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Teenagers

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

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Original poster

How long to you leave your 14 year old on their own?

38 replies

ifonly4 · 11/11/2015 14:27

So far it's been 1-2 hours but I've always been local. Looking into working more hours, but just wondering what others do. I totally trust DD and know a few people locally who she could phone for help if there was a problem reaching us.

OP posts:

shutupanddance · 11/11/2015 14:31

Good few hours.

Flyonthewindscreen · 11/11/2015 15:21

I have a 13 year old DS and already leave him on own up to a half day occasionally.

Sparklingbrook · 11/11/2015 15:24

Same as Kamer, definitely half a day no problem. With a few groundrules.

FreckledLeopard · 11/11/2015 15:25

All day. I work full time, DD is 14 and has been left home alone since 12 when I've been at work.

She sleeps until 2pm during holidays anyhow, so only has to entertain herself for a few hours until I get home.

balletgirlmum · 11/11/2015 15:29

Dd is in year 9 & turned 14 last month.

I left her all day whilst I worked last summer holidays but only half a day if Ds (age 11) was with her.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 11/11/2015 15:32

Dd has been left all day in school holidays since she was 11yo.

exexpat · 11/11/2015 15:35

DD is 13 and I have left her all day before now - she is sensible and is fine with it. It depends a lot on the child.

SofiaAmes · 11/11/2015 15:40

It depends on the 14 year old. I have been leaving my just barely 13 year old dd on her own for significant periods of time (I'm always at the end of a mobile) since she was 9 or 10. She even saved someone's life a few weeks ago while on her own. (She insisted on called an ambulance when the woman told her she had been stung by a bee and was highly allergic but had forgotten her epi pen at home and asked dd for a benadryl. After taking the benadryl, she insisted she felt better, but dd called me and said she was still worried and I said to call an ambulance anyway, which she did. The woman went into full anaphylactic shock in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.) But I wouldn't leave my ds alone at the same age or for very long even now and he's almost 15.

Kim82 · 11/11/2015 15:43

Ds is 14 and in year 10. He was left from 9am - 2pm from being 11 while dh and I were at work (I left at 9, dh was home by 2).

Now I'm a sahm he is sometimes left for the day if we go for a day out and he doesn't want to come, he is also left in the house in the evening until midnight-ish either on his own or with a friend if dh and I go out - the younger 3 stay out at grandparent's houses.

Stoneagemum · 11/11/2015 15:43

1-2 days (shoot me now!) I have been away overnight for work and left ds when 14 alone with telephone checks from me ad gp's.

TurnOffTheTv · 11/11/2015 15:46

All day. I would expect this question for a 11/12 year old, 14 is quite old to have only been left home alone for an hour.

momb · 11/11/2015 16:15

All day

bigTillyMint · 11/11/2015 16:22

Well my two are usually together or in/out - leave either/both all day quite happily. Also we go out and leave one/both home alone till we come in at 12/1am. Haven't yet left my 16yo overnight, but would be happy to now.

AnyoneButAndre · 11/11/2015 16:28

My 13.4 year old is pretty scatty and I'm just about to start leaving her 9-2 occasionally in the hols.

bigTillyMint · 11/11/2015 16:32

CPtart · 11/11/2015 16:45

Leave my 12 year old for 2-3 hours, and we are pretty rural.

JustDanceAddict · 11/11/2015 16:57

DD is 13 and I'd leave her for half a day no probs. 3-4 hours? I'd make sure we were in touch if any issues arose. She's sensible and can make herself a meal, etc.

Obs2015 · 11/11/2015 17:09

Why have you only left fur an hour or do up until now OP? That seems too short a time.
I have left ds1 at home all day recently , whilst I was a work, minutes away - and he is very young. He got the bus to the local town to see the James Bond film. He loved it and was proud and felt grown up.

BackforGood · 11/11/2015 20:34

All day.
1 - 2 hours is surely the time you can leave them when they are about 9 ?

KatharineClifton · 11/11/2015 20:39

I'll leave my almost 14 year olds for a morning shift as they sleep through most of it anyway before I get back for 2. If I'm on a late finishing at 10 I take them to my mum's.

All teens are different though so see what yours would be happy with? Mine were a bit scared when I started work tbh, but they've coped and now used to it.

lljkk · 11/11/2015 20:44

All day, younger than 14, too. Depends on kid & all that, obviously.

KatharineClifton · 11/11/2015 20:59

I would of thought all teens this age are left home alone when parents are at work and there is no school - there isn't childcare for this age is there?

Sparklingbrook · 11/11/2015 21:08

the other thing to consider is that some children at that age don't want to be in the house alone. Especially after dark.

motherwithheadache · 11/11/2015 21:40

overnite

Hulababy · 11/11/2015 21:42

13y dd has been left for full school days - when she is off school (inset etc, not illness) and I am at work (school). She often will let herself out, lock up. catch bus and meet friends, etc.

Never overnight and not late at night either.

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