To think about leaving my 15 year old home alone?

[AllDirections]

DD1 is 15 later this year and I want to take DD2 away for 2 nights on her own. DD3 will be staying with friends but DD1 doesn't want to.

It would be at the weekend so no school to think about and I would obviously leave her food and money. My friend (who is having DD3) and my next door neighbour would both be around if she needed anything. DD1 is very self sufficient, mature and responsible. In reality she would probably have her friend sleep over and the friend's parents would be checking up on them. I would only be 2-3 hours away.

Last year I took both DD1 and DD3 away for a couple of days on their own and DD2 is asking when I can take her away. I want to take her but is leaving DD1 alone at home a sensible option?

[DrCoconut]

I was not allowed to stay overnight without an adult until I was 18. DS1 has SN so is not up for staying at night yet, though he will stay in the day. He is 14.

[quoteunquote]

share your thoughts on Zombie threads here please.

[infamouspoo]

15 is fine. In ye olden dayes I was babysitting toddlers till 2 or 3am from aged 13 for pocket money. Couple of nights in your own home should be fine.
In a years time she could leave home if she wanted.

[Jengnr]

She will get pissed. No doubt about it.

[Yawn4theday]

Agree Dan, might sound fun to a 15 year old but are you sure she wouldn't freak out being alone all night.

If a friend stays over, it's only a step away from a another and another and - unintentional chaos.

[hobnobsaremyfavourite]

:)

[Pandemoniaa]

At least the OP's DD is nearly 17 now. Saves the need to provide an exact answer.

[hobnobsaremyfavourite]

why are so many zombie threads back in active convos???

[quoteunquote]

OH DO FUCK OFF< ZOMBIE THREAD.

notquiteruralbliss any explanation ?

[quoteunquote]

Check your insurance is up to date, install cctv/hidden cameras and treat it as a test.

It depends on the individual, complete fine if they are up to it.

If they have instant backup available, then they should be fine.

[FreckledLeopard]

Why has a two year old zombie thread been dragged up ?

[marciaoverstrand]

We left dd for one night when she was 15, she decided to try and reverse dh work van off our drive and smashed into the neighbours fence just missing their hot tub.
Luckily they were very nice people, she paid for it to be fixed but I still remind her of this and she's 24 now!
Dd2 is v sensible but its friends of friends who might turn up you can't trust.

[mrsjay]

I wouldn't leave my 15 yr old on her own she would hate it but I think it is up to you personally id ask somebody to look after you r 14 yrold for you so you now they are ok

[Crinkle77]

I wouldn't as the first thing she will do is have a party. That's exactly what I did at 15. I only invited a few friends but things quickly got out of control and this was before the advent of social networking.

[whois]

Ah I love these threads.

Don't do it, they will have a party, every teen would.
It's neglectful.
Why would you WANT to leave them.
Ill call SS.

BINGO

This is why so many young 'adults' arrive at uni at 18 with zero life skills, because they haven't been able to develop them in a gradual and controlled way.

Leaving your 15 year old, sensible teen, will probably be ok. They might love it. I loved being left for a night or two; TV, pizza, no one asking if you'd done your homework. It is good to develop a bit of resilience to being alone too.

Just make sure they know how to contact you, how to contact a nearby neighbour/friend/relative. Which a 15 year old bloody should know how to do.

[notquiteruralbliss]

At 15 my eldest went to Reading Festival without me. My 16yo travels for work (she's away for 4 or 5 days at a time) & went on holiday to Cyprus with a friend when she was 15. Friends parents were also there, but stayed in a hotel while the girls had a flat. Leaving a 15yo for a couple of nights with backup if needed sounds fine.

[notquiteruralbliss]

At 15 my eldest went to Reading Festival without me. My 16yo travels for work (she's away for 4 or 5 days at a time) & went on holiday to Cyprus with a friend when she was 15. Friends parents were also there, but stayed in a hotel while the girls had a flat. Leaving a 15yo for a couple of nights with backup if needed sounds fine.

[onagar]

I wasn't going to post, but will now just to balance FabbyChic who says 17 is too young and that leaving a 15yo is shameful

Fabby I started work at 15 in a job I got myself. 6 months later I had a bedsit that I also found myself. If your 17yo still can't manage you've been doing it wrong.

If you never let them be responsible they can never learn.

[heleninahandcart]

My ds was then 15

[heleninahandcart]

my ds ended up home alone during last years flight ban with the volcano. All was fine and he enjoyed total control of tv and fridge. No parties, 2 trusted friends visited. He invoked house rules better than when I'm home. He had to clock in with friends parents and knew they were there as backup. No frying allowed either.

If you're sure she's up for it and have confidence she will act on yr instructions then yes. All kids are different only you know yr dd.

[loiner45]

it does sound like your DD is sensible - but I have had 2 friends leave sensible teenagers over night and it went very wrong - it's not even their friends you have to worry about - it's the F of friends who invite themselves along en masse. I haven't left mine for that reason - and they've seen it happen so understand totally.

Have you got a family member or adult friend who could stay a couple of night?