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Original poster

Leaving 15 year old alone?

82 replies

AWOIF · 31/03/2022 00:23

Would you leave a 15 year old boy alone at home for a week whilst you go on holiday? Family will check in on him.
He doesn't want to go with the rest of the family.

OP posts:
StopThe · 31/03/2022 06:16

Nàh

Kapalika · 31/03/2022 06:18

It’s a no from me too.

Od130990 · 31/03/2022 06:29

I did 5 months before his 16th birthday; I had my brother check him daily but he was absolutely fine.
Like your ds he didn't want to go, his reasons he'd seen all the country's he wanted to. He's now 20 and hasn't been abroad or on a family holiday since 14. My ds is a homebody very sensible grown young man.

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15 year olds
Kanaloa · 31/03/2022 06:34

Depends on the child. If there’s family members nearby who would pop in on him and he’s a sensible quiet sort of boy then yes I would.

If there’s no family near and he’s the type who’s likely to have a rager then no I wouldn’t. But obviously as I don’t know the boy I can’t make a judgement there!

Kanaloa · 31/03/2022 06:35

@SonicBroom

No. My parents left me for about 2-3 weeks when I was about 17 and I really didn’t look after myself at all.
I mean at 17 though? You would have been not far off going away to uni, surely at 17 the looking after they’d have been doing should have been extremely minimal.
stayathomer · 31/03/2022 06:42

It's funny, years ago when my kids were babies i would have made up scenarios where 'what if there was a fire, or the house was robbed etc etc' , now it's more like 'would he eat properly? Wash? Be lonely (I know my and most teens would just live on their consoles). But as much as that these are the last of their holidays with huh ou, he'll miss out on just being there and at that age they don't know theyll enjoy the playing cards, hanging out with their family bit until they're essentially forced into it!!!

Aretina · 31/03/2022 06:42

Yes.

My 15yo is sensible and can look after himself. With family nearby to look in on him, I don't see why not.

I've already left him for a weekend and he was fine.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 31/03/2022 06:50

@SonicBroom

No. My parents left me for about 2-3 weeks when I was about 17 and I really didn’t look after myself at all.
Surely you should be able to cope at 17, that's almost an adult. I lived by myself then.

15 I wouldn't though.

PinkSyCo · 31/03/2022 06:53

Maybe overnight or for a weekend at a push, but for a whole week no.

PinkSyCo · 31/03/2022 06:55

No. My parents left me for about 2-3 weeks when I was about 17 and I really didn’t look after myself at all.

In what way did you not look after yourself? And what long term effects did it cause?

BookkeeperBobby · 31/03/2022 06:55

No. Parenting a teen does mean stepping back but not to the extent of being in a different town/country for a week.

Also, they all have parties.

He can stay with family or go with you.

CheekySwifter · 31/03/2022 06:57

I was left for 2 weeks at that age while my family went to Europe. It was the best holiday ever! Good to build independence and resilience too.

megletthesecond · 31/03/2022 06:57

No. I have a 15yr old and even though he's sensible he would be scared.

Bigbus · 31/03/2022 07:00

I think 15 is a bit young. Could you try a weekend away first to see how he manages?

Bellabelloo · 31/03/2022 07:06

I went on holiday for a week with friends when I was 16. 15's not that much younger. I think it depends on how sensible they are. Mine is only young so i couldn't comment on him, but i'm surprised how many vehement 'no's there are!

ukborn · 31/03/2022 07:07

No. We left our 16 year old and big party first night we were away that got out of hand and about £3k worth of damage and damage to neighbours property too.
The odd night maybe, not a whole week.

BookkeeperBobby · 31/03/2022 07:19

@Bellabelloo a holiday is different because it doesn't involve several hundred pissed up teenagers marauding around your own precious house. Did you never go to parties when you were a teenager? I did. Which is exactly why I will never leave my kids in charge of my home.

Gynaesaur · 31/03/2022 07:20

My grandparents left me every now and then from 3-7 days from when I was 15. I bloody loved it and just enjoyed having the house to myself. I was a sensible teenager but I think I'd let most do it at 15 unless I had reason to believe they'd do something stupid.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 31/03/2022 07:23

@Bellabelloo

I went on holiday for a week with friends when I was 16. 15's not that much younger. I think it depends on how sensible they are. Mine is only young so i couldn't comment on him, but i'm surprised how many vehement 'no's there are!
Going on holiday with friends is totally different to allowing your child the run of your house while you're in a different country, though.

When I was 15 I wouldn't have had the choice! It would have been "we're going here" and that would have been that.

TeeBee · 31/03/2022 07:26

No

GeneLovesJezebel · 31/03/2022 07:28

No, god knows what could happen if others find out he has the house to himself for a week.

GreyCarpet · 31/03/2022 07:29

My daughter is nearly 16. I'll leave her overnight but wouldn't any longer than that.

More from the would she be scared/lonely perspective. She'd be more than capable of looking after herself for a few days. But a week is too long IMO.

Sidge · 31/03/2022 07:34

A week? No.

I’d leave my very sensible 15.5 year old alone overnight but not for a week.

mum2jakie · 31/03/2022 07:37

Overnight, yes. A week, absolutely not

reluctantbrit · 31/03/2022 07:44

No. DD - nearly 15 - is fairly indpendent and we have left her alone during the day and on occassion up to 11pm with out neighbours aware.

But several days? It's not so much that she wouldn't be able to feed herself or buy more food but it's a huge emotional difference to just a day. What happens in emergencies? Most teens would still struggle coping with sudden problems and may be too embarassed to ask for help. Also, coid callers/con man?

Just because we sent teens into the trenches and into the factories 100 years ago doesn't mean we have to do this now. They were seen as adults, now a teen is still a child and legally the parent is very much responsible.

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