AIBU to leave 12 year old in charge of 7 year old whilst I do 30 minute school run?

[Ratbag82]

So here is my predicament:
I have three children in three different schools. Eldest is 12, youngest is 7.
On tomorrow mornings school run I need to drive middle child to school which takes about 30 minutes there and back.
DC3 gets car sick. She has begged me tonight to let her stay at home with DC1 and I will walk her to school upon my return.
I allow DC1 to stay home alone for short periods and he can be trusted but I wonder AIBU leaving him in charge of a sibling even though they get on well and are generally well behaved.
DH is not around so cannot help.
There is no breakfast club and there is no one else I can ask to help.
So do I take child on car journey and risk her experiencing sickness / morning of nausea....
Or do I leave her in the care of 12 year old brother for 30 minutes which I’ve never done before?

YANBU, a 12 year old is perfectly capable of supervising a 7 year old for half an hour

I think it will be fine

It will be absolutely fine.

Mine are that age, and I think they'd be fine as long as they were given very clear rules! 12 year old is pretty level headed though, and very happy to be left on his own etc.

I’d do this-sure it’ll be fine. What do you normally do in the mornings though?

If they are both sensible, you can trust them not to fight and the eldest knows how to use and has access to a phone to call you if it goes wrong, then I would. Make sure they are both ready for school, plonk them in front of the TV and tell them not to move. No cooking, no answering the door or phone, no leaving the house.

Unless the house is on fire, then they can move, and tell them where to move to.

Yes, it would think this would be fine if you think so. Obviously not all kids are the same, some 7 year olds might make a point of being a pain for a sibling. But 12 used to be when kids were considered old enough to babysit.

Ok cool, such quick replies! I feel way better about this now. Thanks for restoring some rational thinking in me, think I’ve lost some perspective with all the isolating and homeschooling.

Sleeping a bit better tonight now, thank you all 🙌

Absolutely fine. As long as the oldest knows what to do when eg you get stuck in traffic on the way back, it’ll be fine.

Maybe practise once at the weekend if you’re nervous, leave them home for 30 mins whilst you go on a walk or to the supermarket?

Totally fine.

They'd be fine, my just turned 8 year old is very sensible I'd trust him to behave alone but haven't needed to leave him. 30 minutes really isn't very long.

@Howshouldibehave I normally have DH here and also have a childcare bubble with my parents but neither are available tomorrow unfortunately.

As other said I can't see there being an issue however Is there a neighbour that the 12 year old can call in case of an emergency? It will also give you more peace of mind too that there's a back up close by in the case of something happening

[quote Ratbag82]@Howshouldibehave I normally have DH here and also have a childcare bubble with my parents but neither are available tomorrow unfortunately.[/quote]
Ahhh, that makes sense! I’m sure it will be fine. Your other child in the car could always ring/text/FaceTime to check all was ok if you were worried.

We leave our 12 year old and 8 year old together in the house for that length of time. Always make sure I have my phone and they know what to do in an emergency.

Maybe do some role playing. So get them to sit on the sofa and watch tv and then ring the door bell, then say now your hungry, then say now Mum is calling to say she is stuck in traffic, then say now you smell smoke. Make it like a game show thing but then you can laugh about silly wrong choices and practice/reinforce good choices

They'll be fine, leave very clear rules - no kettle etc.
Cereal and juice in front of TV and ring to check them when you get to school.
Its not long and eldest is a sensible child.