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Original poster

Leaving 15 year old at home

397 replies

yetanotherdaytoday · 28/11/2023 19:53

Is a sensible 15 year old too young to be at home alone for a night, as a one off?

DH has to take MIL to hospital 300 miles away and I need to be at work in the next town, to run an event, on a day with train strikes. My youngest can go to her friends but I don't have anywhere to send my DS.

DS is suggesting I leave him at home. I'm tempted. I was up to all sorts at his age, he's a good kid and very very sensible in comparison!

I don't drive and therefore wouldn't make it back till breakfast.

If it was a normal day at work I'd just take the day off, but the event can't run without me.

Is it madness to consider this? I'm not sure what else to do. My couple of friends who I could usually call on for favours just can't help that day.

WWYD?

OP posts:
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WarningOfGails · 28/11/2023 22:12

I did, we were away 2 nights and DD could only stay with a friend the 2nd night. So the first night she stayed home alone. She was totally fine.

AllWeWantToDo · 28/11/2023 22:13

I would if he's happy with it. I did with one of mine at that age

Namechange1990 · 28/11/2023 22:48

I absolutely would allow 1 of mine shes stayed alone since she was 15 for a night. worst case IF there was a problem you could always get a taxi back

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Eatbetterthisweek · 28/11/2023 22:51

I would leave him and tell the neighbors.

Menomeno · 28/11/2023 22:56

The NSPCC say children under 16 should never be left overnight. There’s no law against it technically, but god forbid something went wrong, you’d be held responsible.

WhatFlavourIsIt · 28/11/2023 23:15

I would and have done it quite frequently. I often work a distance from home, so I can be away for a couple of nights at a time. If they are happy & comfortable with it I can see any issue.

bellsbuss · 28/11/2023 23:22

We did it with our eldest , we were going away with the younger ones for a day and night and she chose not to come. She was fine , in fact she loved the peace and quiet

mrsfollowill · 28/11/2023 23:28

If you have good neighbours and DS has a number for someone trusted in an proper emergency and the fact he is OK with it then I'd do it.
We had to leave DS home alone at 16 for the first time when I had a medical emergency v late at night and DH had to come to hospital with me. We were only a mile down the road to be fair so DH could have whipped back home quickly. As it was he came home at 4 am and DS had took himself off to bed, locked up and switched everything off.
I had my own place at just turned 18 and I'm not sure I was any more sensible or grown up from when I was 15. The main thing is he is happy with it.

Copperoliverbear · 28/11/2023 23:49

Yes. Definitely too young

Leaving 15 year old at home
NorthernAttitude · 28/11/2023 23:54

I would ask my employer to fund a taxi home rather than fund a hotel room. I think he's a bit young.

Refbuckethat · 29/11/2023 00:04

At that age I was baby sitting over night. A lot of 15 year olds would be fine for one night

LaviniasBigBloomers · 29/11/2023 00:07

You just need to tell your organiser/company that circs have changed and they need to fund a car home, surely? No need for this angst. even if it is more than a hotel, it's just more than a hotel, and you need to be home. Know your worth.

Moveoverdarlin · 29/11/2023 00:14

I’d get my company to fund a taxi home. £90 is expensive for the next town! (I traveled to my nearest regional airport this week, the journey was 55mins and that cost £65) Or suggest going halves with them. Could the friend that your staying with give you a lift home? Rather than crashing at hers, I think I’d rather be home in my own bed and have to fork out £90, rather than worrying at a friend’s house all time.

SheilaFentiman · 29/11/2023 00:16

I would, provided that someone local (nearby friend or a neighbour) was on standby

Easterdaffsx · 29/11/2023 00:19

If you feel you need to ask on here then I would say no it's not okay .

Personally it's not okay imho anyway but I admit to being a little OTT
My children had a nanny until they were 17. If i wasn't home I paid someone else to be there.

anareen · 29/11/2023 00:23

I would personally feel very uneasy about leaving DC home alone

Original poster
yetanotherdaytoday · 29/11/2023 00:47

Moveoverdarlin · 29/11/2023 00:14

I’d get my company to fund a taxi home. £90 is expensive for the next town! (I traveled to my nearest regional airport this week, the journey was 55mins and that cost £65) Or suggest going halves with them. Could the friend that your staying with give you a lift home? Rather than crashing at hers, I think I’d rather be home in my own bed and have to fork out £90, rather than worrying at a friend’s house all time.

I agree £90 is a lot!

It may have been more as it was nightime and the weekend, but this will be night time on a train strike day, so I wouldn't expect it to be much less.

OP posts:
Original poster
yetanotherdaytoday · 29/11/2023 00:48

Moveoverdarlin · 29/11/2023 00:14

I’d get my company to fund a taxi home. £90 is expensive for the next town! (I traveled to my nearest regional airport this week, the journey was 55mins and that cost £65) Or suggest going halves with them. Could the friend that your staying with give you a lift home? Rather than crashing at hers, I think I’d rather be home in my own bed and have to fork out £90, rather than worrying at a friend’s house all time.

Unfortunately not as she has her own DC, and no car.

OP posts:
Original poster
yetanotherdaytoday · 29/11/2023 00:50

Easterdaffsx · 29/11/2023 00:19

If you feel you need to ask on here then I would say no it's not okay .

Personally it's not okay imho anyway but I admit to being a little OTT
My children had a nanny until they were 17. If i wasn't home I paid someone else to be there.

That's nice, but I can't afford a nanny to look after my DC routinely, so we don't have one. My youngest stopped going to a CM after school when she was 10.

OP posts:
DreamTheMoors · 29/11/2023 00:50

When I was 14, I babysat for a couple who lived out in the middle of nowhere for their two small children - ages 3 & 1, on New Years Eve.
He picked me up at 8pm, and while I don’t remember what time they left, they arrived back home at 4am.
If that’s not leaving a child (3 children) at home alone overnight, I don’t know what is.
I’m hard pressed at how my parents thought this was acceptable.

Original poster
yetanotherdaytoday · 29/11/2023 00:52

DreamTheMoors · 29/11/2023 00:50

When I was 14, I babysat for a couple who lived out in the middle of nowhere for their two small children - ages 3 & 1, on New Years Eve.
He picked me up at 8pm, and while I don’t remember what time they left, they arrived back home at 4am.
If that’s not leaving a child (3 children) at home alone overnight, I don’t know what is.
I’m hard pressed at how my parents thought this was acceptable.

Yes, I was babysitting two young DC from 13.

OP posts:
mrssunshinexxx · 29/11/2023 01:11

Ask your friend to run you home
After the event

Original poster
yetanotherdaytoday · 29/11/2023 01:54

mrssunshinexxx · 29/11/2023 01:11

Ask your friend to run you home
After the event

I can ask, but as she has no car, and her own DC to look after, that won't get me very far, sadly.

OP posts:
crumbaliba · 29/11/2023 06:46

My kids aren't even close to that age but..what do people really think is going to happen if you leave a 15yr old at home overnight? Sounds like the worst he'll do is stay up all night playing computer games?

crumbaliba · 29/11/2023 06:47

Easterdaffsx · 29/11/2023 00:19

If you feel you need to ask on here then I would say no it's not okay .

Personally it's not okay imho anyway but I admit to being a little OTT
My children had a nanny until they were 17. If i wasn't home I paid someone else to be there.

Classic mumsnet response.