To leave my 15 &11month child overnight

They have plenty of years ahead of them to make their own rules and have independence. They’re children, just send them to MILs and tell them tough luck. It’s just 1 night.

No I wouldn’t leave them overnight.

What is the world coming to? You will be two hours away, the next door neighbours are right next door, and they will have plenty of friends whose parents they can call on if needed.

At 16 I was babysitting small children for money when the parents were out! I think it should be OK unless your kids are really irresponsible.

I think it's fine. I left my son at that exact age - 15 and 11 months. He was fine with it. I was about 2 hours away but on public transport and couldn't get home until the morning. He didn't care at all and he's very sensible. I called him after the show and messaged him in the interval but he was absolutely fine.
The only reason I wouldn't have left him is if I thought he would have a party or gone out somewhere late or not come back, but he's not that sort of teenager. Or if he was anxious.

Totally depends on the children. What you've described here sounds fine IMO.

I didn't leave my eldest home overnight until she was 18, but she'd previously had MH problems and a long history of erratic behaviour. A year later, I'm leaving her again for the night, and have written a list of rules (lock up/ turn oven off!) and jobs (bins out Wed, and feed the animals).

My 16.5 year old: I wouldn't think twice, or have to write anything down for her. I trust her completely, and know she'd manage bins/ pets/ cooking/ cleaning up all by herself.

Absolutely not.
You're the parent. Send them to MIL.
They don't get a choice.
They can make decisions when they're adults.

I agree it’s the dynamic between the siblings that you have to consider. Would one be up to no good and telling the other one not to snitch?

Left two of mine together for an evening at that age and the16 yo went out and told 14 yo (who was a bit spooked on his own but OK) not to snitch.

The 14 yo told me after, saying he felt really bad for snitching. I never said a word to 16 yo. But never left them on their own again until they were older.

I left my 1st for a week aged 16.
Younger one is not quite 15 and did 2 nights just before Christmas. He had a friend of ours pop over to check on him and take him out for the day.

Haven't left them together for a night though, as individually they are sensible. Together not so much.

No to an overnight. Can you not just drive back or tell them they have to go to the grandparents

Why don’t they want to stay at MILs? What can’t they do there that they can at home? Most kids that age are glued to their phones, so doesn’t really matter where they are. Unless it stops them having a sneaky vape/drink, having mates over or going out. I’d tell them they have to stay there.

As for leaving them overnight, depends on the kids and the neighbours. If your kids are mature for 14 and 16, used to fending for themselves, don’t get easily spooked and definitely not pulling the wool over your eyes about getting up to no good. And the neighbours are good friends, who can be relied on to keep a very close eye, it’s probably OK. At that age, I wouldn’t have left mine overnight when I was 2hrs away. But would for the evening.

Could they stay at a friend’s in return for you hosting a sleepover at yours?

Or you go to the gig but forego the overnight stay and drive back? If you cancel the hotel, won’t you get some sort of refund?

This ^

Either leave them or insist they go to MIL. Do not cancel plans.

It was sutured up by Casualty when parents got home.

Gosh! My two are 16 and I wouldn't bat an eyelid! We have never actually left them but shortly are away overnight (back 8am ish) and as DD is away that weekend, DS will be alone.

I asked what he wanted to do and he really doesn't want to stay with grandma and no wifi! So we might see if a friend will have him overnight but I suspect parents wouldn't want their kids coming here. But if not he said he would have no issue being home alone.

Lets face it, they could in theory be married with kids next year.....

When I was 16 my parents went abroad for a week and left me in charge of my 14.5yo brother.

They’ll be fine…

The main risk is fire.

As long as a 15 year old knows how to exit every room in case of a fire, that's fine.
Most children are sensible at 15 - ones that are trusted and given responsibility tend to live up to it.

They like to feel ''grown up'' and looking after the house.

The only time there was an accident was when parents left me in charge of my 3 yr old brother at 13 - we were playing show jumping in the garden and little brother was trying to help clear the jumps away and dropped a brick on his bare toe which split open.

I put pressure on it to stop it bleeding, but the poor boy was screaming his head off- He still bears the scars on his toe all these years later!

So when his passport shows 16 he will magically be able to do something he couldn’t do mere days before?
Go. Stop overthinking. Cut the apron strings and enjoy yourself!

Absolutely no way

I have a 15 yo and no way would i do this.

If you have an option for childcare (the GPs) then use it. Just tell the kids that's where they're going, and that ought to be the end of discussion on the matter. I'll happily leave my 15 y/o alone at home overnight, but when his GP's are visiting and staying nearby then ds goes to them overnight when I'm away myself. He has a house key and can come and go as his pleases during the daytime.

Shocked at the many posters who are saying they won't leave their 15 year olds alone for even a couple of hours. These youngsters are literally months away from being old enough to leave home, go away to college, have kids, all sorts. Either you're smothering them or you've parented terribly if they can't cope for a couple of hours without adult supervision.

I’d send them to MILs. Would never let two children dictate my plans for one measly night.

Can't they stay at their friend's houses if they don't want to go to GPs' house? Those would be the only two choices for me, tbh.

I wouldn't but then I have a 14 year old who isn't remotely sensible at all and has form for jumping from the climbing frame onto the trampoline.

I left my then almost 18 year old on his own from Thursday night to Sunday night but the grandparents came down on Friday and Sunday, the neighbours were aware and I was in contact every few hours by text.

@Trounlet I was left alone for 3.5 weeks in West London at 15 years and 4 months while parents and younger siblings went to South of France for 3.5 weeks.

I LOVED being alone!

I was told to call on a neighbour if there was any trouble, and an Auntie called in every week- but as long as your children are sensible, 15 is absolutely fine.

I left my son alone for the occasional weekend to look after dogs, at 15 onwards and he loved it, too.