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Original poster

Leaving 17 year old home alone for a week

41 replies

Pinknelly1982 · 24/06/2024 17:24

I don’t want to but she refuses point blank to come with us on holiday. She moaned we were not going on holidays and now we are. She doesn’t want to come - she wants to stay on her own at home.

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Greaterorlesser · 24/06/2024 20:39

Free house!

LyndaSnellsSniff · 24/06/2024 20:38

I could definitely trust my 17 year old NOT to have a party. Not his style.

However, he'd forget to put the bins out or feed the cat. Mind you, so would DH and he's 50...

Incakewetrust · 24/06/2024 20:23

I left home at 17. Honestly just go and enjoy yourself and maybe ask a family member to check in on her every other day if you're worried

Thighdentitycrisis · 24/06/2024 19:59

Does she have a job ? If so you can explain in advance she will need to pay for any damage caused by the parties from her action wages plus allowance.

Otherwise fine as long as she has emergency cash available

Mrsjayy · 24/06/2024 19:42

Blouson · 24/06/2024 19:07

Thats a good point, damn cameras on the house, on the door, in the kitchen. How are teenagers meant to teenage any more!

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They should be in the park with cider like we used to do !

beckybarefoot · 24/06/2024 19:37

looks like you are going to have to loosen those apron strings... 17 is plenty old enough to be left home alone.

you're gonna have to put some trust in her.. lay down rules and boundaries and perhaps have a close friend or neighbour keep an eye out.

but unless there's some back story you are going to drip feed about previous experiences with wild parties etc.. you need to enjoy your holiday

mynamechangemyrules · 24/06/2024 19:33

I was left at 16, for 3 weeks, looking after my gran who lived with us 😂 So weird now when I think I get my kids to text if they go to the park 🙄 From 16 on, both my brother and I alternated looking after grandparents when the rest of the family went away.

My mum had scheduled neighbours and my aunt to pop in every few days as far as I remember...

I have memories of eating taramasalata and pitta for days on end, then switching to something else unsuitable as a main foodstuff and I LOVED IT 😂 Cooked Gran 3 squares a day though 👍🏼

Baklavamama · 24/06/2024 19:15

I went to university at 17, five hours from home. Compared to that, being home alone would have been a breeze!

NamingConundrum · 24/06/2024 19:13

Of course. In a year at 18 a high proportion of teenagers move out into uni accommodation. If you don't think they're self sufficient enough to manage a week you have some work to do! Main risk obviously party/trash but that's trust not capability.

Mermaidsarereal · 24/06/2024 19:09

I stayed home once when I was 17 while the rest of the family went on holiday (my choice) I never did it again as I realised I was missing out on free holidays! 😅 Also my parents had to redecorate I trashed the house that much with parties! 🙈

Blouson · 24/06/2024 19:07

Mrsjayy · 24/06/2024 19:06

Somebody mentioned a ring doorbell that's genuis you can see if the party goers arriving 😂

Thats a good point, damn cameras on the house, on the door, in the kitchen. How are teenagers meant to teenage any more!

Mrsjayy · 24/06/2024 19:06

Somebody mentioned a ring doorbell that's genuis you can see if the party goers arriving 😂

Member984815 · 24/06/2024 19:04

Is she capable of cooking for herself and fairly sensible? Have you neighbours close by to keep an eye on her or who she can call if she needs anything

DedicatedCakeEater · 24/06/2024 19:00

My friend went to university at 17. She should be fine. But only you know your daughter.

BeaRF75 · 24/06/2024 18:59

I don get it - what's the problem? I stayed home alone for a week at 17, and that was long before the internet, mobiles etc so I didn't hear from my parents at all. And we were all much happier...... I loved my week alone, and they didn't have a horrible teen ruining their holiday. Just let her stay at home, please.

Blouson · 24/06/2024 18:55

Lock up your spirits cabinet!

Sprogonthetyne · 24/06/2024 18:50

Move your breakables somewhere safe for the inevitable party, and make it clear you expect any mess to be tidied before you get back

fieldsofbutterflies · 24/06/2024 18:49

I was left home alone at that age - it was fine. That was only twenty odd years ago too so not the dark ages Grin

TheShellBeach · 24/06/2024 18:47

No chance.
She'll have a party and your house will be trashed.

Everygrain · 24/06/2024 18:47

We did with DS at 17 and he even managed to temporarily fix the toilet until we got back when it didn't stop flushing.

itsmylife7 · 24/06/2024 18:46

Totally depends if she going to have wild parties and wreck your house.

At that age I'd have no hesitation in leaving my child at home for a week.

Blouson · 24/06/2024 18:46

On her own! Yeah right, assuming any of her friends know it'll be party central. MIght explain the reluctance to go.

Arlott · 24/06/2024 18:46

rookiemere · 24/06/2024 18:43

We left DS for a week age 17.

He managed to get covid, eat none of the food I provided and generally looked rather woebegone when we got back. Seemed to handle it better when we went away when he was 18.

Do you have neighbours that you can get to check in occasionally?

He probably did better at 18 not because he was a year older, but because he’d done it once already

rookiemere · 24/06/2024 18:43

We left DS for a week age 17.

He managed to get covid, eat none of the food I provided and generally looked rather woebegone when we got back. Seemed to handle it better when we went away when he was 18.

Do you have neighbours that you can get to check in occasionally?

strungouteyes · 24/06/2024 18:37

I mean I moved out to uni at 17. In Scotland she could be married / have a baby / house of her own.
What are you worried about? Parties?

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