would you leave a sensible 10 and 8 year old while you had dinner with a neighbour?

[hatwoman]

this is in a small village where we know all our other neighbours. both dcs have been left at home alone for short periods - including sometimes in the evening whilst taxi-ing is going on. They also do other independent stuff like walk to the shop and walk the dog. They're know how to use the phone and are happy with the idea of us going.

Is it next door? Yes I think so

No i wouldn't.

The only think that puts me off is if anything went wrong ss would take a dim view of under 14s on their own , is it under 14s, I can't remember now

it's 3 doors away

yes)~$]

Yes

Yes - but I wouln't admit it on Mumsnet .

NO!!!

FFS this happened to me all the time as a child

why should they be left alone beacuse they are sensible, why should the 10 yo have to take responsability for the 8yo.

kids always get punished for being sensible, my brother was never given these responsibilitys over our younger brothers and sisters when i left home because he is not responsible, wish i acted up more now.

Also just because its a small village doesnt mean its safe- didnt jessica and sarah live in a small village?

Yes, I do that, if they can just come round and find me, but I wouldn't leave the 10yo responsible for the 8yo - they are separately responsible for themselves.

Yes. I first left mine when they were 7 and 12 - they loved it - and still beg us to go out so they can have an evening on their own!

Not whilst I was out having dinner for the evening - too long imho. Yes to a quick dash somewhere for 10/15 mins though.

I loved being given the responsibility of staying at home when mum and dad went out. Me and my sister (3yrs younger) used to have separate responsibilities - i think my little sister's job was to phone mum and dad if anything was wrong with me etc - I was responsible for helping sis out of house and to neighbours for house problems. We both looked after each other :)

Little sis was always much more responsible and calm in an emergency!

No. I wouldn't even dream of leaving my 16 year old in charge of my 11 year old!! I could never live with myself if something went wrong.

If a NT 16 year old and 11 year old can't be left alone together for a few hours then something's gone badly wrong with the way they were brought up.

Yes of course I would.

I wouldn't leave an 8 and 10 yr old alone in the evening after dark.

I would for short periods in the day

I think I would.

I would settle them i'n my bed with some treats and Saturday night tele. I would have the neighbours number programmer into the phone and I would pop back every half an hour or so.

Would they be asleep in bed or up, watching TV?
How long would you be out for?

We sometimes left ours to go next door when they were fast asleep (very good sleepers!) - aged from 2 - 8.

I don't think I would leave my 2 (10 and 11 now) up on their own as they wouldn't go to bed and could be watching all sorts of unsuitable stuff!

Seeker - no, they are simply very much loved and cared for children who are my world. I am a caring and loving mother who puts the welfare of her children first at all times! Is that not what being a mum is all about? Am I to be damned by total stangers for that?? I am new to Mumsnet and until now had found it a very positive experience! Bitchy comments are surely unacceptable?

I wouldn't leave them for such an extended period of time in the evening.

I hope I'm quite good at allowing my DS some measure of independence but that would be a bridge too far for me.

But only you know their capabilities.

What if there was a house fire?

florapup Unfortunately there are some MN posters who do make 'bitchy' comments, and as long as they don't make a personal attack, it seems to be acceptable.

OP I would not, as I feel they are too young to be left alone.

thanks for the input all

you do know that 16 year olds can legally get married (albeit with parental permission). they can leave home, get jobs and pay taxes and can have babies and stuff.