16 year old

[TheBlueDaisy]

To think we can leave a 16 yr old home with her 21 yr old twin brother and sister for the day on Sunday?

We are leaving them all on Friday night overnight for a night away just the two of us, going to a bbq with them all on Saturday and then we have a sick elderly relative to visit on Sunday.

DH thinks we can't leave her at home on Sunday. I don't want to take her as she'll be bored and it's unnecessary to have a bored 16 year old sitting with our sick relative.

I should also point out we are going on a family holiday with her for 10 days next week.

Has she got SEN? I can't think of any other reason it wouldn't be ok for a 16 yo to be away from their parent for a day.

Tell him if he's that worried about leaving her alone, you'll take her to the concert with you and he can stay home and look after the 21 yo's

I thought most 16 year olds wanted to spend as much time as possible away from Mum and Dad. What would you normally do on a weekend.

He’s either ridiculously overprotective, or he’s not keen on being supportive of you by visiting your relative. Neither scenario is great tbh.

I hope your relative recovers quickly OP.

Id leave my 15 year old.... he’d just sit on his Xbox all day and swear whilst I wasn’t there to ban him for bad language

Thank you cool call.

My relative is someone very special is to me who took me in rather than see me go into the care system as a child. I lived with her for around a year.

She's asked to see me.

Not fair to leave her all weekend? Shes not a labrador left alone she's a young adult with 2 older siblings.

Going to be totally honest in that I can't be bothered to RTT, is this actually for real, are there people who question whether to leave 16 year olds for the DAY I've left mine overnight numerous times and for 5 days with her 18 year old brother, the mind boggles

What does your DC think?
I think it is absolutely fine to leave them op

Would I be right in thinking the 16 year old is likely to have gone on school residential trips before? If she could cope with that, why on earth would she be unable to cope with a night in her own home without you? Is your husband aware that people can join the army at 16?

It's not the night the OPDH was concerned about. It was the day!

Unless there's something missing and she has severe SN, or she has form for operating a drug human trafficking ring from your house I can't imagine why a 16 year old couldn't be at home alone for the day with or without an older sibling.

Eh? GCSEs are over, so 16yo's all over the country are going to be left alone for most of the day for the next 11 weeks.

However, your relative probably isn't bothered about seeing your DH. Can you leave him at home?

At 16 I went Inter-railing around Europe with another 16 year old friend for two weeks, so I'm sure your 16 year old will be fine for one day with her adult siblings.

Is there more to this than you've told us so far, OP?

It's perfectly normal for 16-year-olds to spend some days at home alone, if there are no SN needs issues.

Of course you can... I was left for whole weeks at 16. She can get married and have a job ffs.

Especially as she's with 2 adults...

I was living at my boyfriends flat when I was 16.. she'll be fine

Is there a typo there? Is she 6?
Is your DH serious? He’s not wanting to leave 16yr old with older siblings?
I’m trying not to laugh 🙄🤣

@BottleOfJameson
That sounds enterprising 😉

Due to divorce I had to leave my (thankfully responsible)DD alone while I worked when she was 13.Now she's 16 I work might shifts again.
At first I worried but we keep in touch by phone and she has is completely sure about what do do in any emergency and we have a peephole thing in the front door.She will probably leave home in another 2 years so I will relax a bit knowing she can cope.

I wouldn't worry about leaving a 16 year old. Especially if she has the option to come with, but would prefer to stay home.

at 16 I regularly looked after my younger siblings while my mum went away

I'm sorry to hear your relative is unwell. But, she has asked to see you so why not leave your DH at home and visit her on your own?

It's absolutely fine to leave her btw, was just thinking if he doesn't want to go whether him coming along might cause you more stress and distract you from your visit?

Thanks for the replies.

I know I'm not being silly thinking that we can leave her at home.

She's actually my step daughter of 14 years but I worried I'd get slated if I said that in the beginning. We have her 50% of the time and she's regularly left whilst we go to work full time.

I'm happy to go on my own to see my relative but disappointed he is making excuses. 🤷‍♀️

Have you asked her what she wants to do?

I think it’s fine.

Yes, I did ask her. She shrugged her shoulders and said she doesn't mind.