Would like some opinions on if this is OK or not.....

[Tortoise]

DS1 is 12 and fairly sensible.
DD1 is 6 and DD2 is 5.
Would it be ok to leave DS1 with DD's for probably an hour(maybe less) Tuesday mornings?

I can take DS2 9 with me but no room in friends car for more than one. It is only WW weigh in but i don't want to miss it for the whole of the hols.

At 12 I was often left to look after my younger brother, who is 4 years younger. I remember one rather memorable occasion where I had to lock myself in the downstairs loo while he tried to break the door down with the hoover. My friend and I had wound him up just a teeny bit.

I'd leave them. But then I'm fairly laid back about this sort of thing.

I would and in fact I do leave my 12 yo with younger ones.
I think it is down to you knowing your DCs for example I wouldnt leave DD1 (aged 14yo) with any of the others.

I don't really know. Try it for a shorter period of time first, see hwo it goes.

You have to know your DC, but if they are sensible and, the most important thing, happy about it then I wouldn't see a problem.
I wouldn't recommend it-but in less than 4 yrs he could get married or join the army so I think he could cope with keeping an eye on his two sisters for less than an hour in his own home. Is there a neighbour he could call in an emergency?
I can't believe that you would want to take 4 DCs with you everywhere you go, even if you are just popping out for 5 mins-especially as they get stroppy about it.
I would try just popping out to the local shop (if you have one)or somewhere that takes about 10 mins-even just post a letter and try it out first.
I found that mine were very well behaved when I was out-they saved all the fighting and arguing until I was in! I am sure they liked to wind me up!

my 13 yo looks after the 9 yo for sometimes up to an hour (never more)

they are fine

my biggest worry though is if something happens to me on the way home

make sure they know who to contact if you do not appear after a certain time

I think all the people who are saying no probably don't have a 12 year old yet! It's not for long and a 12 year old in their own home with a sibling is going to be fine.

foofi, please dont make assumption. i have three children older than 12 and i still woulndt do it

as i said, its not that i wouldn't trust teh 12yo, i woudln't trust the younger ones to behave and its too much responsibility IMHO

i dont knwo teh Ops children or where she lives so i can only say what I woudl do, not what she should

just my opinion

foofi, wild assumption - I have a 15,14, 11 and 9 yo's. I certainly would leave a 12 yo alone by themselves for that period, i would not, and did not leave a 12 yo in charge of a 5 and 6 yo. Just too much responsibility for the 12yo and not really fair on them, particularly when it is such an inessential trip.

You know your children and how they interact better than anyone else. If you know which combinations of children will work out then I'd definitely do it. It's not for a long time and they have back up plans of other contacts in case they are worried by anything.
Yes, I would do it.

I usually consider myself an overprotective parent (for example, my eldest is going to a field study for 5 days in Sept, it'll be the longest I've ever been parted from her, and she's 17!)

In their own home, broad daylight, for an hour? This seems reasonable to me.

Foofi - I have a 14 and 12 year old. I will gladly leave them alone together for a couple of hours; I will gladly leave either ne of them alone for a couple of hours (the 12 year old for less time than the 14 year old). I would leave the 14 year old with her young cousins. I would not, however, leave the 12 year old in sole care of younger children: I think it is a huge imposition on a child for what is a non-essential trip out.

If it were me I would either not go, or I would let the 12 year old stay home alone for a while and I'd make the others walk with me (maybe bribed with icecreams!).

Op is not talking about leaving her 12 year old in charge of a baby though! Perhaps I have forgotten what 5 or 6 year olds are like, but I'm pretty sure mine would not have missed me in under an hour in their own home with a 12 year old sibling with them.

However, when it boils down to it, you know your own children and what's suitable for one child at a certain age might not be suitable for another child of the same age.

Janeite If it was a case of walking to WW i would take them all/leave just DS1 at home but unfortunately it is in the next town and about 7 miles away!

DS1 is very happy to stay with them and they are happy to stay with him and they have chosen a DVD to watch. They even worked out that i would be home before the DVD even finished!

Ahh! Sorry, I don't drive, so 'ten minutes in the car' sounded v close to me.

I think it is a fairly essential trip-OP is trying to lose weight-having a 7 week break is going to destroy the resolve somewhat!
Those who never leave DCs over 12 yrs must have very compliant DCs-I could imagine the fuss with mine if I made them all come to the post office or all come to the bank or all see a freind of mine etc. I would have been a prisoner in my own home for the entire summer holiday!

I think it's ok. I was babysitting the neighbour's 3yo when I was 12.

Yes I would (and have done). Go through safety instruction with him first and leave emergency number etc. Have you counted up the "I would" and "I wouldn't"s yet - what is winning?!

All sorted.
Friend has to go into town early so DS1 will have DD's for a while until my Brother turns up to look after them. Probably only 30mins on their own now.

FWIW I think I would provided the three of them were all relatively sensible which they sound like they are. I'd leave my mobile phone on and ensure there is a neighbour I trust who they have the tel no of too.