AIBU to go to our local pub with DH for 2-4 hours and leave DC 13 1/2 and 14 1/2 together?

[Waltzingmatilda65]

This is the first time I/we have done this but am AIBU to go to our local pub 5 minutes walk away from our house (we live in a nice area) with DH and friends at 5pm for 2-3 hours (after making the kids tea) and leaving them some snacks and treats etc. We were in regular mobile phone contact, both are sensible, the doors were locked (spare keys left out) incase they needed to get out in an emergency and they know not to answer the door to strangers etc etc. AIBU not to want to interrogated by our slightly older also in the pub (not adjoining neighbours) asking where the kids were tonight and who was looking after them etc. I ended up feeling very guilty and told a white lie that my mum was looking after them (she never kid sits). Our friends who have grown up
Children wanted to go out between 7-8 but I persuaded them all to go out at 5pm so we could go thinking going out earlier would be ok. WWYD and AIBU. I have looked in direct gov law refers to not leaving children under 12 alone and not leaving older children alone overnight which I wouldn’t dream of doing.

It’s absolutely fine.

Do it.
Threaten them with death if they do anything they shouldn't.

It should have said slightly older neighbour in the pub (their children have left Home) I like them and we know them well but they are very nosey.

Yanbu. We have just started leaving ours (12 and 14) for similar things. If the kids are happy to be left and know how to get in touch and what to do in an emergency - they'll be fine. Off you go!

Unless there's a massive typo and they're actually 3 1/2 and 4 1/2, not BU at all! Of course teenagers can be left safely at home

It wouldn’t worry me at that age. You’re close enough to go home if anything goes wrong.

I leave My 12/14 kids for a couple of hours within 10 mins of getting home... don’t think they surface from Xbox/face time

YABU in the fact that you haven't done this before! 😉

We leave our 11 and 14 year old most weekends for a couple of hours so we can go out for a few drinks or a meal in a local restaurant. They always have their phones to hand and were never more than a couple of hours. It's fab now they're at this age and they (and us) have more freedom 😁

Of course you can. I'm sure they can sort out their own dinner as well. Enjoy your evening.

I used to babysit for other kids at age. 13 and 14 year olds, barring any special needs, should be able to cope at home alone for a couple of hours.

13 and 14...of course it's fine. I bloody hope so as I was looking forward to going out without needing a babysitter once my own DC are in their teens!

Thanks all bloody nosey neighbours guilt tripping me. Yes the kids were absolutely fine with it.
At one point when I phoned home and spoke to DD, DS said in the background ‘... you can stay out as long as you want just as along as you don’t make a habit out of it’ 😂 but I think we might be tempted as they barely look up from the screens anyway.

Fine. But why do DHs never post messages worrying about this stuff?

I used to babysit for friends and neighbours when I was 14.

My mum went on holiday for two weeks also at that age and left me home alone and barely anyone batted an eyelid!

Of course! Enjoy.

Why wouldn't you?

Is it possible the nosy neighbours don't realise how old your children are. We moved in to our house when our children were 2, 3 and 7. Our (lovely) neighbours were always surprised at the milestones (off to middle school, going to high school/getting a drivers licence/heading off to college). I could see my neighbours asking me this and me saying "oh they are old enough to be by themselves for a couple of hours" and them saying "god I can't believe that- how the time flies"

It’s generally fine, they’re teenagers!

However at that age my sister and I would’ve killed each other if left for an evening! I’m not saying that’s right btw, but it’s just how it was.

Yanbu at all! Although at 14.5 I was in the local pub myself. Along with all the other underage cider drinkers...

Been doing this with our 12 & 14 year old for nearly a year now - it's so liberating!! Also told our neighbour when we bumped into her on one such outing - she congratulated us on our new found freedom! We only go out locally not more than 10 minutes or so away and get back well before midnight. Out of interest when is it acceptable to leave them much later/overnight?

It’s quite vague re law I think it said children must not be left over night if under age 16 or 18 (I can’t remember which).
Our neighbours know how old our DC are as they see them regularly in the garden (especially this summer) and they have a grand daughter starting Secondary this year and another relative with a son at DS’s School and a year older than him.

I was babysitting at this age, and my mum used to regularly leave me for work trips at about 14 too, for two to three nights. You going to the pub is no problem whatsoever!

Thanks for your support all I thought I might get slated on MN.
I used to babysit my cousins at a much younger age (three of them) and my younger brother and sister. No mobile phones then and no landline so means of contacting adults in an emergency in those days either. Just times have change and we and me in particular seem to be much more protective of our children than our parents were etc.

Leaving 14 yr olds alone overnight is really not acceptable.

It’s quite vague re law I think it said children must not be left over night if under age 16 or 18 (I can’t remember which)

It must be legal to leave 16 year olds alone overnight, surely?! You can get married when you're 16!

It wouldn't even cross my mind not to leave a 14 yo home for a couple of hours. Just goes to show how things have changed and how kids get wrapped up in cotton wool these days.