Quickie - at what age to leave child at night?

[andwhatnow]

Quick question - is it unreasonable to leave a sensible boy who is 14 in August alone in the evening from say, eight to half midnight. Bearing in mind that I am five minutes drive away and that he seems perfectly happy with it? (and that is something that would not happen on a regular basis obviously).
Thanks

[cocolepew]

Ummmm, yes I would.
I think.

[NettoSuperstar]

I would.

[ChasingSquirrels]

Yes

[ShowOfHands]

Fine I think.

[valiumredhead]

Yes, perfectly ok imo especially as you are not going far. I would probably check in my phone at some point.

[5madthings]

Sounds fine :) i would leave my 13yr old for the evening.

[ChasingSquirrels]

I mis read the wording.
No, it isn't unreasonable to do that.

[Startail]

I would have left DD1 quite happily and have left her DD2 11 on own until 11pm.

She was slightly pissed off we were that late, but the reason she'd refused to come was she knew school concerts are llloooonnnngggggggg!

[javotte]

I would.
I was the sensible eldest one, my parents often left me in charge of my brothers for a good part of the night.
We used to eat spaghetti bolognese directly from our plates (no cutlery or hands involved).

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

I would. I have. And still do

[andwhatnow]

Really?? I think I baby him too much (although he is very sensible and independent!) Plus, at that age, I was a bit of a nightmare but I just think of him as being younger. Its a friends birthday and its such a nightmare and expense to get a baby sitter. I just couldn't decide.

[valiumredhead]

At that age I was babysitting neighbour's FOUR kids over night! He'll be fine!

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Absolutely I would, and did leave mine when they were 14. I was babysitting at that age.

[DeafLeopard]

Yes, it is fine. We have previously used 14yo babysitters

[dingit]

I am nervously leaving dd14, Ds11 tonight, but again am just down the road!

[andwhatnow]

I am obviously an over protective mother!

[Gorjuss]

It's fine if he's happy to be left. I used to babysit at that age.

[ssd]

I wouldnt, seems its just me

[Bowlersarm]

Yes I would, if he is happy with it

[Squitten]

If he's a resonably sensible 14 then yes I would. I would have been perfectly fine at home alone at that age

[HazardLamps]

I wouldn't have any problem with it.

[5madthings]

You are 5mins away he can call if he needs to :)

I go running in.the evenings, am out for about an hour. I put the younger fourmadthings to bed and ds1 stays up and babysits (he is 13) the younger ones sleep and if ds1 needs help.he can call me or a friend who lives two mins up the road.

At 13/14 i was babysitting for others. He doesnt need a babysitter.

[LittleYellowBall]

I babysat at 14.

[digerd]

At 14, I was sleeping in a double bed with sis. It was the years I was obsessed with Dracula films.
I woke in the night and heard something which scared me, but persuaded myself it was not a vampire but just a cat. Went back to sleep.

In the morning dad discovered we'd been broken into and burgled and I thought thank goodness I hadn't looked out the bedroom window and seen a figure in the dark as would have been hysterical.

We were never left alone all night, just in the evening, when we were young teenagers.

[meddie]

If hes a sensible kid no reason not too. I was doing paid babysitting at 14.