HOw old.....

[bibliophile birds]

My kids are good, read --really good, like most parents would dream their kids to be--but seriously, ds would not be able to sleep, hence neither would I (or do other things, if ya know what I mean), and dd is is just too young. I remember my parents left me when I was 16, and I stil had a hard time.

if you'd worry all night, even if everything went ok at home, would it really be worth it? probably not since i'm guessing the whole point is to enjoy yourselves a bit.

and so much depends on where and how you've grown up. i grew up on this huge family farm, the oldest of 15 grandchildren. being the oldest, i've always had to be adept at watching kids and knowing how NOT to burn the house down. we pretty much had the run of the place and spent a lot of time camping, without parental supervision, from a fairly young age. but there was always some adult family member on the farm somewhere. when my parents were leaving us home alone at 14, my grandparents were 1/2 a mile away and my uncle was a 1/2 mile in the other direction.

i live on the farm again, surrounded by family, so if i had a well behaved, responsible 14 yo, i'd feel ok about leaving them home. if the situation were different, probably not at all.

 

[AL]

Another no vote.... there was at least a 16yr old in the house before we were left overnight. We lived too far from neighbors and no telling what mischief I could.. I mean... no telling what could happen.

 

[patandchickens]

I sure wouldn't do it. Wouldn't even be a difficult decision for me, not even close.

JMHO,

Pat

 

[miss_thenorth]

Thanks guys. I really just needed affirmation. I mean, they are just too young. Why does hubby not see this? I knew I wasn't out of my mind.

 

[big brown horse]

Another vote for no.

Just curious, what were his plans?

P.S. I wasn't allowed to stay home alone until I was 16-17. And my parents were very lassiez faire when it came to raising us.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Another vote for no.

Just curious, what were his plans?

P.S. I wasn't allowed to stay home alone until I was 16-17. And my parents were very lassiez faire when it came to raising us.

Not sure, probalby go to a b&B for the night to see the colours. My parents were not strict on that aspect either, and let me stay at home alone at 16-17. but not before. I can honestly say that i was not anywheres near ready to stay home alone even younger than that. and when they left me after the age of 17, it never failed I had some type of breakdown. i seriosly was not mature enough, and neither are my kids. He thinks I am being unreasonable and clingy. I am just having flashbacks to when I was a kid.

 

[rebecca100]

My thought is no even before this happened. My nephews were left alone at home for a few hours after school before their mom came home from work everyday. The oldest was 16 and the youngest 11 with a 14 in between. The youngest and middle were playing a thing where you stab a knife between the others fingers into the wood. The youngest held out his hand with his fingers apart and the middle stabbed. Of course at one point he missed the wood. The oldest called dh panicked and they made up the story that the youngest was trying to open a package of lunchmeat and the knife slipped to keep them all out of trouble. The truth came out eventually and somehow it ended up being me with them everyday until their mom came home at night. Boys should NEVER be left alone.

 

[Farmfresh]

No from me too.

I don't think most kids grow brains until they are about 35.

 

[big brown horse]

Brainstorming here...

Can you compromise and get a hotel suite (two room with a common door)? (Cheaper than 2 separate b-n-b rooms.) Get the kids a giant pizza, go out together for a romantic evening and come back to the hotel later? Don't go too far from the hotel and call often to check in. Promise them a day of fun if they behave...and if they let you sleep in.

 

[country freedom]

Hubby wants to go away for a night. I think the kids are too young to go all night. Am I being too protective? Boy is 14, girl is 12. boy is very dependent, and I don't think he would do well , as in he wouldn't sleep a wink. DD, is more independent, but I still think too young.

Opinions please.

I wouldn't go anywhere just yet.
12 and 14 are both still too young to leave alone overnight.
16 - only if the child(ren) have proven themselves competent with chores, without being reminded about doing them, knowing how to cook at least one dish
(a simple dish), and both know how to handle/what to do in an emergency.
Do they both know how to handle a phone call, or someone at the door, without the person on other side learning child(ren) are without parents for the night?
Do(es) the child(ren) play outside/go down the street while leaving the house open to attention of someone else watching their movements?

See - I may be very protective - but, I've lived with my children's family years ago - and they leave 10/11 year olds with younger siblings alone alot - wether 10/11 year olds are capable of holding the fort down or not.

I was mortified after learning my children were left by themselves and my oldest was my youngest acting one - learned to use his noggin after he moved out on his own.
Oldest one and 3 other of mine are ADHD. I have 6 children (22, 21, 19, 18, 16, 14).

One incident came to mind - all 6 of mine were down the street of a bad neighborhood - while Grandma's house was wide open for entering.

Sorry - 16 - only if able to clear the skills set above/with the younger one obeying older one, without being a pain in a spot.

I have a 16 yr old son, a 14 yr old daughter, still at home - no, I wouldn't dare leave them alone overnight. He's ADHD/she can be a pain.

I refuse meds for ADHD - real life experiences without meds - they learn!