Leaving 12 year old son alone after school for 4 hours?

[mneters]

Drip feed...

He got home from school at 4, let himself in, his dad picked him up at 5:30 for football training and dropped him back at 7.

I thought I'd be back at 7 but realised earlier I would be an hour late. I text son asking his dad to either grab him some dinner on the way home or if he wanted my friend who was coming over and bringing takeaway for our dinner could come at 7 instead of 8 so he wasn't alone and we'd have dinner all together a little later. He declined, his dad ended up getting him a ready meal dinner, dropped him home to make it alone and then dad ended up coming back 1/2 hour later to take him to stay at his house.

I've now got an arsey message from his dad swearing at me how irresponsible I am leaving him for 6?! (Was 1.5 and then 1 hour between football actually) hours alone without food! (There is a fridge/cupboards full of food he could of snacked on till I got back)

He had a key, his phone, we have a dog so not alone alone and I had drawn all curtains etc before I left and turned lights on for him.

AIBU?

Totally fine as a one off!! Some exes just have to be on their high horse I find

He wasn't alone for 4 (or 6?) hours though was he?

Depends on the 12yo really.

Sensible, unlikely to arse around with power tools, and knows what to do in an emergency? Perfectly capable of staying home along for a couple of hours.

Not so sensible, young for his age, and a but of a liability? Then your ex has a point.

I'm going to presume your DS falls into the first category though in which case your ex is being unreasonable and should either beak out or offer to do the after school parenting shift.

4 hours in total but 1.5 of those his dad picked him up and took him to football so 2.5 hours in total alone. He is a sensible 12 year old that answers his phone first time etc. Knows he could go to neighbours and who to ring in emergency, family all within 5 mins drive. He also had the option to come with me and chose to stay at home and when I asked him if he was okay because it was the evening and dark etc he shrugged and said as unbothered!

I am only questioning this because I was an hour late back but as I said my friend was coming over and could of come at the original time had he wanted her too.