Would you leave your almost 18 year old for ten days to go on holiday?

[MissMillyMollyMandyy]

He's not remotely interested in coming and we do plenty with him anyway so we are thinking that this year we will go away for what will be ten days. Holiday on the Caribbean

First time I've ever left him for any length of time - there was a few days last year when we went to Portugal - I know, I know! But this isn't a deliberate thing, just how it's worked out

He's sensible on the whole. He will be 3 weeks off his 18th when we go away. However he is a very typical teen and will he take the opportunity to have a little skive off college and his part time job? Perhaps. Can't say for sure he won't. But overall, he's relatively sensible

I'd have my best friend popping in every day to ensure the cat has been fed properly and that he's not left every door unlocked and his 25 year sister is also local and will pop in and check he's ok regularly

Not quite sure why I feel anxious. It's not an all consuming anxiety and it's probably peri menopause driven tbh but I just want to feel relaxed about leaving him

So, would you trot off without a concern? Or would you be wanting to make sure all bases were covered so you could relax a bit?

I'm doing this later in the year. Relying on the nearly adult child to feed the cats and keep house.

I'll arrange for the neighbours to pop in and check things are ok.

My biggest fear is the dishes, they reluctantly and with great prompting will wash a dish.

I know they will use up every single item until it's unbearable. Then it will be take aways, with containers piled high.
The bins will not get emptied.

I might get a cleaner to pop in whilst we are away to keep the kitchen clean.

We've done a short week away before and I arrive back to a day cleaning my stinking house .

Not looking forward to the return but very much need the break. Nearly adult child, if they do come away with us has attitude and refuses to leave their room for the duration. It's easier and more restful to go without them.

One day they will move out and realise it's not the fairies who restock the fridge and do the housework.

The joys of teenagers.

We are young in our outlook and like the same things ds does
Also an only so are close

@saraclara "
So he's got three women 'looking after him' every day. Three women who he's perfectly capable of contacting if he actually needs something. Good grief. The mollycoddling is insane.

And we wonder why so many men expect women to take responsibility for them."

This! So much this...

I left mine for a night at 16, came home to the xmas tree on it's side, broken decs, booze cupboard depleted. Obv had a party but denied it.

Left her again for a week at 18, came home to a cleaner house than when I left.

So he's got three women 'looking after him' every day. Three women who he's perfectly capable of contacting if he actually needs something. Good grief. The mollycoddling is insane.

And young people get the message that ordinary, every day life is too hard for them and they can't cope with something as basic as a bit of washing up without someone standing over them.

My parents didn't leave me at that age because I would never turn down a free holiday but I was going on holidays abroad with friends at that age and all the mischief it entailed! He's almost 18, lots of young people go off to uni at that age, which is a similar semi independence, you're not asking him to pay bills, sort utilities, maintain a tenancy etc, you're just going on holiday and not directly supervising him for ten days. Worst case scenario he'll have some 'gatherings' and might bunk off work a bit.

You know your Ds. You know how responsible he is. Nobody else knows.

I allowed my DS to stay at home when me, DP and youngest DS went abroad. 17 year old was all booked and paid for before he told us he would prefer to stay at home. We considered him perfectly mature to look after himself and the house. We agreed to leave him. My mum lived about 20 mins away and was happy to phone him every evening to make sure he was ok. She called in 4 times during the 2 weeks we were away to see him. He was absolutely fine. He managed to get himself up for school and cook for himself. He went to spend time at his mates houses, as usual. No parties. We agreed, before we went, that he could have 2 mates over on occasion - as usual.

He was absolutely fine OP. I knew he was responsible enough to be left (with others he could call on if needed).

No way would I have allowed youngest DS to stay home at 17. He was a totally different kettle of fish to his brother at that age.

If you think your DS is capable of being left home go for it. Nobody else knows how mature and capable your DS is.

Enjoy your holiday 😊