Leaving children unattended

[likeazebra]

I want to get an idea of people's opinions please. My childcare arrangements have fallen through and I'm going away for a few days early next year. I can't decide whether to cancel or if I'm being over cautious.

3 DC ages 17, 14 and 11. They will be cared for overnight by DH but with travel and work etc will be alone from 5am ish until 7pm ish is this unreasonable or am I ok asking my oldest DC to care for the siblings?

Go.

It wouldn't bother me, but I regularly looked after my little sister as a teen, for whole days while both parents worked. She is 10 years younger than me. It was fine. My sister used to look after DS for me as a teen too (DS was born when my sister was 11). I would bung her some money to take him out with her friends sometimes if she didn't fancy staying in.

Holy crap.

It’s a couple of days. If your 11 & 14 year olds can’t cope with this , let alone the 17 year old, you all need to look at your parenting.

Is the 17 year old doing meals? What would she be like in an emergency? Would she know what to do in terms of first aid, fire etc?

I think they will be fine.
My 11 yr old would probably get a bit lonely but that's a personality thing rather than an age thing. I would arrange a play with a friend during the day if I could for him.
You know your kids, if you think they will be ok. It's only 2 full days and no overnights.
Could grandparents pop in for lunch one day, just for an hour? And a neighbour invite them in for tea and biscuits for an hour on the other day? That would be enough I think.

Also, it's for two days, not a whole week even.

Two days with an adult there evening and night is fine.

It is only 2 days and they will not be alone overnight and if they are not in school there is no need for your DH to wake them up.

But I would also be a bit wary about them spending too much time on their own as it is when they get bored that they get into trouble so I would probably arrange for the 2 youngest to have a sleepover with a friend whose parent you trust for a night (not the whole trip) just to keep them busy and out of trouble.

Thanks all for your replies. I got in bed last night thinking about it and had all scenarios whizzing round my head! You've put perspective back, thank you.

I looked after my sister for a week when she was 9 and I was 16. No harm came to us. Mum was in hospital and I didn't want to go to a relative's.

Absolutely fine, I was left with siblings much younger at about 16. Everyone was fed and watered, they’ll be fine. Especially as there will be an adult in the house overnight

Mine are the almost exact same ages and I’d be absolutely fine with it. Plenty of texting etc during the day and they’d know what to do in an emergency. Not a problem.
(And would bribe with Dominos on one of the evenings!)

17 years old is old enough to have their own children, go to
Uni ans other stuff.

Re: letting people down. I'm sorry, but your DC come first and any reasonable person would know this and accept it without holding it against you. Presumably we're talking about other adults here - if so then they'll cope. Your 11- and 14-year-old though should not be left alone for 14 hours a day in the holidays. TBH your DH should be stepping up and saying he'll take a few days off if it's so important that you go.