To leave DD on her own

[womanontheedge2022]

Dd is 14, extremely mature and sensible. We are supposed to be out locally one evening this week. She's too old for a babysitter but I'm just not sure if I should leave her all evening, probably back about 1130. She says she'll be fine and neighbours are in, they're good friends and she knows them well. What do you think Mumsnet aibu to leave her or aibu to worry about it?!

At 14 she'll be fine for the evening. I presume she is used to being left alone for shorter periods so it'll just be a natural increase on that.

I'd skip down the garden path to my event without so much as a backwards glance! She sounds like she is mature enough to cope if she needs help.

When I was 14 I was babysitting the neighbour's small kids. She'll be fine.

How far away would you be? As long as you could get back easily enough. I’d be comfortable leaving my 14 year old alone for an evening.

I was babysitting for other children at 14!

I'd leave her. Presumably she has a phone? She can contact you if any issues.

It's fine op. I think my 14 year old would handle a crisis better than I would now.

At fourteen I was the babysitter for quite small children.

My mother would offer me out to baby sit her friends children. Paid well, I enjoyed it.

I leave my two (14&12) frequently til 11:30pm as I work evenings and DP does nights.

DD babysits so seems pointless is having a babysitter!

Thank you everyone! Clearly a massive overreaction on my part as my DH has already pointed out! Sometimes just need a sanity check!! She has food, phone and books and I'm 10 minutes away. Just worry because she's an only one. Merry Christmas 🎄 xxx

Of course she will be fine on her own.

Of course. She's 14 not 4. I leave my 11 and 14 yr olds for evenings out and have been home much much later that you intend.

Just remind her not to open the door and any other rules you might have.

I think you'll be fine to leave her but also fine to worry about it because that's what parents do!! Next time you won't worry as much.

She's happy, you're local if there's a crisis. No problem.
If you were going to be further away, I'd suggest she has a sensible local friend over - not only does that mean she's not alone, but it means friend's parents would probably step in until you got back if there were a crisis.
(When I did babysitting as a teen, my mother saw herself as the emergency backup.)

Totally fine. I used to babysit other children when I was 14

Me too. She'll be fine.

I'd leave her. Presumably you'll be contactable/have your phone with you.

The only thing I'd say would be to go out of your way to make SURE you're home by the time you said you'd be back, if not slightly before.

It was so great at this age for my parents to go out and leave me on my own. A huge treat!

Could you ask the neighbours if they wouldn’t mind knocking at 9/9:30pm just to check on DD quickly if you are worried?

She is 14 FFS, how some on here cope in the real world baffles me.

Harsh! We're all different. No need to be all judgey. Sometimes it just helps to get other opinions.

Thanks everyone else who has taken the time to reply kindly.

Blimey. At this age my sister was babysitting. I had a weekend job. She'll be fine.

I left my 12/13 yr old alone on Saturday nights when I went out in the evening. She was fine with it, but she's not one to get anxious, afraid, or too bored being alone.

She’ll be fine, maybe it’ll be a good for her, a bit of independence