GAIL WHITE Kids get a chance to supervise themselves

I phoned home to check on the kids while I was at work.
"Hello," a shy voice answered.
"Andrew?" I guessed correctly. He is the only child I know who sounds homeless when he answers the phone at home.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Well, I'm just sitting here right now," he said, sounding pathetic, which I ignored.
"Where is Robert?" I continued.
"He's sleeping," the 9-year-old reported of the 14-year-old.
"Sleeping?" I exclaimed, looking at the clock.
"Yeah, he said he needed 10 minutes. That was about an hour ago." That story sounded vaguely familiar. I ignored the possible implication.
"Have you heard from Phillip?" I continued my questioning through the ranks.
"He just got home," Andrew advised.
"Did he have fun at his sleep-over?"
"I don't know," he responded, the shy, pathetic voice tinted with irritation. (Boys do not ask boys such questions.)
"What about David?"
"Oh, he's climbing the wall right now."
Gasp!
"You know, how we used to do that in the kitchen doorway," Andrew reassured me.
Breathing, I answered, "Yes, I remember. He showed me how he can do that the other day. Please tell him to stop. Who taught him that anyway?"
"Um ... It might have been me," Andrew admitted.
"No climbing the wall when I am not home," I told Andrew to relay my message.
Time alone
During the school year, my children don't even know that I have a job. I leave after they go to school and am home before they get off the bus. Summer is a different story. Two days a week, I leave early in the morning and arrive home by early afternoon.
Minus a few minor "tiffs" between siblings, the time spent together without direct adult supervision has been good for the children.
They have learned to help one another instead of calling for Mom.
"We couldn't get the television to work, so Phillip held the remote while I set the buttons." Robert informed me.
They have learned to take care of their needs (like eating) without relying on someone putting a plate in front of them.
"I am starving!" my 9-year-old said to me when I walked through the door. "I haven't eaten all day!"
"Why?" I asked.
"'Cause you didn't make me anything!"
I introduced him to peanut butter and jelly. Now, he has graduated to macaroni and cheese.
They deal with problems systematically: "I got David breakfast last time. Now, it is your turn."
Questionable behavior
There has been certain questionable behavior at times.
"Robert gave me sugar water," David informed me.
Glaring at my son, the 14-year-old explained.
"We were out of Kool-Aid. The small child was thirsty," he defended his actions.
"It was really good," David smiled.
"The great, big brother came to the rescue!" Robert beamed, sticking his chest out, as I rolled my eyes.
"No more sugar water," I ruled.
I check in on the children periodically throughout the morning and they, of course, know how to get ahold of me.
"Hello, who is this?" a scratchy sounding voice asked me as I answered the phone at my desk.
"Who is this?" I asked in return.
"None of your business," the scratchy voice said.
Appalled, I responded, "I believe you have the wrong number."
I started to hang up when I heard laughter on the other end.
"I believe you have the wrong number," my son mimicked me. "Mom, you coming home soon?"
"Right now!" I yelled.
Pranking mom at work will have to be added to the list of things not to do when home alone -- right under making sugar water and climbing the walls.
gwhite@vindy.com