To leave nearly 18yo DS home alone while me and DH go away for the weekend?

[Klugmaki]

Bit of a dilemma and just want some outside views really. Me and DH have booked a weekend away next weekend (Fri–Mon), just us two, down in Devon. Nothing posh – just a little cottage, some pub meals, bit of peace and quiet. DS will be 18 in August, so I figured he’s old enough to stay home on his own.

He’s generally sensible, does his college work, not out every night or anything. But I’ve just found out from DD (she’s 14) that he’s told a couple of his mates they can “come round” while we’re away. Now I’m stressing it’s going to turn into a full-blown house party.

I trust him… sort of. But I also remember what me and my mates were like at that age. I don’t think he’d plan to wreck the place but if 10 lads turn up with a crate each then what?

DH reckons I’m overthinking and we should just go. “He’s nearly 18, let him be,” etc. But I keep picturing coming home to red wine on the carpet and vom in the hedge.

To make it worse, found an empty bottle of Malibu shoved under his bed when I was changing his sheets the other day. He said it was “leftover from New Year” but we didn’t even have Malibu at New Year.

Would you still go? Would you trust him or would you leave a neighbour or auntie to “pop by”? Or just cancel and go another time?

AIBU to be getting twitchy or do I need to just let go a bit?

My son went to a party while the mate's parents were away. They'd given permission for 6 friends to visit. The other 20 had to enter via the neighbours drive and then crawl on hands and knees to avoid the ring doorbell.
I gave him hell when I found out but too late.

We are leaving our nearly 18 year old for a week when we go abroad . I fully expect he will have friends round and house will be messy when we return.
As long as he is safe and my house isn't wrecked its fine.

Both our children were told that the house has to be in the same state we left it in when we returned or they weren’t getting left home alone again and they would go and stay with a grandparent.

They had friends around but nothing major and the house was all hoovered and tidy for our return.

These threads always insist that every single teen will have a party if left alone at home. It's just not true. If you know your kid well and trust them there's no reason they will go against what you agree and the idea that a couple of mates around for PlayStation will turn into a 100 person rager via social media. Life isn't a teen movie circa 1994

Just go. You have to show him that you trust him.
And if there's red wine on the carpet, so what? He can pay to get it cleaned!

Do you have outdoor cameras?

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/1778656/sicko-gecko-jailed-blender-animal-charity/

Do you have pets? Some people who gate crash parties deliberately injure or even kill pets in the household.

Do not read further if you don't want to read about horrific animal abuse. Don't read the article if you don't want to see the aftermath of horrific animal abuse.
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The two men in the article gatecrashed a teenager's house party held while the his mum and sister were away and while he slept they trashed the house and filmed the mum's pet gecko being deliberately killed in a blender, they killed her other gecko by throwing it to the floor.