Single parent

[Parcelpass]

What year in high school did you leave your DC home by themselves whilst you worked during the school holidays? Part time or full time?

Year 8, 4 hours max per day.

Year 8 and I work 5 minutes from home so very accessible if needed

I think maybe year 9 or 10, but wouldn’t have been a long day or everyday

My brother and I both went to private school and Mum worked in a state school so we would often get a extra week or two weeks holiday. I was year 7, my brother was year 9. We were alone all day but she would leave task lists so we weren't doing nothing. They weren't all chores, maybe one or two then she would also put fun things like play with cat or leave us money to pick up something for our lunch.

I think I left dd in around yr 9 or 10 to go in to work. She’s very mature for her age though, or more importantly she also was very mature at that age.

I’m talking about odd days though, not days on end.

I'm surprised by all this. I was allowed to be at home alone for a whole day from the age of 11 but some you don't seem able to leave your teenagers alone for more than a couple of hours. Is this normal or was my Mum very trusting? I never burnt the house down, nothing bad happened. The worst thing i did was get locked out couple of times.

How many decades ago was that though? I guess it depends on the child and how many hours a day. @ToadRage was your mum leaving you 4/5 days a week in the holidays?

Year 8. I work mainly from home but I have to go in one or two days a week and will leave DD at home. I try to get back a bit earlier but it isn't always possible.

She's fine with it and is fairly sensible.

Not single parent but dc were left from 10&12 though I got home around 1.30 as pt.

Yep. 5 days a week, 8 hours a day. It was a while ago but does that make a difference?

Lone parent. I didn’t leave my child for more than one day alone in the summer holidays. I used annual leave, unpaid leave, holidays staying with relations.

Oh and after school (secondary) when I was full time dc walked home (5 minute walk) and I was 5 minutes away. Dc home 4ish I was home an hour later.

when dc was older about 14 for six months or so I’d be home about 6 as I worked an hours drive away then.

my dc was rarely alone as you can tell , much to their annoyance 🤣

Full days From Y7 although I could be easily contacted by phone and tried to take at least one day off a week in the summer and 2 weeks of annual leave.
From the summer between Y9/10 DD was babysitting a neighbour’s 7 year old for full days. I find it very strange that there are DC of secondary age who can’t be left home alone.

Year 5. Couple of hours at a time. He's a sensible child though, so I was lucky (or just an amazing parent!) He was happy on Minecraft and could make snacks. Wouldn't have occurred to him to go out and easily ignored the doorbell.

For those of us in the real world who are single parents without family support.....mine were 10&12. They got themselves up and ready in the morning, took the bags/lunches i packed the night before and then walked themselves home. I usually return about 45 minutes after then get back.

During holidays they would have to spend some days alone. But they were sensible children and I was always at the end of the phone.

Now 17 & 15 and very independent well rounded children

Yes it does. I grew up in the 90s and my childhood was far different today. We also knew more because we did not have all this tech so yes it does make a differce IMO. I mean that kindly.

I am not judging your mum nor any other mum. Im just trying to see what would be reasonable but at the same time realastic for myself @Noideamatey so thanks for sharing.

It would be 6ish hours a day a few times a week during the holidays.

Year 7.

My GC (11) has started being left for around three hours, this year, coming up to the end of year six. Last year I could leave her for about an hour and a half. In a years time she should be fine to be left for 6 hours, a few times a week. She is very confident, mature and enjoys responsibility. We did have neighbours who she could have asked for help and has a phone. We have a support network if there's an emergency, that makes a difference.