To leave the kids "Home Alone"

[StickyVicky]

Yes or no answer needed really.

I am due to go out tonight for a birthday do. Babysitter has pulled out last minute and there will be upset if I don't go.

I have left the kids alone before and they've always been fine, however I've never left them late at night. This would involve leaving them from 7pm until around midnight.

They are 11 and 13. No friends come back here, I can guarantee they will be where I left them when I get home (xbox and laptop).

However I am aware that midnight is pushing it somewhat. So over to the jury - is it really irresponsible for me to leave them alone tonight?

I have left mine at that age, but they are mature and independant. Only you can judge on what your neighbourhood is like and if your 11 year old will be nervous.

I would still go and if you feel that you have to, come back early. They are of an age were you should be building their independance, i wouldn't cancel.

Didn't realise this was last nights thread . OP i hope that you went and had a good time.

could you not show your face for an hour and go home?

They are certainly old enough to be left.

could you not show your face for an hour and go home?

Why-if the DCs were fine?

As I have said before my babysitter is 13 and my DS is 10 it is legal. If you trust your 13 yo then leave them. When my DS is 13 I won't use a babysitter but I would prefer it if he had a friend with him. Is there a neighbour they can go to in case of an emergency?

if you had arranged a babysitter then you must feel they need one, so why ask

Because she couldn't get another one ssd!
Maybe the first visitor was a family friend,someone they were used to-quite different from the mortification of having a 'babysitter' at that age.
It is a perfectly sensible question to ask. SS refer to NSPCC guidelines which are common sense ones-and OP fits into acceptable.

wsell we're home from the theatre now

and ds hadn't missed us

not surprised

haven't told him we had ice-cream though

Oh it was the theatre. I did wonder why you couldn't just come home early - that explains it.
Glad you had a lovely time.

I'm not the OP, Dilys- just another feckless mother.

Not that I'm not glad you had a lovely time too Cory.

We are still waiting for news from OP.

exotic, I know she couldnt arrange another one, but the fact she has arranged one in the first place said to me she felt the need for one initially

anyway, we all do what suits us and the op probably did as well

I agree -but they are at an age where she must be thinking 'are they too old'. It is one of those things-one week you get a babysitter, the next you try 'going it alone'. Everyone gets to it eventually and has to make the decision-never easy.(parenting isn't-easiest isn't always best for the DCs).

I wouldnt do it, but I think thats more to do with me than to do with them IYSWIM

it isnt easy!

It never is easy. Everyone has to get out of their comfort zone eventually. Those who take their 8yr old DS into the ladies toilet with them can't do it at 11yrs old-and they won't feel any happier. Those who won't leave a 13yr old will have to leave a 15yr old-and they won't feel any happier.
Where you start is up to you and OP asked a sensible question. Everyone is different-every DC is different and I was relieved to see that NSPCC are sensible. You can't possibly say 13yrs is old enough to leave a DC in the evening but you can certainly say that 13yrs is old enough to leave some DCs.