Working away

[justcallmethefixer]

Would you leave your 14.5 year old at home when you are away for 1 night?

Plenty of batch cooked meals in freezer, used to heating one up as needs to be out if the house for activities before a I get in from work, used to getting off to school as some days I leave for work first.

They are happy for it to happen, have good neighbours and family at end of phone wwyd?

My way to gage it would be what would your reaction be if someone told you they left their 14 on their own for a night. My feeling is it's too young. They aren't really emotionally equipped to deal with a night alone. 14 is ok to be alone for an evening but not a night.

I wouldn't have done (DD is now 16) and, to be honest, I don't think she would've been happy with it either.

Could they have a friend over for a sleepover?

Depends on the teenager. My eldest is a few years off that yet but I think I would. Also DH was that age when his mum went into labour with his youngest brother and he stayed at home that night himself.

I wouldn't. They might be old enough to cope if everything goes to plan, but accidents happen and that is when a 14yo is less likely to think clearly than an older child. I wouldn't be shocked if it happened due to an unexpected or completely unavoidable set of circumstances - like mum going into labour - but would be a bit judgy about a mum who had time to organise a contingency plan but just decided not to.

My DS said he was fine when we went out to parties when he was 14, but then I realised that he was always waiting up for us, he just couldn't sleep until we were back. He just wouldn't admit it. He was too old for a sitter, in the end it meant that we didn't stay out late until he was 16 - just when we had thought that our social life had become easier after his sister left home, it actually became harder.