Would you leave your 13 year old home alone...

[kathie859]

NO! I can't think that this would ever be a good idea

 

[Green Tea]

No, not for a trip for the parents. A night out or a day shopping=no problem. But never for a weekend away. Once one has a driver's license, so junior or senior year of high school, then I would. But middle school- no way

 

[klacey1]

NO! Pretty sure that is illegal and would probably be considered some form of neglect.

 

[Debbie7452]

I had to leave my two oldest girls home alone for a weekend and I was a nervous wreck...they were perfectly fine with it, but I had to keep in touch each day (texting) to keep calm. The funny thing is...they are 18 & 16!!

I don't think I'm a helicopter parent normally, but being far away just made me imagine all the possible things that could go wrong. They thought it was funny that I was so worked up.

My DN has been left alone during summer breaks since she was 10...I think that is not responsible but my SIL says "what am I supposed to do with her?"

 

[MrsPete]

During the day while I run to the store, to get a hair cut, to return a movie . . . no problem!
Overnight? No way. 13 is much too young to stay alone for even one night, much less three nights!

 

[Planogirl]

I seem to remember that this question came up before and it turned out that most states don't actually have legal guidelines. The authorities can prosecute if they decide a kid is neglected but at what age that is seems to be up to their discretion.

 

[candykisses]

We wouldn't even consider leaving DS alone overnight.

 

[tonilea]

I can't imagine one night, much less several nights.

 

[shortbun]

13 home alone? No.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

My dh had major complications after surgery that entailed several late night trips to the ER, some of which became overnight trips. I think I was equally worried about him and leaving our 13 and 8 year old at home in bed while we ran him down to the hospital (10 minutes away). I always called family to come ASAP (and I think they usually got there within an hour except on one night when the kids were alone from about 3AM to 7AM), but I did leave them alone at home while I took DH to the hospital and stayed with him there. It was a tough call, but I was afraid of leaving DH alone after many screw-ups by the hospital. When we KNEW he was going to be there overnight, we always got someone to watch the kids.

For a vacation? Heck no.

 

[luvmy3]

Nope

 

[kaytieeldr]

DH and I are going on a mini-vaction to vegas in the fall, and we will NOT be leaving DD alone. We are having a college-aged aquaintence of ours not necessarily baby-sitting, but at least keeping an eye on things...and making sure she is awake in the morning. DD isn't happy about that...but OH WELL. I might feel differently if we were only going for a night, and on a weekend, but we are leaving on a Sunday and coming home on Wednesday.

In my 20's. my mom's best friend had her nephew and me share 'sleep-over' duties when the parents went on vacation and left the teens home (no, not together - me for a few nights, then him for a few nights ). She would tell her kids we were there to watch the HOUSE, to make sure no blow dryers were left running on the beds when the kids left for school, that kind of thing.

 

[tiggerlover]

Absolutely not. My son will be 14 in a couple of weeks and this question had me curious, I know I wouldn't leave him, but I wondered if he would want to be left so I asked him. His reply, he would be fine for one night, but wouldn't want to spend any more than that alone.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

No.

 

[beachlover9395]

This man was arrested twice for leaving his children home alone for several days, traveling out of state the first time he was arrested. The kids were 15 and 13 (during first arrest) and 15 and 14 (second arrest).

http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20091016/ARTICLES/910169995 *First arrest


http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20100210/ARTICLES/100219983 *Second arrest

And no, I wouldn't leave my kids home alone, even though they are 17 and 14 1/2. They would probably be just fine, but not worth the risk or possible arrest.

 

[princessmom29]

Wouldn't hesitate during the day, but probably not overnight unless in an emergency, like the PP with a husband in the ER. Definitely not for a vacation.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

My oldest is 13, very mature behavior for his age, very responsible and nearly 6 feet tall, and I wouldn't consider it. If anything happened, I would never forgive myself.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Maybe for a few hours in the evening while DH and I went out, but for a few days? Absolutley not!

 

[Tink9721]

I just turned 17 a couple weeks ago and I won't stay alone over night. Even if my mom let me, I wouldn't. When I was 16 I stayed over night with my 18 year old cousin and that was fine since I wasn't alone. I have no problem being home alone all day in the summer, but I wouldn't like it over night. A couple times my mom's been on a business trip and gotten home around midnight or 1 AM and once she left on a trip at 4 AM. That was fine but I won't spend the whole night alone.

 

[themilesfamily]

I seem to remember that this question came up before and it turned out that most states don't actually have legal guidelines. The authorities can prosecute if they decide a kid is neglected but at what age that is seems to be up to their discretion.

There are a few states that have put actual numbers on the age that it is acceptable to be left alone/left alone all night. Georgia and Illinois are two of those states.

Here's one of them -- I think this is Georgia...

Children under 8 years old should never be left alone, even for short periods of time.
Children between the ages of 9 and 12, based on level of maturity, can be left home alone for brief periods of time.
Children 13 and older can generally be left as babysitters, with the exception of children in foster care. However, it is not recommended that 13-year-olds baby sit infants, small children or children requiring special attention due to medical conditions.
Children 15 and older can be left home alone overnight, depending on their level of maturity.

Illinois puts specific numbers in their guidelines to give their child protective services office confines to work within.