who located an aunt to care for the children, a spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department said.

After the trip, Howard wrote on her Facebook wall, "LOVE OUR KIDS WITH ALL OUR HEART N WILL TRAVEL TO THE END OF THE WORLD FOR THEM #PROUD PARENTS."Obviously not enough to actually take them with you or make sure they are taken care of while you go screw off on your own.

Police said they were unaware whether the couple currently has custody of their children.

Can you say dumbass??

These morons are seriously lucky nothing happened to their children while they were alone. Guarantee they will have some type of excuse--oh, we thought so and so was watching them for us or something.

[CbabyRKO]

I think Antowain and Shanpreta's parents should be arrested as well simply becoz they thought it was ok to name their children Antowain and Shanpreta. Smdh.

[SqueezeBoxx]

I thought you were allowed to leave kids home alone at this age. Are there time restrictions on how long you can leave them alone? I am not suggesting that I would ever leave kids alone at that age to go to Vegas, but to run to the store maybe.

[cubby]

I thought you were allowed to leave kids home alone at this age. Are there time restrictions on how long you can leave them alone? I am not suggesting that I would ever leave kids alone at that age to go to Vegas, but to run to the store maybe.

Yes, you can leave children this age alone for about an hour or so, but over night.....NO! two days...HELL NO!!! Kids this age think they can do alot of things they really can't do, like cooking. They don't need micro managing but they still need supervision and guidance, they still need an adult to watch over them.

[CbabyRKO]

I thought you were allowed to leave kids home alone at this age. Are there time restrictions on how long you can leave them alone? I am not suggesting that I would ever leave kids alone at that age to go to Vegas, but to run to the store maybe.

Not to sound cocky or anything but uh I actually think I would have done alright had my parents left me at home for two days by myself when I was 12. Hell when I was 6 I was catching public transportation to school by myself. Not that my parents would have ever pulled a ridiculous stunt like this! But I was a hell of a lot more self sufficient than most 12y/o are these days and I'm only 22 mind you. It just seems like in the 10 years since I was 12 kids have become a lot more coddled than I remember being. I could actually use the stove by myself and cook a half decent meal the nights my mom and step dad had to work late and it was just me at home. I don't know if my mom was just really good at teaching me how to fend for myself or what but these days I wouldnt even leave a 15y/o at home alone for more than 4hrs without being afraid they'd burn down the house boiling a pot of noodles on the stove.

[darich]

My parents started letting me stay home for weekends when I was around 14. BUT everybody in the neighborhood knew and kept an eye on me. I couldn't have done anything wrong or BIG trouble.

[Obsolete]

When I was that age I had friends stay alone overnight all the time. In my opinion it depends on how mature they are. Some 12 yr olds are more mature than most adults, others are 12 going on 7. My mom worked the night shift so we were left alone some nights but my brother is 7 years older than me and my sister is 5 years older so I was never really alone.

I personally wouldn't leave my kids alone for the weekend at age 12 and 9 but that's because I read shit like the stories on this site. I do think these parents used bad judgement by leaving the kids alone but I feel the same way about parents who let their 15 yr old daughters 18 yr old boyfriend live in her bedroom (my neighbor) and parents that let their children listen to Justin Bieber. Just because I don't agree with those things, doesn't mean they should be illegal...well except listening to Justin Bieber, that should definitely be illegal.

[Robynne]

Ha, My daughter's father just got custody of his two boys because his ex wife left them and her step daughter home alone in Ketchikan, Alaska with no food or heat for over a month while she and her new hubby were playing in Vegas.
At first I thought this story was about them. I really would love to fly that bitch on here.
She's pregnant, and wants another one.

P.S.
The kids were 12, 10, and 9

[Tundratot]

I agree that some kids are up to the challenge at that age, but I wouldn't have left my daughter (currently 13) alone overnight unless it was an emergency. (Something like taking another family member to the hospital or having to travel to another city to pick up someone?) Certainly not for an entire weekend. She's already stated she wouldn't be comfortable being left overnight. I agree.

My son, who is nowhere near 12, is very young for his age, and probably will be at 12, too, and I wouldn't contemplate it with him if that turns out to be the case.

[CbabyRKO]

Ha, My daughter's father just got custody of his two boys because his ex wife left them and her step daughter home alone in Ketchikan, Alaska with no food or heat for over a month while she and her new hubby were playing in Vegas.
At first I thought this story was about them. I really would love to fly that bitch on here.
She's pregnant, and wants another one.

P.S.
The kids were 12, 10, and 9

Wait what? Did u say what I think you just said? The chick left 3 kids at home alone in ALASKA w/ no heat for a month so she and her penis could got to Vegas? I don't advocate abuse of womern especially pregnant women but that hoe need a really needs an old school beat down for that shit right there! And she's pregnant and wants another one? God help us all especially her future children.

[Robynne]

Wait what? Did u say what I think you just said? The chick left 3 kids at home alone in ALASKA w/ no heat for a month so she and her penis could got to Vegas? I don't advocate abuse of womern especially pregnant women but that hoe need a really needs an old school beat down for that shit right there! And she's pregnant and wants another one? God help us all especially her future children.

Yes!!! Exactly!!! I really wanna fly her ass on here, but I can't get ahold of any news posts anywhere. All I have is the court document and her FB. But I could write a book with everything I have found out due to my excellent investigative skills.... and playing the nice role.

[TKaz]

I allow my 13 yr old to watch her 7 yr old brother - but not overnight. Maybe for a rare date night for a few hours & we're in town so we can get back quickly if need be. First, I'd feel bad if something happened & second, I don't want my daughter to harbor any guilt over something I could have prevented.

That being said, it's been 2 yrs (it WAS annual) since we've been to Vegas because we have no one to watch the kids. We miss out because we have kids. The END. That's just the way it is. When the kids are gone & we're alone....THEN we have the freedom to travel.