Leaving 16 yo ds alone for a week - AIBU

[Virgo28]

Just want people's thoughts on leaving my 16 yo ds alone at home for one week. DP and I are thinking of taking a week's holiday in the summer. DS doesn't want to come. He is quiet happy to stay home alone and with two sets of GP and various other family members living close by I was considering agreeing. I was telling a close friend all the above and she has made me second think everything as she doesn't think it is right to leave a 16 yo for this length of time. So I just wanted some other opinions on this thanks.

Depends on what he’s like tbh. Will he be having his mates round for drinking sessions or is he the sort to be just playing on his xbox chilling out?

Not sure I would tbh. I have two DD's both very sensible but they weren't left at home alone until they were 18.

Its not so much that I worried about them getting up to mischief; just worried if it got out that they were on their own and a party started!

99% of the time leaving a 16 year old for a week is going to be fine. the issue comes with things like not locking the doors, misusing anything in the house (like leaving the iron on) and just the fact that if shit hits the fan they are ill equipped to deal with it. He is still a child in my view, sorry, and leaving him for the odd night not a problem but a whole week, definitely not, sorry.

He's reasonably sensible, although a complete slob! I can't see any party's or drinking taking place - he's more likely to be on his xbox or Netflix for the whole week only surfacing for food.

Me and my sister were left at home from 15 and 16 years old for a week, we were fine and knew to call aunts if any problems ( never needed to)

With such a lot of family nearby I probably would, yes.

I'm wondering now if a decent compromise would be splitting the week between home alone and staying with his GP. One set live about 200 yards away on the next street over and the others are about 1/2 mile away. Maybe he spends time in the day at home and then evenings/nights at GP.

He is an adult basically I would leave him. AT 16 I didn't want to go on family holidays and I was allowed to go off for a week in cornwall with my mates instead.

My only worry would be if he was responsible enough to make sure mates etc didn't trash the house.

I was out the house by the time i was 16 ! Hes an adult id allow him especially as you say family live close enough to help if there are any issues

I think it depends upon the child's friends. I wouldn't leave my intelligent, competent 18yo alone for a week, because I know what his friends get up to. I would leave my 16yo ds alone, though, because his friends are entirely different. (Though it's not going to happen, of course, while elder brother is around!)

Your compromise seems reasonable. I have a DS who's just 16 but we live down a country lane with very few neighbours and no family within an hour so personally I wouldn't, but in your situation then probably would.

He's quite quiet with a small group of close friends. They all seem to be lovely lads, always nice and polite etc when round but have no idea how they act otherwise. I definitely don't think any party's would happen as my parents would notice as they walk their dogs multiple times a day past our front door.

No way would I do this. I've taught hundreds of 16 year-olds. They are not adults and very few of them are as responsible or capable as an adult.

yep - 16 is fine

16 year olds can have kids.... get married... move out of home... they're not babies.

Thanks for the replies, think I'll have a talk with him about splitting his time as I said in previous comment. That way he gets his freedom with the luxury of his granny's cooking and I don't have to worry about him burning the house down or returning to find the pig sty he calls a bedroom has spread to the rest of the house 😂😂

I was left at 17 while my parents and sisters went on a two week holiday abroad, and I didn't have any other family anywhere near. I think its one of those things where other people can't really tell you, because at 16/17 its right on the line and what you decide to do is so dependant on the individual situation i.e. the child themselves, proximity of family, how far away you're going.

I was left for two weeks at 17! I had a great time! People over every night, boys sleeping over etc, lots of booze. But I was also fairly responsible about it, looked after all the pets and made sure I locked up properly when I went out - and cleaned the place from top to bottom, changing all the beds before the family returned. Only damage was a broken vase and one small cigarette burn in the carpet. Otherwise no evidence of a very memorable fortnight!

He'll probably fine. 2nd half at GPS is good because despite what he might say he may get lonely. my DD did at that age and that was a long weekend!

Friends did this with 2 of their 16yos. One was sensible, no problems. The other had a party... led to garden mess (& neighbourly relations) to clean up when they got back. Depends on kid, I'd say.

I was happy to be left alone at that age. I enjoyed the freedom and responsibility and welcomed by parents back with appreciative arms .

@expressobutler 😂 don't think he even knows what an iron is..... He thinks we have a laundry fairy 🤔

We left our 16 year old for a long weekend last Summer, with neighbour popping in. We were not worried about parties etc which was the concern of most of our friends. He was ok though mostly ate cereal and slept most of the days....I wouldn't leave him a week without a shorter trial run.