Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2 3

AIBU?

To leave my two girls for the day?

66 replies

Greggers2017 · 19/09/2019 09:05

DD 12 and DSD 11 have just started secondary school, they are due to have an inset day on the 25th October but I've got the opportunity to go to see a show with my friend in the afternoon. Would I be unfair to leave them from around 11am until 4pm when DP gets home from work? They are very sensible and mature for their ages. The neighbour will be at home and says they can go round to her if there is a problem.
DS will be at school and my mum is having the baby.

OP posts:

Report

pinkyredrose · 19/09/2019 09:07

Why don't they all go to your mums? Or she could go to your place?

GruciusMalfoy · 19/09/2019 09:08

That sounds fine to me. They're mature, and have an adult nearby if necessary. I'd do it in your shoes.

SallyWD · 19/09/2019 09:08

Sounds fine to me

pumpkinpie01 · 19/09/2019 09:10

Yes that sounds fine

Seeline · 19/09/2019 09:10

If they are happy to be left, and you have gone through all the 'what ifs', I think at that age 5 hour is fine.

Cover what they can do for lunch etc - eg are you happy them cooking, or re-heating something, or just stick to sandwiches. Will they be allowed friends round? Will they be allowed to go out ( and if so cover locking up the house etc). Have they got phones and know who to ring for what?

Victoria319 · 19/09/2019 09:11

Pretty sure thats actually illegal....

GruciusMalfoy · 19/09/2019 09:12

Victoria, its not illegal.

Qwerty19 · 19/09/2019 09:13

Absolutely fine if they are trustworthy.
And absolutely not illegal

Hwory · 19/09/2019 09:13

I wouldn’t

Tractorgirlz · 19/09/2019 09:15

It sounds fine to me! And it isn’t illegal...

AmIThough · 19/09/2019 09:15

Yeah they'll be absolutely fine.

Ukholidaysaregreat · 19/09/2019 09:16

It will be good for them to gain independence. By the time they are 16 they could have got married and joined the army. Building up to being responsible is a good idea.

Yestermo · 19/09/2019 09:17

Of course it's not illegal. Totally fine if they are happy with it and you have prepped them as well as you can.

Sotiredofthislife · 19/09/2019 09:18

Illegal? Leaving secondary school aged children home alone for about 6 hours during the day? Really?

ariamontgomery · 19/09/2019 09:18

I wouldn’t. Why can’t they go to your mums?

Seeline · 19/09/2019 09:18

Victoria It's not illegal. Thousands of secondary school kids finish school at 3 and are home alone until parents return from work at 6, 7 maybe later.

DottieLottie1 · 19/09/2019 09:19

@Victoria319 where did you get that idea from????

Yes as long as they are mature enough and have a backup plan for ab emergency its absolutely fine. My DC (from secondary school age) are at home when I work in the school holidays 10-4pm , DH and I check up on them several times throughout the day. They are allowed to leave the house as long g as they have told us too.

ColaFreezePop · 19/09/2019 09:21

If they are sensible then use this occasion as a test run.

If all goes OK then it means you can start leaving them alone for periods in the summer holiday. (When they will just stay in bed and get up just before you come home. )

chipsandgin · 19/09/2019 09:22

Obviously not illegal! If they are sensible & you are comfortable with it it’s fine. Most secondary age kids walk home from school or go
into town with friends at the weekend etc. Mine was often alone at 12 after getting home from school whilst I take his brother to clubs or was at work whilst his brother was on a play date. Some kids aren’t ready at that age, but if they are then great, feel proud you’ve bought them up to be responsible & independent & have fun OP!

BrutusMcDogface · 19/09/2019 09:22

Depends how sensible they are; can they be trusted together? For example, I have 4 kids. I would leave kids 1 and 3 together, but definitely wouldn’t leave 1 and 2 together as they would cause utter havoc!

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 19/09/2019 09:24

I wouldnt. Could your mum have the baby at yours? Then the girls can do what they want but with a grown up around just in case?

KUGA · 19/09/2019 09:25

I think they will be fine,and it isnt illegal so dont worry.

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

toobusytothink · 19/09/2019 09:28

I would

crustycrab · 19/09/2019 09:31

Illegal 😂

WhoKnewBeefStew · 19/09/2019 09:32

Sounds fine. I have some hard and fast rules

Keep the door locked
Don't answer the door
Don't use the kettle, oven or microwave (electrics stuff that's hot or can easily catch fire)
If you're hungry there's sandwiches, cereal etc (in your case I'd make a packed lunch for them)
Keep their phone on loud and I'd ring during the day.
Tell neighbour or family they are home and tell them in an emergency go to neighbour/family or whoever

Flip

1 2 3

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.