13 & 9 year old home alone?

[user2848502016]

So just found out DH and my work Christmas "dos" are the same night.
He has already said he'll go to his and paid a deposit.
The problem is my parents are our usual babysitters but they will be on holiday, nobody else to have the DC really.
I was going to say I won't go to mine but then thinking would our DC actually be ok alone? They are 13 and 9 (10 in January), and quite sensible.
Neither of us are planning on staying overnight and if I went to mine I would just go for the meal and drive so wouldn't be drinking- probably out for around 3h. I would be about 25-30 mins drive from home (DH further away). Mine also starts at 6pm so wouldn't be too late a night. My eldest has a mobile so could get in touch if any problems.
We also have a dog who would be an added level of protection!
I feel like the DC would be ok watching a film together, and if it was during the daytime I wouldn't be worried at all but just that it's going to be at night makes me more worried.
What would you do?

Oh and mine absolutely prefer staying by themselves than having an unknown babysitter. And as we moved only a couple of years ago all babysitters are unknown!

Sounds like you think they will be ok, so i would trust your gut. I assume they get on quite well so no chance of big rows. Get them a takeaway and settle down with a film. Leave them number of a neighbour/ somebody very local as 'just in case'.

Enjoy your night out

I wouldn’t do it. In the daytime maybe ok for an hour or so, but night time is different, especially for 3 hours…..will you even enjoy yourself if you’re constantly phone checking?
I think 9 is too young to be home at night with no adult present.

No - too much responsibility on the 13 year old . Is there a local sixth former who would want to earn a few pounds

I wouldn’t. I have identical age children to yours and I don’t think it would be fair on my eldest to make him in responsible for his sister for quite a long time period. He’d be fine on his own for the evening but I think he’d hate having to manage his sister who sees herself as his equal (which is fine most of the time but not in this situation).
I also think that for all her confidence normally, she might get a bit anxious.

I personally wouldn’t. iF anything went wrong and it was discovered you were out just for works dos, quite a distance away and either of you returned home drunk you would get into a lot of trouble and probably have your faces splashed over the newspapers.
To me it isn’t worth the risk being a distance from home at night for a Christmas party.

In the daytime maybe ok for an hour or so, but night time is different... I think 9 is too young to be home at night with no adult present.

It won't be night. OP said her 'do' starts at 6pm. She'll expect to be home around 9pm. That's early evening.

...quite a distance away and [if] either of you returned home drunk...

OP said she'll be driving and not drinking.

@user2848502016 thats ok. they are old enough. leave them money and show 13 year old how to order from pizza hut or domino's! you wont be late home anyway!

Correct, I predict I'll be home before 9, and DH won't have to leave until 6. I'll be home by the time they want to go to bed etc.
Definitely won't be drinking as I will be driving home.

I have talked to them about it, the 13 year old said it was fine, the 9 year old doesn't seem sure so I'll probably leave it a few weeks before deciding! I might see if she could go to one of her friends for a sleepover instead and I could return the favour another night.

I think they would be more stressed out with a babysitter they don't know than being alone tbh.