OT: What age would you leave your kids alone???

[Hockeychic]

A friend and I were just dreaming about taking a cruise but both of us have kids that are 17 and 14 and we would have to travel when they where out of school which limits when we can go and it is expensive. So we where discussing what age we would be willing to leave the kids alone for say a week.

What is your opinions???

I wasn't sure, I am not sure I would feel comfortable leaving them while I was out of the country.

What do you think???

Thanks for the input!!!

 

[Bob Slydell]

Alone for a week? Probably not while they were still in high school, unless they were extremely mature for their ages (and probably not even then).

 

[stinkerbelle]

hmm...
I would say that age would be fine for , say, a weekend. but since you are leaving the country...I would think it would be nice if one was at least 18.

I know the first trip my parents took out of the country, Aruba, I was in college - I think i was 20 and my brother was still in high school (17 years old). (this was not during the school year though)

and yes - the boiler decided to shut down and we had to call the plumber for hot water...nice $250 house call! hehehe

 

[jbdreamer]

It really depends on how responsible they are.

When I was a kid, I probably would have been fine - but I woudn't have wanted to be incharge of my little sister, she was a terror.

You may want to have an adult at least stop by daily to make sure they are ok.

 

[malibuconlee]

I don't have kids, but it would totally depend on the maturity level of the kids.

Do you know their friends parents well enough to ask if the kids could stay with them while you're gone? We did that with my friend when her parents went out of town. She spent the weekend at our house. I was 14 at the time.

My mom left me home alone at 17 when she went out of town for a few days. I had different friends stay with me so I wasn't home alone, more for the fun of it than because I was afraid to stay alone.

 

[lulugirl]

I wouldn't leave them alone at that age for a week.
My parents travelled extensively when I was Jr. high/ high school age. A college age girl in our neighborhood stayed w/ us. Do you have someone like that who would be willing to supervise?

 

[tar heel]

We left ours alone last summer for two nights. We were two hours away. Kids were 21, 17 and 11. The 17-year-old was scheduled to work both days, so we knew he would be busy, and we weren't worried about the oldest or youngest.

Interestingly, it was my in-laws' idea to leave the kids at home!

 

[rascalmom]

I think it entirely depends on the kid. My older dd will be 18 in March - I would leave her alone at that point for a weekend, but I don't think she would be comfortable with a whole week. She would prefer to go stay at a friend's or drive across town to stay with her grandparent's overnight. Very trustworthy, not very independent.

My younger dd (13, almost 14) would jump at the chance to be left alone, but I don't think that will happen for a long time. She'd probably have a party so infamous that I would come home & read the news reports copied & pasted here on the DIS. Very independent, not very trustworthy.

If you decide to go on a cruise, be sure to leave an authorization to seek medical help with a trusted adult.

 

[Christine]

For going out of the country--college age.

As for a weekend, I probably wouldn't even leave a 17 y/o and 14 y/o home alone unsupervised. Sorry, I just can't see it happening. Period. If there was some family very close by that could keep an eye on things daily, maybe then.

 

[Ragnrok23]

Do you have any relatives that live close by? when I was 17 my parents went on a cruise and left me alone, but my grandmother only lived about 3 minutes from my house and checked on me a couple of times during the week

 

[The Mystery Machine]

17 & 14, you are out of the country for a week, ummm can you say PARTY!!!

I would have someone come and stay with them.

 

[Hockeychic]

Wow that was quick everyone thanks for the input.

I have never even left my kids alone for the night so I don't know at what age I would be ready.....we do have a relative in town that would definatley look in on them but ..........being somewhere that I couldn't get to them right away if there was a problem.....not sure I could do that.

I guess they either miss school....which really isn't a option, DS is going into grade 12 and DD into grade 9 or pay the big bucks.....lol

Thanks again for the input.

Kim

 

[cats mom]

I agree with rascalmom, so much depends on the child... I have a 15 yr. old who would also be likely to throw the blow out party of the year (and seriously not "get" what would be wrong with that)

I think it also depends on whether you have family or very close friends nearby who would be available should the kids need anything.

Having a neighbor keep an eye out would probably be a good idea too.
Although that really got me into trouble when I was left alone in high school... darn nosey lady!
OK so maybe the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
It WAS a really GREAT party though and nothing crazy enough to get us written up in the paper (or reported on the Dis).

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Go rent Risky Business and then you tell us.


I like my house too much and I'm way too young to be a Grandmother.

 

[kapica3]

Right now at their ages, I would worry about leaving the 14yo in the care of the 17 yo. What if something happens? Are they allowed to seek medical treatment without a parent or guardian? What is the legality of it also? Do minors need to be left in the supervision of an adult for that amount of time? As for leaving them alone imho -- overnight possibly if I were within driving distance home, but probably not for an extended period where it would take me hours or days to return home in an emergency.

I would not feel safe leaving them for that extended period of time unless they were both over the age of 18.

(.......but then again I have often been accused of being overprotective)ssst:

P.S. When I was about 17 my parents left my sister and I in the care of my grandmother when they went to Europe. Grandma lived downstairs. As my boyfriend and I were driving my parents to the airport.....Grandma was cooking up her famous meatballs as h'orderves for the big bash we were secretly planning for the same night. Without my parents knowing , and with the help of Grandma, we threw a party for about 20 kids and partied into the wee hours. Way to go Grandma!! - RIP! Over 25 later and I still miss my dear Grandma every day. She was my best friend of all time!

 

[mickeysgal]

I'm not sure what the right age is. A week alone though would probably make me worry so much that I wouldn't enjoy myself. I would only feel comfortable if they were staying with someone (friend or family) that we completely trusted.

 

[mickeysgal]

P.S. When I was about 17 my parents left my sister and I in the care of my grandmother when they went to Europe. Grandma lived downstairs. As my boyfriend and I were driving my parents to the airport.....Grandma was cooking up her famous meatballs as h'orderves for the big bash we were secretly planning for the same night. Without my parents knowing , and with the help of Grandma, we threw a party for about 20 kids and partied into the wee hours. Way to go Grandma!! - RIP! Over 25 later and I still miss my dear Grandma every day. She was my best friend of all time! [/SIZE]

Wow...what a Grandma!

 

[malibuconlee]

Having a neighbor keep an eye out would probably be a good idea too.
Although that really got me into trouble when I was left alone in high school... darn nosey lady!

That just made me think of my best friend and her younger sister. When we were in high school and jsut after I was out, the younger sister liked to have parties when her parents were out of town. Nothing too big or wild. Their neighbor never said anything except, "Sure were a lot of cars at the house this weekend". That still cracks us up to this day.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

We're kicking around this issue ourselves. DH and I are planning a trip to Florida (by plane) for 5 nights and we're thinking of leaving the 3 kids home alone. They are 17 (senior), 15 (sophomore), and 13 (7th grade). They get along well, are responsible and I do trust them. Also, we have a German Shepherd who doesn't like "guests", so I feel they'd be as safe as possible. We went last year for the same amt of time, but we did farm the kids out to friends' houses. I don't feel comfortable imposing on people, and I'd rather not do it this year if we don't have to.

If we leave them home alone, we'll let certain people know (including the local police) to keep an eye on them. We're actually even considering asking my sister from California to come for a few days to stay with them.

We were in touch with all the kids A LOT last year, right down to oldest DD calling us while we were waiting for the MK parade to ask where the little hot dogs were in Stop & Shop.

We're still in negotiations about the whole thing tho, and we'll only do it if we feel really comfortable about it after discussing everything thoroughly. It's not so much my kids I'm concerned about, but other outside sources of problems.

 

[lucyanna girl]

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