Would you leave teen overnight in these circumstances?

[Parmaviolets1313]

Ds1 will be 17 when we go, but only just.

Want to have a night away with dh and ds2. We would love ds2 to come but he isn’t interested at the moment and it’s an activity more aimed at ds2.

We would be away for one night but two full days. So we would set off at lunchtime on day 1 and be back for 7pm the following day.

Grandparent would be available in case of emergency.

Would you find this acceptable?

Yes absolutely.

Yes completely, unless they are likely to have a massive party

He wouldn’t have a party and we’ve got CCTV and ring doorbell. Not sure whether to say he could have one friend over or his girlfriend.

Just feel a bit nervous though still.

Yes. He'll be an adult in a years time and could be moving out to go to University, or anything. Leaving him alone for one night will start to give him the confidence he will need to make his own way.

As long as DS1 is happy, yes I would do it.

My DC1 would have been happy at that age but not DC2. As a result.

Yes! Not sure why you wouldn’t have already built up to this.
We left DS17 to go on a two week cruise 😬

At 17, absolutely.

Well this kind of would be the build up 🤣

Obviously he stays home alone in the day and has for a long long time.

We don’t really have many nights out and usually do family holidays together.

Thought one night away would be a good practise.

Come on, he's 17. Your confident he's not going to be have a party which would be my only concern..

I left home at 17 and yes, I had to watch out for getting stomped on by dinosaurs🤣

There you go then, you have answered your own question. Perfect opportunity.

What are your concerns OP? At 17, it seems a bizarre thing to need to ask on MN! Also odd that he has never been left at home before now.

My mum went away with my younger sibling when I was just 16. I was very proud that I did 2 loads of wash, dried them and put them all away. It was only then, that I realised I hadn't used any washing detergent! 😆

Of course. I have a ds the same age, wouldn't be a problem. I'd let him have his friends over, they go to each others houses most weekends but they're not the party type (unlike his mother at that age, had left home and was raving all weekend 😂). Definitely not his mother's son, thank god.

Uh as we left my 16 year old stepson on his own for a week the answer would be: yes.

Absolutely not. I could never have trusted my daughter not to have invited a few friends round at that age, and I’ve seen so many instances over the years where a few friends turned into a lot. It can turn into a full blown party so quickly and it’s very hard to manage once loads of people start turning up. I remember what I was like at 17, and I would have seen being left alone overnight as a green light for a party.

Why is it odd? He’s only 16 atm (would be 17 when we go).

We don’t really have nights away and when we have it’s usually been a family holiday together.

Thanks, really helpful. I know he’s old enough but I get a bit nervous.

I’m not worried about parties, and he’s perfectly capable of looking after himself.

Wirry is him forgetting to lock the door if he was distracted, or leave the hob on, that sort of thing. But he let’s himself in and out everyday anyway and cooks, so no reason it would be any different.

Sorry, odd was the wrong word. I missed that he already does stay at home alone, but just not overnight.
What are your concerns? Does he have additional needs, are you worried about a party? You know him better than anyone else.

Absolutely fine. I wouldn't think twice. At 16 they move out if they want.

Yes he’s definitely been left home in the day for a very long time.

I don’t actually know what I’m worried about. It’s not parties. He doesn’t have additional needs and is capable.

He can be a bit careless and that’s probably my worst fear. The locking up at night, making sure things are switched off.