Just Curious- Age To Leave Kids At Home

[Smowball]

Was talking to a couple of friends yesterday and said I was thinking of maybe going away for 4/5 days in the Easter holidays but only if son wanted to come with us. They both said why don't you leave him at home?? I said don't be daft he's still at school- he is 16, will be 17 in September. They thought I was mad and said that he is old enough to get married, get a job etc..... I'm still not leaving him but just curious as to all of your opinions?

[Smowball]

Tonyav - no I'm not going to leave him. He is sensible and I know he would look after the house but I would be worried the whole time and that defeats the whole object. Going to try again to get him to come with us, if not then see if he can stay with his dad or hubbys parents who live about 5 miles away. If none of that is possible then we just won't go.

[rockyracoon]

I went to Cologne earlier last month for a couple of days. My eldest is a couple of weeks off 17 and my youngest is 15. We told them we were going away and asked if they'd like to stay on their own or have their nan come round to stay, they both opted to stay on their own. My mum lives round the corner and gave them Sunday lunch, my daughter cooked a nice meal for her nan on the Saturday night. The house was clean and tidy when I came back, the dog was fed and walked and everything was all ok in chez Racoon.

Not sure I would have left them if my mum didn't live round the corner though.

[trt]

Both my parents worked when I was at junior school, about 11yrs I think, and used to have the front door key around my neck.

Came home one day, the gas & electric meter were busted open on the floor, the place was ransacked, and they had crapped on the carpet.

I know I wasn't 15/16 but have never forgot that experience, and if anything happened like that to your kids while you were away, you would never forgive yourself.