To leave DC at home alone all day

[StrawberrySwitch]

DC is a sensible 12 year old - four months off 13. DH is working away and will be uncontactable. I am self employed and could book in appointments and could do with it - it’s list earnings. I think it’s fine for me to leave him home alone all day - I will be five min drive away. DH disagrees. He says it’s too long and what if an emergency happens. We live out in the sticks but he could walk to where I work if he needed to.

So AIBU to leave him home all day - 10 til 6pm.

It’s just this one day. He’s had two and a half weeks away in Europe and then a week camping. Some of the time he had friends his own age with him, some of it was activities and some of it just us chilling so a good mix this summer. He’s also had friends up to ours and has gone to friends too. So one of his best summers yet I’d say! It’s not usually this jam packed.

I would leave mine. What child are would there be for that age group - Dts certainly wouldn't go off to a holiday camp or whatever.

Lucky lad! It sounds like a day to himself will be just the ticket.

Mine has had a few days like this each week of the holidays, he's 13 in October. He's been fine although he looks like stig of the dump when we get home because all he's done is take the dog out, played Xbox, gone to coop for a meal deal and played more Xbox!

I would be ok with this but probably not using the kitchen too much, only to have a cold lunch, no boiling water or chopping things, but then I have been called overprotective before 😅

i think it'd be fine. I'd query it if for weeks on end but definitely for one day. I also have a 12 year old sensible boy and I'd do this with him if needed. He can always ring you if an emergency I assume? I tend to tell DS not to use the oven/hob if I'm not around but only because he can be a bit forgetful.

It's one day, more than fine. If dad isn't happy with it he can take the day off and do something with him.

Perfectly fine. I wouldn't worry too much about him getting bored, it's not a bad thing. Or getting lonely - I am not their 24/7 entertainment so they need to learn how to access other avenues to avoid loneliness (i.e. call a friend).
Remembering myself at that age, I loved being home alone as the house was always full of people and it was nice to have a day to chill, read a book, do my own thing without having to conform to someone else's meal schedule etc.
Interested to hear why your husband doesn't think it is OK, though.

My 12 year old wouldn't like this (despite the fact he's had a few days gaming all day while I work from home and in all honestly wouldn't have noticed if I was there or not), but if yours is fine with it then I don't see a problem. He does get bored with the above if more than an odd day so I try to break it up or find a holiday club that'll take him. I'd probably try and make the day a bit shorter and obviously not every day.

Yes I'd leave my child the same age.

My 13-year-old loves time alone, she has since she started secondary at 11, and you are only 5 minutes away. The deal is my daughter has to answer her phone when I call. She can make herself food. I often come back to a nicely tidied kitchen which never happens when I am home with her!

I was often left alone at this age, also out in the sticks, and was absolutely fine. I’d just do karaoke all day 🤣

It’s great if you can pop back around lunch to check on everything as well.

Your Dh has left you with sole responsibility because he has not considered the issue of your DS while he goes away for work. So he doesn't get to complain about what you choose to do with that sole responsibility. if he's so concerned, he can rearrange his work trip.

For the record, 12/13 is absolutely fine to spend the day at home alone. I wouldn't think twice about this.

Absolutely yes.

Not for 6 weeks solid but for odd days yes.

DD will probably be left all day once or twice a week in summer hols when she is 12 almost 13 as we will have no childcare at that age.

If the kid is sensible, within easy reach, has contingency plans and is totally fine with it, then no issues at all.

I've done it with DD for the odd inset day for example.

I think it's fine if it's only occasional days and if he can contact you.
I have a 13 year old and would leave her all day - just wouldn't want her alone every day all summer or she'd get bored