A poll DS aged nearly 9 leave at home on own for 5-20mins?

[Xena]

OK DS1 is nearly 9 and off school with sickness the school run (from when I leave the house to when I'm back) in the morning takes 7 mins. 7 mins at lunchtime but upto 20 mins at the end of the day.
Who would leave him at home and who would take him?

It is, I always have to try to find the balance between scaring (I have re spelt that 50 times i mean scare ing but can't spell it ) him with what could happen and helping become confident in doing things for himself. I seem to be getting the balance on this ok at the moment because if I had to describe his general attitude he is confident in his own ability but is not over- confident. His confidence in academic abilty is another story!

I would leave him at home for 20 minutes no problem, unless he's a child who from experience you cannot trust not to get into mischief.