Would you leave a 14yo & 10yo home alone for 3 hours?

[dreamingoaholiday]

Just that, really! Loopioloil

Yes

Well, if it's a one off. Maybe not for 3 hrs between school and me getting home at 6:30 every day.

Yes, as long as they are both happy with the idea.

Yes. Unless they would feel worried home alone or likely to do anything silly. But for mine that would be fine.

Depends - do they usually get along? Are they able to contact you? If yes to both, then I would.

Unless they hate eachother, yes.

Yes!

during daytime or early evening. Or otherwise when i contacted our neighbours and i know they are at home and keeping an eye out.

Yes

Yes

Yes. Assuming nothing you haven’t told us.

Depends on the child/teenager.

I leave my 10yo home alone for an hour. My 11yo for 3 hrs. I've only left them together for about 30mins so far... but from September that will be two hours once a week. We are working on not causing World War 3, which is what sometimes happens between them.

Oh goodness I didn't know this had posted!!

I was going to write a bit more explanation.

That was my pocket writing nonsense words and and posting it!!

Thanks for the replies, will read now...

I have a 15 yo, 14yo and 10yo and I wouldn't leave the younger two alone together. The eldest and the youngest I'd leave for up to an hour at home. The older two go out for the day together often so no issue with them being together at home. Once the youngest is at secondary I'd be happy to leave him with what will then be a 15yo for a few hours.

For me I think the 10yo is too young and it's asking too much of my newly 14yo because the 10yo will not do what she tells him.

Depends on the 14 year old and the 10 year old. I would like an adult nearby to check on the 10 year old / be available if needed.

Yes, it'd be a one-off. I'm doing a late shift at work which is usually no problem, but I didn't realise DP is away tomorrow.

(Well I did know, but somehow it only just dawned on me this evening that there's a clash!)

I've tried our friends who would usually be able to help, but no one's free tomorrow who I could ask, and we have no family nearby.

They do argue. That's what's giving me pause, and is why we've only just started leaving them alone for short times recently.

But they seem to maturing out of arguing so much (I hope!).

Both of them would probably sit in front of their computers without moving an inch for 3 hours!

But, on the other hand, it would take me a while to get back if anything went wrong.

We do have neighbours on both sides they could go to in an emergency.

Yes and I do - my two are 14 and 10 as well

One thing that my parents used to do is say that we were old enough not to need a babysitter so they’d give us the money they would have spent on one (probably a lot less really) but it was on the basis that we were sensible, didn’t fight, didn’t make a mess etc. it worked as it made us feel responsible and we knew that if we didn’t make it work we wouldn’t get the trust (or money) again.

Yes!!

I think there must be millions upon millions of parents who wouldn't have any choice financially other than to do this every single day.

Every parent I know started back full time as soon as their dc go to secondary (so 11) meaning they get themselves home from school and stay there alone till 6/7.

I would, but wouldn’t choose to do it day in day out I.e. if it was because of regular shifts or similar. I leave mine but don’t go far, am always in contact, my house is very secure and has integral fire alarms etc and my neighbours are trustworthy and some even good friends. My kids have a whole protocol that I remind them of if I’m out - oh and no making food, only fruit etc. I make sure they’re full up before I go out.

Depends.
Some siblings would be fine. Some wouldn't.
Also, you say evening. What time would you be back?

Of course, if they were happy with it.

Does the 10yr old have a phone? Can they contact you in an emergency?
how quickly can you get back if there’s an issue?
will you be out over dinner time/bed time?

I’d leave the 14yr old easily (I have a 14yr old and do, regularly). I’ve only just started leaving my 11yr old, and only for up to 2hrs so far, only during the day time, and only when I am remaining in the local-ish area (like a 4mile radius), just in case I needed to get back quickly. I could probably leave him 5hrs and he’d still be in the same position I left him in (glued to the laptop!) but I don’t feel comfortable with that yet.

When DS was 10 he was home alone after school and for inset days.