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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Leaving 13 year old at home for 5 hours tomorrow with a cold

28 replies

marl · 13/11/2014 20:39

Am I OK to leave DS age 13 at home with a stinking cold legally etc tomorrow? I've got a booked appointment for work about an hour away tomorrow and will be back after about 4-5 hours. He is very sensible, will probably just overdose on computer and TV in delight, but I'm also worried about unpleasant Ex-H who tries to get me on anything I might be doing 'wrong'. Any thoughts very welcome. I can maybe get a friend to pop in to check on him; alternatively
he will have to take a long trip to DP's mother, which would mean leaving at the crack of dawn with DP tomorrow and I'm kind of not organised for him to do that at this point!

OP posts:
BrokenCircleBreakdown · 13/11/2014 20:41

Yes Smile
It's fine

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 13/11/2014 20:47

13? Of course!

usualsuspect333 · 13/11/2014 20:47

Yes I would.

I'd text or ring him a few times though.

Original poster
marl · 13/11/2014 21:35

Thanks all of you. Great. (My other two (well ones!) DCs are much younger so I haven't had this situation before and just wasn't sure. Great.

OP posts:
Original poster
marl · 13/11/2014 21:36

Thanks all of you. Great. (My other two (well ones!) DCs are much younger so I haven't had this situation before and just wasn't sure.

OP posts:
Stealthpolarbear · 13/11/2014 21:37

Yes. Are there any neighbours he could call on if needed?
That said I'm sure my incredibly overprotective parents were doing this when I was 13 so it must be fine!

Waitingonasunnyday · 13/11/2014 21:38

Our babysitter is 13. I know they all grow up at different ages but I reckon it's fine!

DarkHeart · 13/11/2014 21:39

I would and my ds is 13

bigTillyMint · 13/11/2014 21:39

I would. I would also text/ring to check on what he was up to thoughWink

wobblyweebles · 14/11/2014 00:19

I've done the same with my 13 year old.

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 14/11/2014 00:50

Just did the same with my 12 yo. I did ring him to remind him to eat!

PurpleSwift · 14/11/2014 00:55

It's fine.

however · 14/11/2014 04:14

I've done similar with my children (who are all younger). FaceTime is great for touching base, if you have iDevices.

SoonToBeSix · 14/11/2014 04:33

He will be perfectly fine but why isn't he going to school? Do people really keep their teenagers off with a cold?

skylark2 · 14/11/2014 08:15

Would you leave him alone for 5 hours without a cold? If so, it's a non-issue provided there's someone close(ish) who he can go to in an emergency (gas leak, burst water pipe...) - an hour away is too far for you to be his closest safetynet.

Mehitabel6 · 14/11/2014 08:22

Absolutely fine.
If he had a cold like my recent one you would know why he couldn't go to school, SoonToBeSix.

SilentCharisma · 14/11/2014 11:19

God yes. I was left alone for that time from 9.

WitchesGlove · 14/11/2014 12:44

13 is fine

But why does he need to be off school with a cold??

SophiaPetrillo · 14/11/2014 12:46

I've done this as well. I wouldn't have left him with a high temperature or vomiting, but a cold, no problem.

Witches some colds are very debilitating, if your sinuses are infected you feel like shit and can't concentrate, also coughing and sneezing in class is disruptive and annoying for everyone else and it spreads the virus.

tilliebob · 14/11/2014 12:53

My eldest DS at 13, no worries. My DD, currently 13, wouldn't be happy for that length of time. You know your child. If they're choked with the cold they'll probably sleep/watch TV in bed anyway. I was left in charge of my 11 brother for entire working days at that age.

Mehitabel6 · 14/11/2014 17:45

But why does he need to be off school with a cold??

It depends on the cold! I am hardy, but last week I had 2 days where I ached all over and couldn't do anything. I cancelled things and stayed in bed.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 14/11/2014 18:05

Some colds can knock you for six,I imagine you've never had a proper streaming head cold or you wouldn't be asking.

OP,I would but I'd ring a couple of times to check inSmile

wobblyweebles · 14/11/2014 18:34

Mehitabel6 But you missed a great oppportunity to be both a martyr and incredibly superior :-)

(I would have done the same thing.)

Mehitabel6 · 14/11/2014 19:08

I think they were all pleased not to have me spreading it. My first cold all year and still coughing!
The word 'cold' covers a lot of things.

Rantymop · 14/11/2014 19:14

I've left my 12 year old for up to 4 hours. He sat in front of his computer.

I text him lots though. He got pissed off at me, but at least I knew he was ok.