To go abroad for a week and leave my 16 year old son home alone?

[CrikeyOHare]

Right - so I hope the fact that I'm even asking this question goes some way towards demonstrating that I am a responsible, loving parent who cares about his welfare, and I don't get shrieked at too viciously. Although really want people's opinions.

First off - he is perfectly happy to be left. Secondly, he is an exceptionally sensible & trustworthy lad. (Taking into account, of course, that he's a teenage boy and they are all capable of stupidity at times).

I am desperate to get some much needed dental work that I simply cannot afford here in the UK. Having done loads of research, I can get it done at about 1/4 the cost in Budapest. I would need to stay there for a week.

I'd prefer DS came too - Budapest is meant to be wonderful, but he's adamant that he doesn't want to.

I am aware that, at 16, he's legally allowed to marry (with permission) and could, if he wanted, go and live in a bedsit independently - so I'm wondering if there's that much difference in him being at home on his own for a week.

We have various close by people who could and would call on him. Plus our upstairs neighbour is happy to keep an eye on him, and hold a key in case of emergencies.

Sooooooooo....deep breath....what do you think?

[MsJudgemental]

I'd leave my 16-year-old DS no problem as he's sensible. If you know that your's is easily-led and can't do anything for themselves then no, but it really is time he learnt some life skills.

[Woody67]

My friends parents went away and her younger sister had a small party with a barbecue. Someone put the (still smouldering) embers in the bin which was against the side of the house and the house nearly caught fire. We were older than 16 though so things can go wrong even if they are older.

[Lemond1fficult]

Not sure if this has been suggested already, but if you're a bit worried he and his friends might succumb to free house madness, you could (discreetly) ring round his friend's parents and let them know you'll be away. The only way we ever got away with anything as kids was through the sweet obliviousness of our parents, thinking we were at a sleepover.

[LineyReborn]

Well he'll be 20 years old now, Lemon, so might not be such an issue.

[JustSpeakSense]

I wonder if she left her (now 20 year) old?

[LightDrizzle]

I wouldn't. He could be good as gold but it would only take the wrong "friend" to get wind of him being home alone for events to take a wayward turn.

Butter didn't used to melt in my mouth, I was a polite, mature, bright teenager who excelled at school and was always voted form rep, blah, blah. I used this background to persuade my parents to leave me for a weekend, - and invited people round and enjoyed a shagfest with a bloke I'd never met before in his mid-twenties. Fortunately the house wasn't trashed as it was before social media and in a village.

Hopefully your son is less sly than I was but you never know.

[hoddtastic]

WTF, both these (the original and the sub-zombie sound 'creative'..)

[PacificDogwod]

The lad in question is now 20 and hopefully capable of looking after himself independently

[Sybys]

Presumably you have facility to Skype/Facetime him. You could always make it a condition that he had to video call you every night - that way you'd be able to see if there were any problems.

[DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease]

If he's sensible and trustworthy then why not?

I lived on my own with a baby and ran a household at 16...

[DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease]

Zombie. Ffs

[2catsandhappy]

ZOMBIE