To leave 16 yr old at home alone for 2 weeks

[FanGurlll]

For various reasons DS, 16, doesn't want to come on holiday this year.
Would you leave your 16 year old home alone?

No, and why is a child deciding whether they go on holiday or not? Very strange thread.

16 is not a child.

I wouldn't.
My DS age 16 would think he'd like it, but after the first couple of days he'd actually get lonely and fed up. The house would be a tip, he'd live on crisps and chocolate, and he wouldn't do any laundry.

Those saying “if you’ve done your job etc” how do you explain the differences in teens who have had exactly the same upbringing? Personality plays a huge part in lots of things like risk taking, responsibility, confidence …

I lived alone at 16 🤣 these comments 🙄

Isn’t it the job of a 15/16/17 to complain about holidays. I know my 15 year old wasn’t happy about our choice of location. However there will not be many More years of taking them holiday - just take them along but give them more freedom to choose what they do in the holiday.
I personally wouldn’t want to leave my 15 almost 16 year old home for 2 weeks alone.

@Merryoldgoat 😂Part of me feels genuinely mean to deprive my own kids of the opportunity for such life defining times!

With regards to ''if they can cook, clean, be trusted ect then it's ok'' - i could cook, clean and must have appeared trustworthy. Otherwise they wouldn't have left me.

But the world moves in mysterious ways when you're 16 and things just happen and then other things happen and before you know it things are out of control and you're living the plot of a movie akin to Risky Business.

Agree @BiscoffSundae! Especially when you take into consideration mobile phones/FaceTime and even being able to see where someone is because of mobile.
DS 19 is on holiday with his girlfriend and do to them using our Deliveroo we can see exactly what they're eating and the name of who is delivering it in Italy 🤣

Hmm, 2 weeks is a little too long if they have never been left before. I left my eldest when he is 16 for a week, I left my 2nd when he was 15 for 4 nights and when he was 16 he flew to the USA for a month.

Then again I was living alone at 17.

Neither of them trashed the house/have parties BTW. Not all teens would do that.

@urrrgh46 That's a good point actually. My experience was back in the 80s before mobiles. In fact, my best mates parents only got a land line phone installed when she started secondary. Incredible to think about it now. No way to keep tabs on anyone. How did we all cope!?

I'd go mad with worry if my teens were roaming London without their mobiles on them!

Late 70s I was left for quite a long time when my df worked aboard, jeez what a time I had House looed like a doss house, Garden full of motorcyles, week long parties, god it was great!

No I don't think so. I know some people move out at 16 and live independently but that's not the norm. They could get lonely, there could be an emergency. Would they cook and eat properly, do laundry and clean the house?

I was left for 2 weeks at 16 and absolutely loved the independence! I won't hesitate if I think my DC is responsible enough when they reach that age.

No.

Can you not marry at 16?

I was left alone in parent’s large house West London from 15 for 3 weeks-
Absolutely loved it.
Looked after garden, had a relative check in, In turn I left DS for weekends from 15, no trouble at all.
If you trust child, it’s OK.

With parental consent

Yes I would as long as you have family / friends local that he can call into or can drop in on him if needed.

16 used to be the age people got a full time job and often moved out. Many 16 year olds live alone and some even have kids of their own!

No...and I say that having left my own 17yo (nearly 18yo) DD at home this week while I'm on holiday (in the UK but a 6 hour drive away).

She is perfectly capable of looking after herself and my best mate is lodging with us atm which made it an easier decision.

Nonetheless I had her on the phone from 2am - 3.45am last night as she was feeling unwell and suffering with anxiety and I felt like shite for not being there for her.

Obviously she's nearly an adult and it's something we'll both have to get used to, but I'm bloody glad she isn't any younger.

I was left alone for two weeks annually while my parents went on holiday from the age of 14 onwards.

A bit of independence and responsibility early on pays dividends in later life.

Clearly if there's been past issues with trust or behaviour this may not apply - but if there's not reason to not trust them, go for it.

No it’s absolutely neglectful

Not any more the law is changing to be 18, no exception in England and Wales. Scotland will remain 16 (WITHOUT parental consent)

I was left alone for two weeks at 16. My mum and dad trusted me totally. I was a well behaved child.

I couldn’t actually share the stories from those two weeks here as they are the tales of legend and I’d be scared someone who knew me saw them and recognised me.

Same here. I just said no.

They had the option of leaving me, or losing their holiday.
Nothing bad happened.

Yes. A 16 year old can move out into their own flat at 16. Only you know the maturity of your DC though.