What age would you leave your child alone for a few nights?

Northern78

My parents are caravaners and often went away. Just after my 16th birthday they went away for a long weekend and left me at home. My brother lived about 15mins away.

After that they went for a fortnight and I stayed at home. Was left an allowance and a freezer, fridge and cupboards full of food. My brother and his family also invited me over for dinner a couple of times.

I loved it, remember feeling like a grown up, being trusted, sorting my own meals, doing all the checks before bed, gas off, windows locked, door locked.

I think kids need this kind of experience, they're in the safety of their own home so you know where they are and can ask friends/family to pop round but they also get to experience a bit or the big wide world, making sure that the washing is done, pots are washed etc.

Gillybean

My folks went away on holiday without me when I was about 17-18. Aside from drinking their cellar dry and the exhaust deciding to drop off my mums car -2 completely unrelated incidents I may hasten to add- I was absolutely fine.

busiscoming2

We go away in the caravan too so our teens have been left on their own for two nights since they were 16/17 but had neighbours phone numbers and grandparents ten mins away.

When DD was 17 we had a family holiday (in UK) booked for two weeks, she stayed at home for the first, I think I remember she had a friend stay for a few nights and then she joined us for the second week.

Last year me and DH booked four weeks away abroad and DS2 who was then 16 (other two have long since left home) stayed at my dads for the first week, then flew out with a friend to join us for just over two weeks, flew back and stayed at home on his own for the remaining days. He was fine. The only thing that happened was a small mishap with the edging tape on the kitchen worktop!

I wouldn't have wanted to leave any of them for too long, not because I was particularly worried but I wouldn't like the thought of them being lonely or scared.

DigForVictory

I think both the practice & the "dossier" are good ideas. 14 nights might feel quite a long time if you don't know how to stop a tap dripping.

Include the shut & lock doors into the daily routine this month!

You might want to consider whether your neighbours should know she may well be solo for some of that fortnight & what Dad's number is at work in case things appear to have got out of hand. Better a stressed Dad than the coppers after all.

(Says she who works with a Dad who's son held a party at his house whilst he was away & two months later they're still not speaking - but then I would hope your daughter is less selfcentered & !!!!less!)

Hoping you all have a lovely time!

Kathy535

Thanks. I've discussed it with her and she's completely chilled, has asked if she can have a friend to stay for a few nights and told me not to worry. Her view is that she'll be fine, may as well get used to living alone before she goes to uni. I heard her telling the cats that they'll love it when it's just them and her - no idea why!!

74jax

If you are on Facebook try not to put that you're looking forward to your holidays, obvious I know, but lots of people do.

I have left my fifteen year old alone for a weekend, one night by herself and one night when my friend came to supervise and check she had survived the first night :rotfl:

She is very sensible though, probably more than me....... And I felt fine with it, if you have to question it I would definitely try a weekend first .

victory

Kathy535 wrote: »

Thanks. I've discussed it with her and she's completely chilled, has asked if she can have a friend to stay for a few nights and told me not to worry. Her view is that she'll be fine, may as well get used to living alone before she goes to uni. I heard her telling the cats that they'll love it when it's just them and her - no idea why!!

If you trust her and know she is not going to advertise the fact on social network that she is home alone and it is party time then why not? If she can cook for herself and her best friend is staying then yes, does she know how to clean, tidy up for herself, so you won't be coming back to a house of horros? Will she do her own washing, not leaving the running of the house for you to pick up again after a 14 day of nothing?

What about boyfriends will there be any staying over?

ostrichnomore_2

She's happy with it, so leave her at home and enjoy your holiday.

I still remember how I felt when my parents left me for a weekend when I was 16. They refused to allow me to stay home alone and arranged for me to stay at my brothers. I felt utterly humiliated that they thought I still needed babysitting.

She's practically 18, FGS.

Lunar_Eclipse

I'm not sure, but definitely at your daughter's age.

Try not to worry and have a lovely holiday!

jellyhead

Mine will be almost 18 when we leave him behind for a holiday, and he's looking forward to it.

He's already had locking the doors drilled into him. I'll make a note of what to do in certain situations, and how to use the heating and washing machine in case he forgets.

My main worry would be his time-keeping - left to his own devices he stays up too late, but he doesn't have college when we're away so it doesn't matter what times he sleeps.

Is there somebody, anybody, even just the friend's mum, that she can call in an emergency, if so I wouldn't worry. It sounds like she's looking forward to it - I know my son is