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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband changing mind about DD left at home

261 replies

Gymmum82 · 27/03/2025 19:42

Dd is 11 and in year 6. She has been walking home from school alone since the start of year 5. Initially to someone at home working. Then alone for about 30 mins until one of us came home from work. We’re now up to about 1.5 hours before someone is home. She is a mature, sensible child. Nothing has gone wrong so far.

Since this started she’s been left at home while we popped to the shops, taken younger children to clubs etc. Never for more than an hour or so.

Anyway on Tuesday she forgot her key, she went home with another parent and my younger daughter after school rather than walking home, no drama. She could always have gone to the after school club if that hadn’t have been an option.
After work I picked them both up and went home, younger child has a club so quick turnaround to get back out. I passed husband leaving our home as we got back (he was going to the supermarket) I dropped dd11 at home and left again with younger dd to go to club and passed husband again heading home, pulled over and asked if he was ok and he said he was going back to get DD11. Thought it was odd but carried on my way.

On to today. He’s taken dd9 out to another club. I said I was nipping to the shop, he asked if I was taking dd11. I asked her, she said no, so I said no. He suddenly out of nowhere starts ranting about how she shouldn’t be left alone and we must take her with us whenever we’re going out. I pointed out she’s alone every day after school, he said that’s because we have no other choice, I said we clearly do she can go to after school club. He didn’t reply.
I also pointed out that in 5 months time she will have to get herself to and from high school by herself 2 miles away on foot. She won’t have wrap around and she is old enough to have some independence.
He disagrees and continued to rant about how it’s neglectful parenting and she should never be left alone if there is any other choice.

So AIBU here? Or has he lost his mind?

OP posts:
GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 27/03/2025 20:15

Has he mentioned it to someone and they've freaked out? A colleague or something?

Or perhaps a convo not about your specific circs where someone has expressed strong opinions and it's made him doubt your (plural) decisions? It's the 'neglectful' bit coming out of nowhere that makes me think someone else has said that to him.

It's a hell of an about face if there's no external influence.

Carouselfish · 27/03/2025 20:13

I'm kind of on his side. I also wouldn't like a year 7 doing the same route regularly, twice a day alone to school. But I'm quite worst-case-scenario focused.

SpringIsSpringing25 · 27/03/2025 20:02

He's being ridiculous.

But you're gonna have to sit down and have a proper conversation with them whilst trying not to call him ridiculous. That'll be tough.

Dramatic · 27/03/2025 19:59

Try and have a calm conversation with him about it and ask what it is that's suddenly made him feel this way. But no it's not unreasonable to leave an 11yo for a couple of hours, especially when you've built the time up gradually over time.

greenflower1 · 27/03/2025 19:58

She’s at home which is probably the safest place for her to be alone. Like you pointed out, soon she’ll be having to get herself to and from school by herself, and he’s just setting her up to be a mollycoddled unconfident kid. My year six child is sometimes home for 2-3 hours by himself, We built it up overtime. I have a Ring camera he has a phone and we have an Alexa so there’s multiple ways for him to contact me. Can you do similar? Run through what to do in an emergency, e.g a neighbour she can go to. Get air fryer so or let her use the microwave if she needs to make food, so she’s not using the whole oven. My kid makes fishfingers and chips or a pot noodle or something.

arcticpandas · 27/03/2025 19:57

Has his mum/sister said anything to him about DD being home alone? At 11 I went to fetch my brother from nursery, took him home, gave him a snack and waited for my mum to come home from work. I'm not traumatised and quite liked the responsability. My DS 11 takes the regular bus home from school and can be left alone without a problem. I wouldn't trust him taking care of a toddler though 😄

Gymmum82 · 27/03/2025 19:52

Octavia64 · 27/03/2025 19:45

At 11 she’s fine to be left. Especially as you have worked up to it and there have been no problems.

This is also my feeling too but he’s suddenly out of nowhere completely against it.

He’s always been a bit of a helicopter parent, hated the idea of them doing anything he perceived to be ‘dangerous’ whereas I’m much more relaxed. But he’s never had a problem seemingly up until Tuesday

OP posts:
Anywherebuthere · 27/03/2025 19:50

Something has obviously made him think twice about leaving her alone if it can be avoided. Its best to have a proper conversation about it with him.

Gymmum82 · 27/03/2025 19:50

Qwertyme · 27/03/2025 19:45

Has he just finished watching adolescence?

We have watched one episode so far

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 27/03/2025 19:45

At 11 she’s fine to be left. Especially as you have worked up to it and there have been no problems.

Qwertyme · 27/03/2025 19:45

Has he just finished watching adolescence?