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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Would you let your 13yo do this?

10 replies

castille · 23/08/2010 09:05

DD has been invited to spend most of this week with a friend. But I found out last night that both friend's parents will be at work all week so DD and friend would be doing their own thing in or out of the house every day until 5pm.

Would you mind?

OP posts:
Ilythia · 23/08/2010 09:22

Admittedly by DD's are much younger but I think a 13 yo should be able to look after themselves for the large part of the day with no problems.

Original poster
castille · 23/08/2010 09:31

It's more what they might get up to that bothers me...

OP posts:
NW20 · 23/08/2010 09:48

I used to get left all day, with or without a friend, during the summer hols when I was that age. I can honestly say I never got up to anything worrying.
I suppose it depends on how much you trust your DD and how mature she is for her age.

Lack of money usually prevented me from doing much other than hanging round the house, in the garden or down the park!

firsttimemama · 23/08/2010 09:51

Yes probably. Have you asked her what they plan to do all day?

Ilythia · 23/08/2010 09:52

Ah yes, but then everyone needs to be allowed to get up to things during the summer holidays. It's a good test of character whether they get it all cleared up before her friends parents get home.
Only slightly tongue in cheek there. Why not let her have a day at a time and check in with the parents, if there are serious transgressions then she doesn't get the freedom the next day.

Dumbledoresgirl · 23/08/2010 09:55

It wouldn't bother me particularly but my 2 who are around that age (14 and 12) are boys and when they go to their friend's houses all they do is play computer games and maybe spend half an hour out somewhere with a football. I am not sure how it would be different for girls but I tend to think of them as more mature than boys, not less.

What do you think they will be doing?

SkylineDrifter · 23/08/2010 09:57

castille, if you wouldn't leave her in your own house on her own, or with a friend, for that length of time, then why leave her elsewhere? However, if you'd leave her alone at home, then no reason to think it's any different at her friend's house.

Original poster
castille · 23/08/2010 10:24

I would leave her at home on her own. It's the combination of these 2 teenage girls (with a bit of history) that worries me!

DD can be of the give an inch, take a mile sort so we had to seriously curtail her freedom earlier this year. She claims she has grown up a lot since then (though the evidence is scant).

OP posts:
NW20 · 23/08/2010 20:10

Maybe say to her that this is a trial and a chance for her to prove she can be trusted, and if she blows it then she will be on a short leash and not allowed to go to the next party/sleepover/event/whatever.

hopeless1 · 24/08/2010 19:20

Hi,

Our DD is 13 and this last year has been horrendous with her, however, she has been left to her own devises some of the time during the school hols whilst we have been at work, and like your daughter she has a friend/partner in crime, but to be honest she has proved herself not to get into trouble throughout the day. Despite her faults and attitude, she appears to be sensible when out and about.

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