Anyone else feel awful leaving your tweens home alone during breaks?

[Anonymous]

I’m feeling such guilt. It worked out this year that our only option was for her (almost 13) to stay home alone. It’s only a couple days this week and next, and I know she’s enjoying sleeping in and having the run of the house (and snacks she doesn’t normally get!) so I don’t understand why I feel awful! Anyone else?

[Anonymous]

Don't feel bad! They like it, and it meets a developmental need to have independence and manage their own time.

[Anonymous]

My parents had to do this when I was growing up. I thought it was the best part of the vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents had to do this when I was growing up. I thought it was the best part of the vacation.

+1. Honestly, I wish everyone would leave the house and leave me alone again. I want to sleep in and do whatever I want all day just like I did back then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parents had to do this when I was growing up. I thought it was the best part of the vacation.

+1. Honestly, I wish everyone would leave the house and leave me alone again. I want to sleep in and do whatever I want all day just like I did back then.

+2, this exactly.

[Anonymous]

I don't have this issue over break, because my teen is also home, and when my teen was that age there was covid, but my kids sometimes have different days off and my 13 year old (recently 12 year old) LOVES to have the house to himself.

Hopefully you will find the same thing, and it will assuage your guilt.

[Anonymous]

I also think a few days of unscheduled alone downtime is good. Kids are so busy now with school, activities, sports. Everyone needs a break to just do whatever they want.

[Anonymous]

I was able to stay home yesterday and will again on Friday, today she is ordering Door Dash so she oaky

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents had to do this when I was growing up. I thought it was the best part of the vacation.

Same. I slept in and ate my bowl of Lucky Charms while watching Wheel of Fortune. I’d talk to my friends all afternoon on my new cordless phone I got for Christmas. Great memories!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't feel bad! They like it, and it meets a developmental need to have independence and manage their own time.

+1 But truly OP’s post exemplifies the struggles that so many in GenZ have. Parents have been refusing to allow their children to grow and we’re ending up with a generation of stunted adults/soon to be adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't feel bad! They like it, and it meets a developmental need to have independence and manage their own time.

+1 But truly OP’s post exemplifies the struggles that so many in GenZ have. Parents have been refusing to allow their children to grow and we’re ending up with a generation of stunted adults/soon to be adults.

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't feel bad! They like it, and it meets a developmental need to have independence and manage their own time.

+1 But truly OP’s post exemplifies the struggles that so many in GenZ have. Parents have been refusing to allow their children to grow and we’re ending up with a generation of stunted adults/soon to be adults.

+1 My 18 yr old DS told me recently that he thinks that kids need to know how to do nothing and be bored, and know how to entertain themselves... I laughed. I had been telling this to my kids for the past 15 years.

Don't feel guilty OP. Your kid will probably love it. And even if they don't, it will be a great learning experience for them. They will be fine.

-signed a latchkey kid who did nothing over the breaks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't feel bad! They like it, and it meets a developmental need to have independence and manage their own time.

+1 But truly OP’s post exemplifies the struggles that so many in GenZ have. Parents have been refusing to allow their children to grow and we’re ending up with a generation of stunted adults/soon to be adults.

+1 My 18 yr old DS told me recently that he thinks that kids need to know how to do nothing and be bored, and know how to entertain themselves... I laughed. I had been telling this to my kids for the past 15 years.

Don't feel guilty OP. Your kid will probably love it. And even if they don't, it will be a great learning experience for them. They will be fine.

-signed a latchkey kid who did nothing over the breaks.

Eh, I was left home alone for huge swaths of time as a tween—all holiday breaks and all summer save for one week of vacation—and it was really not good for me at all. OP’s kid will be totally fine for a week, but let’s not pretend the kid is just sitting there staring at the ceiling feeling bored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't feel bad! They like it, and it meets a developmental need to have independence and manage their own time.

+1 But truly OP’s post exemplifies the struggles that so many in GenZ have. Parents have been refusing to allow their children to grow and we’re ending up with a generation of stunted adults/soon to be adults.

What are you going on about, parents not allowing their kids to grow? Wut?

[Anonymous]

No. That is such an unusual thing to feel guilty about.