AIBU to leave 9 year old at home for 15 minutes?

[Nicemam]

Just a quick one because I did this today and now I'm questioning my decision. My son is 9 and an half and I let him stay at home alone this morning while I dropped his sister to nursery which is a 5 minute walk each way. I was gone roughly 15 minutes.

Theres only about 5 minutes of the journey where I can't see the house, and I called him when I left the nursery to come back, is he too young? He plays out and I figure he's safer in his room than outside surely?

It just seems silly to wake him up early in the summer holidays to take his sister to nursery at 8am when he could just be at home relaxing. I make sure he's awake and aware I'm going, and he knows not to open the door to anyone but me, If I'm wrong I'll accept my bad mum badge.

You did the right thing OP. If anything it seems unfair to drag a kid out for a pointless 15 min walk. (He could have been hit by a car!) Many people seem to lack the balance between safety and independence. IMO it's independent confident kids who are ultimately safer as they make the right decisions. Its a long journey to independence and a few mins home alone is a good start.

I come home from work 2h after my kids twice a week. They used to walk to my mums house after school, but once she couldnt take them a few months ago and i told them to just go home, do homework and wait for me. They can call me if they need. Ever since then they sometimes choose to go home instead of to my mums, especially my son (just turned 10). He loves to just be on his own and read or build legos.
My DD (8) sometimes still goes to my mum, but sometimes chooses home too.
They sometimes play outside for hours after school with friends and like you said that would definitely be more dangerous. Its very common where i live though.

It is absolutely fine to do this. But - I don’t like leaving them sleeping while alone in the house as that is more of a risk I think . So I’d wake them up/make sure they weren’t fast asleep while alone in the house.