DEAR ABBY: I have three children. My oldest child is only 10. My parents remember leaving me home alone at that age, but that was 24 years ago. I feel things are too dangerous these days.
Is there an age when I can leave them home alone and know that all is OK? -- CAUTIOUS MOM IN KANSAS
DEAR CAUTIOUS MOM: I'm sad to say that times have changed, and 10 is still too young. No child should be left alone unless he or she is big enough and sophisticated enough to fight off or elude an intruder, or handle other emergencies that might arise. If the children must be left, someone -- a teenage baby sitter, for instance -- should supervise.