or is DH re leaving 9yo on his own?

[pygmyangel]

Just had a disagreement with DH on whether it's ok to leave 9yo (10 in June) DS on his own for a couple of hours between me taking DD to her gymnastics class and DH getting home from work.
I say no it's not OK, it's a bit irresponsible, am I being silly? He would be on his own from 4:15 until between 5:30 and 6pm. DH says he'll be fine.

i think i would take the 9 year old with me

I remember being left on my own at home at that age, but I was very sensible!

Depends on the child really, and if you aren't happy leaving him and are going to worry the whole time, I would take him with you. Has he got a DS or some homework he can do whilst your daughter does her gymnastics?

Depends on the child. I would leave my 9-10 year olds for about an hour - probably not more. DH, however, is not happy about them being on their own.

I think I would take the 9 year old with me - maybe take him somewhere while DD is in the class.

It's not irresponsible at 9 my ds was walking to and from school and staying at home for up to an hour. I have only just left him for nearly 2 hours and he is nearly 11 now.

Entirely depends on the child I meant to say.

How old is your daughter? Could she get to her gym class by herself?

It all depends on how sensible your 9yo is as well. Some kids are fine to be left, some are a bit gormless, and some would have all their mates in.

Also, if you have a neighbour who you know will be at home that he could go to in an emergency too, then I would say it should be fine.

Thankyou all
Should have said, DD is only 4 and normally DS would come with me. It's just DH said he wanted to spend some time with DS without DD.

Have spoken to some friends on the way back from school this morning and have had extremes of opinion from 'yep, he'll be fine, just lock the doors and make sure he's got your number, key etc' to 'absolutely not, if anything happened you'd be done for neglect as legally you shouldn't leave them until they are 12'

I won't be leaving him. I think DH just forgets how young DS is sometimes, although he is usually very sensible and mature, he occasionally does some really silly things. Apparently, DH was left alone at that age. I certainly wasn't. I think he'd probably be fine but there's always a chance something could happen.

can your dh get home earlier?

can your DS go to play with a friend until DH can pick him up ? That way they get some time together, but DS isn't left at home alone for too long.

I wasnt left home alone until after i started secondary school and even then my sister was normally home, and i always knew exactly where my mum was, and it was exactly across the road to where we lived, so litterally cross over the road. I was walking to and from school on my own at 10, BUT my mum took me t othe corner where i mnet my then best friend, who i walked with and met another half way down the road, then her mum used to watch us from the upstairs window, until we got into school.

Having said that i was getting 2 buses to and from school every day at 11, and felt fine doing it. I never had any problems, and i had my mobile so was fine!