To leave my 15 &11month child overnight

This!!

Just make them do as they are told.

They go to GPs

I was babysitting young children overnight at those ages. It will be fine. Make sure your neighbours will be in and know the kids are alone. Tell the kids to see the neighbours if they have any issues.

Have they been left alone at night before? Have you raised them to have life skills suitable for their ages ie can they cook and clean up, know not to put candles near curtains, know how to stop a fat fire (someone I shared a house with at uni burned down her boyfriends house trying to carry an oil fire outside...)? It really shouldn't be an issue if you've been giving them age appropriate independence as they've grown up.

DS was not quite 16 when I left him over night to go to London when the Queen died. I made sure he knew who he could call in an emergency. Tbh he was asleep for a lot of the time.

This.

I have house cats that don’t love dogs. If I have visitors with dogs, my cats go upstairs and dog stays downstairs. For one night could it be an option to shut cats somewhere so MIL can stay with her dog?

Because four weeks is going to make all the difference don't be ridiculous and over the the top.

I suppose if they are fine with it then go ahead. I mean I left home at 17 and 3 months. I do understand your nervousness though but that is perhaps from a place of a first time thing once the first time goes OK you'll feel less nervous.

I was thinking this too! When I was 14/15 if my parents for whatever reason were going away for a night or weekend I stayed at grandparents and there was no element of choice.

I'd leave them, it's only overnight. One is nearly 16! They need to start to take responsibility and be a bit more self sufficient. You know how sensible they are though, we can't really say.

With neighbours who are happy to be back up, I'd be fine doing this with my almost 16 year olds. I think it depends on your kids and whether they're trustworthy in this situation or not.

To add to my previous post, I would be fine leaving them home under these circumstances, but if I wasn't sure they'd be ok home alone, they would be going to their grandparents' house. Cancelling my plans would not be an option.

I wouldn’t overnight no

Absolutely this👆

It would depend on the teens and the closeness of the neighbors, probably. Honestly I think the difference between leaving teens at home when parents are out until 2 or 3 am and one overnight is really just psychological unless you're worried about parties or them not coming home themselves (which I assume the neighbors checking up on will prevent) but it's still hard to get past.

But I'm not sure why there aren't other options... do they have friends they could sleep over with? What about a uni-aged family friend, neighbor or friend of yours without DC at home who could come stay the night just as emergency backup for a little pay?

They will be absolutely fine. They don't need an overprotective parent!

Fine for an evening but not overnight.

So did I!! Was going to say Bloody hell NOO!!

I think it would be very normal and healthy to leave them overnight. A practically 16 year old and a 14 year old will be fine and will probably enjoy some freedom. They have phones to contact you or anyone else if there is a problem.

I never really understood the fire argument. Even at 35 years old I wouldn’t be sure what to do and probably google “what to do if your house is on fire??” I seem to remember schools doing fire training so a teenager would probably have more recent knowledge than me.

@Trounlet There's no specific legal age in the UK at which a child can't be left home alone (although if a parent leaves a child unsupervised in a way that is considered to put them at risk, they could be prosecuted for neglect). I would say that most (nigh-on) 16 and 14yr olds are responsible enough to stay home alone overnight and you know your children and if they can handle this (it sounds as if they can so I've voted YANBU) - I think your children will appreciate you and your DH trusting them to be responsible. My parents wouldn't have worried about leaving me and my sisters home alone at this age. If any issues arise, you've all got mobile phones (I assume) and the neighbours are on hand. Go and enjoy your show!

I’ve left my 15 yo DS home overnight. But he’s very self sufficient and can be trusted to walk the dogs, order a takeaway, and lock up. I know he wouldn’t do anything silly like invite friends around. If there were a problem, he knows our neighbours well and grandparents are a few streets away.

So they go to GPs as arranged.
And the parents have an adult night out and the kids do as they're told.
Sorry but it wouldn't be negotiable

I'm confused about the options. There seems to be one missing, the option where they do as you've asked - if they are too young to be left overnight then they are too young to call the shots on this

Wouldn't leave them alone. They've been booked in with GP so you can relax and enjoy your evening/night away.
My 2 are younger but would just tell them that's what's arranged, they've got to suck it up!
My 3 nieces are similar age and generally prefer an adult around, even if parents are only out for a few hours. (That's even with GP round the corner)!