MN Jury please - should he be left?

[curiosity]

Scenario.

Got to go somewhere with youngest child.

Eldest child (almost 13 and very mature) often stays home alone for short periods, with strict rules, knows which neighbours to contact in an emergency, has contact numbers, etc etc.

Middle child (10) will be dropped off by a friend about 30-40 minutes before we get home.

Would you leave middle child with eldest for half an hour?

Yup. But then I sometimes worry if I'm too lax.

You know your own child though...

Yes. If oldest child and middle child can be trusted not to bash each other over the head with a TV remote or whatever.
IMO

yes

yes I would knowing my kids.

can't friend keep middle child for 30 - 40 mins extra?

but if they won't beat crap out of each other .. and both children know what's expected of them then yes

Yes.

(if they were going to beat the crap out of each other they'd do it whether you were there or not)

Yes, friend would have kept him, but I'd forgotten that events clashed so hadn't asked.

yes.

DS1 is almost 13 and is left for short periods, with same rules as yours. DS2 is 11 and has only been left with DS1 under strict instructions that, if I come back to any complaints/damage/problems, it will be the last time!

Have left DS3 (8) with DS1 for very brief periods, but, tbh, there is much less chance of bloodshed between them than between DS1 and DS2.

Yes, but not if they tend to fight because they WILL beat the shit out of each other.
I dread having to leave my two alone as they are like spawned cats.

Funnily enough Freckle, I would imagine the same with my three.

Yes. I was looking after my sister at that age (same age gap). Mind you, we did beat seven bells out of each other on occasions! (Oh how my mother laughed when we broke the window fighting...)

I find that my three actually respond to the responsibility of being left alone and dont fight.
They can however fight like cat and dog whenever I am there.
I always tell them that if I come home and there has been any trouble then they will be treated like babies and will have to come everywhere with me in future - it has worked so far.
They are 15 and 11x2

Yes, as long as the responsibility isn't too much, mine thrive on a bit too.

Anyway, they survived, and I did have contingency plans for if I got delayed.

lol, Edam, I also remember breaking a window when I was alone with my brother.

Glad I didn't see your post earlier!