14 year old home alone?

[bingawinga]

Would be really grateful for your opinions on this: an acquaintance of mind told me he and his wife left their 14 year old son alone for a week in their house over the summer holidays. I was completely shocked (I wouldn't leave mine for a night alone), but he just said they were quite chilled about things like that. They live in a village with many friends nearby. Am I completely old-fashioned? Or is this - as I thought but didn't actually say - incredibly reckless behaviour? I ask because I almost feel like I should say something to him, but I don't want to come across as a busy-body if this is normal these days.

Definitely not! 14 is still too young to be left alone for a week. My youngest was 16 before we left him and our other son (then 19) for a weekend.

At 14 I wouldn't. Not overnight, not at all. Mine are 15 and 17 now and soon I'm going to have to leave them overnight for 1 night - am a single parent, my elderly mum abroad is not at all well. But I'm going to make sure there is oversight in place from a nearby cousin, our ndn and the mum of a nearby friend. I am sure they will not be needed, my DDs are ridiculously mature for their ages, but I'm still not looking forward to it.

I don't think there are government guidelines advising against leaving an under 16 overnight. It's the NSPCC that issues that guideline. Personally I do think a whole week is a long time for a 14 year old.

I personally would never do that, poor child!