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 way. Mine doesn't have enough life skills to be trusted to look after herself and the house. She'd eat cereal and toast and crisps all week, never clean up, probably leave the front door unlocked overnight, go out and forget to take a key etc. I would be very doubtful even leaving her overnight to be honest.

It depends upon the trustworthiness of the individual 16 year old, and whether you have a friend/relative/neighbour who can keep an eye on things.

My DS is 16 and very sensible. There is no way I’d leave him for 2 weeks and he wouldn’t want to be left that long. One night perhaps, 2 max.

My parents left me for a fortnight when I was 16. I had a summer job. Before mobile s etc and didn’t leave any food apart from some milk and half a loaf. Didn’t leave any money either. I suppose they thought it would teach me some life realities or something. It was fairly miserable!

But you were the absolute exception to the rule. Surely you realise most 16 year olds are more dependent on family than you were?

I don't think we should be aiming, as a society, for 16 year olds living alone.

Too long. At 16 he comes with on family holiday.

It was normal growing up most of my friends had left home by 16 how times have changed can’t even leave them for a couple of weeks now

Absolutely not. I wouldn’t even leave a 16 year old overnight. 18 years old is our agreed age.

🤣

rubbish

My daughter is 17 in September and I will be leaving her for two weeks in August. You know your own child and the arrangements. You don't need the view of a load of strangers that don't know your family telling you what to do.

So if he says no to coming, you don't go on holiday?! Bugger that as an option. He comes, and if not, the two weeks at home with no,holiday for me, would be very, very unpleasant....

Would depend on the 16 year old really, some can be sensible enough but others can't. When I was doing my Erasmus year there was a 16 year old living in my student building, she was going to a specialist high school away from home so was living in student accommodation just like university students, and she seemed to manage ok. My ex's niece did the same at 16 too, wanted to go to an art high school in a different town from home so moved into student accommodation. If those 16 year olds can manage to live independently all term long then I suppose some other 16 year olds can manage two weeks.

Not for 2 weeks

I think it’s a bit young.

At 16, after GCSEs we would leave our son at home for a long weekend or he went away for a few days with friends. By just 17, he was spending a couple of weeks at home by himself or away with friends.

Yes everything wasn’t better back then. Sorry you had to leave home still being a child. Something in between then and now would be good.

Totally depends on the 16yo.

at 16 my DD1 was more sensible than most adults. She’d have filled her time going out to do babysitting and studying. I’d probably have come back to a tidier and more organised house.

Ds1 he’d have slept and games for two weeks. No house damage but not a healthy way to live for a fortnight.

DD2 - not a fucking chance! In fact when she’s 30 I imagine the thought of her home alone will still make me nervous. Not only is she calamitously accident prone but she can turn anything into a party.

I was left home alone at 16 regularly. I had a part time job though so was at school through the week then worked on the weekend.

it depends on how sensible your DC is

This

I think you have to go by your instincts. 2 weeks is a long time and if they haven't been left alone overnight before they might not be as brave as they think they are. Only you know what your dc can handle. Its ok people saying they would or wouldn't but each 16 year old varies in maturity.

I think people sum it up when they say it depends on the 16 year old. My daughter is fiercely independent and organised. Can cook a full meal from scratch. Is tidier than anyone in the house.

I think if you need to ask, its probably your intuition telling you “hell no”

Why will you lose your Holiday?

'Ok the nanny will be here before we leave'

This. "No chance. 17 at a push, and 18 yes definitely, but 16 no."

A lot of maturing happens between 16 and 18.

So much has changed since I was a teen. Now there is too much temptation for a 16 year old. Self-discipline in this day and age with all this technology is difficult.

At the end of the day, it may be one of the last holidays you have a family unit before they gain their independence. Go together and make memories.

And this thread is a prime example of why when they go away to university they haven't a bloody clue how to function!