Quick poll. Would you leave 14, 13 and 8 year old alone for 30 mins?

[OhMyApplePie]

Have an appointment and DH is running 30 mins late.

If it makes a difference Ds1 is 2 months off 15.

Yes! They'll be fine.

Of course

Probably. Depends on how sensible they are!

If there's a chance they would fight or mess around no.
If they generally sensible and will just do their own thing is watch TV, do homework then yes.

Yes

Yes definitely.

Yes assuming they don't fight and are reasonably sensible.

To clarify, I have met many 13 and 14 year-olds that I wouldn't leave alone in a house for 5 minutes!

Yes, as long as they won't fight

I've left the older ones before. Just not 8yr old

Yes I would. But if you’ve never done it before I would run through in graphic detail with the older two what will happen if they fight or mess about with you gone.

Yes.

I would probably be happy to leave them for a couple of hours at that age as long as the older two can cope with the 8yo. 30 minutes is fine.

Totally depends on the kids.
What does your gut say?

Yes of course!

Unless there’s something extreme you’re not telling us about the 8 year old: absolutely

Yes unless the older ones are unusually immature or the younger one unusually difficult to manage.

Yes.

I have started to leave 7yo, 12yo and nearly 15yo alone for (very) short spells, like you are experiencing.
Any of them can ring at any time. They do have a tendency to fight which is what worries me.

Yes, of course. Amazed that you haven’t already done so, unless there is some other factor. Lots of 14 year olds do baby sitting. If a 15 year old can’t be left for 30 mins that’s a bit worrying imo.

Yes

I used to babysit for 4 kids for the whole evening from being 14. I was pretty middle aged even as a teenager though, so generally very reliable and sensible.

Yes absolutely

Yes