Would you leave your 14yr old at home with a friend whilst you went out for the night?

[HoppingForward]

I really would like to go out with some friends this evening, newly single parent and younger DC are with their dad and DD1 (14) was staying at a friends but that's fallen through.

She has suggested her and another friend stay at ours and I still go out. I'll be back around midnight but it's about a 40 minute cab ride home.

I don't know why but I don't know if it's ok or not DD is super sensible and I trust her but I don't know her friend very well, DD said friends mum is fine with them staying home alone.

wwyd?

Yes I would have no problem leaving them

Yep 14 is old enough to to babysit so old enough to look after themselves for an evening

Yes.

Yes.

My 14 year old has stayed home with a friend a couple of times

We checked with friends mum that she was OK with it first obviously.

They were fine, we ordered them a Dominoes before we left and they watched movies

Yes she will be fine, go out and enjoy yourself!

I would give them a chance, if they get up to nonsense, then you'll know they are not ready. Maybe a neighbour could keep an eye out and be an emergency contact, just in case anything was to happen

Yes. I would happily leave her with a friend.

We do this all the time these days as our DD isn't as keen on joining us for dinner etc as she was

Yes, and I have done so.

My DC are all quite sensible, and I trust them. I am sure there are untrustworthy teens, but you know what your own DC are like, and I'm sure you know whether she would be okay or not.

Make sure they know what to do/who to reach in an emergency, and they know not to answer the door, etc.

Have a lovely time!

I leave my 14 yo ds on his own alt all times of the day and would at night too if I didn't have dc2 too. He's perfectly ok looking after himself and doing what needs to be done. My sister used to babysit me from me being about 10 and her 15, we had a blast but never anything which would hurt us or the house.

Yes I would, and have.

Good point Alvah I'll let the ndn know.

Looks like I'm going out after all then

Yes absolutely! We started leaving ours home-alone in the evening when DD was 12 and DS was 10 - very local to start with. 14 is easily old enough to be left and if the friends mum is OK with it, you have a pass!

Yes I would. My DD is going to stay with her friend in a few weeks when we are invited somewhere with her parents and the younger siblings. DD is nearly 14 and her friend is 14.5 and I have no worries about it. We will be back around midnight too.
I have left DD and DS (12) together for 3 hours one evening (7.15-10.30ish) and they were fine.

Yes, definitely.

Well, yes but I would check with the friend's mum!

Your dd and dd friend may say her mum is fine with it.... Still best to check for yourself!

As others have said, you need to check that the friends mum is OK with them being left.
I've left my nearly 14 year old with her 12 year old sister for an hour or 2 in the evening, but I've always been walking distance and contactable. I'd be a bit more nervous with a friend unless I knew the friend well and knew that they would be sensible.