16yo staying by themselves for a few days

[Anonymous]

I'm going on a 4-day work trip in two weeks and I'm a single parent. My kid recently got their license and is pretty responsible- do you think it's fine if they stay by themselves while I'm away? This would be the first time they are alone for more than one night, but they are totally fine with it. I'm a little nervous, but they can drive and I don't have to worry about them trashing the house or anything. What do you think?

[Anonymous]

Not a chance I would leave my 17 year old home alone for 4 days (she is very responsible and a good kid…just asking for trouble).

[Anonymous]

You really are trying to hid if it is a teen boy or teen girl. The answer is still no.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Not a chance.

[Anonymous]

I would.

And at 17, my very responsible self would have invited my BF over, but I invited him over whenever my parents were gone anyway, so no difference.

[Anonymous]

Of course. I have left my 16 year old boy on his own for several weekends and for 4 or 5 days at a time. He is very responsible and there have been no issues. 16 is pretty much an adult. You can get married at that age! I would not join in the general infantilizing of young people that this board engages in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course. I have left my 16 year old boy on his own for several weekends and for 4 or 5 days at a time. He is very responsible and there have been no issues. 16 is pretty much an adult. You can get married at that age! I would not join in the general infantilizing of young people that this board engages in.

Most teens are very sociable, sexually actively, driven by hormones, and fall under peer pressure. Unless… unless… your child is that weird awkward child. 🤔

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course. I have left my 16 year old boy on his own for several weekends and for 4 or 5 days at a time. He is very responsible and there have been no issues. 16 is pretty much an adult. You can get married at that age! I would not join in the general infantilizing of young people that this board engages in.

I agree. It depends on the kid, of course, but if they are responsible and you have a close network to step in and help if needed (flat tire somewhere, fire alarms going off, losing power, etc), I’d be ok with leaving my kids.

[Anonymous]

I stayed home alone when I was 16 for a few days. My dad had a complication during surgery and my mom didn't feel the hospital staff was being responsive or paying attention to the meds he needed and such so she wanted to stay with him while he was there. I had to drive home from almost an hour away (where the hospital was) on a freeway by myself for the first time and this was illegal where we lived. The fact that my mother was letting me do something illegal told me how seriously worried she was about my dad, and I had to pull over on the freeway and cry hysterically for a few minutes. Other than that it was totally fine. I took out the trash and recycling, got to school on time, did a load of laundry, etc. I did eat all my dinners on the couch in front of tv rather than at the kitchen table but that's really all I did wrong.

A few days later my brother finished his college finals and came home, and a day after that my dad (and mom) came home from the hospital.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't because I couldn't forgive myself if anything went wrong - regret minimization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a chance I would leave my 17 year old home alone for 4 days (she is very responsible and a good kid…just asking for trouble).

In 1 year they could deployed across the world in a war.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a chance I would leave my 17 year old home alone for 4 days (she is very responsible and a good kid…just asking for trouble).

In 1 year they could deployed across the world in a war.

I was in college full time at 16. These people are absolutely nuts. I'm honestly scared for the future when these kids start entering the workforce.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a neighbor or friend nearby that could be the responsible adult if something happens or they just need an adult for something?

We let our kids stay home alone for a few nights at that age to take another kid to college. We had someone a few streets away he could contact if he needed an adult. He's alive to tell the tale and didn't have a raging party. But we knew he wouldn't in the first place.

You're going to get a lot of no's on DCUM. It's not reflective of reality. You know your kid and if they're responsible enough for this.

[Anonymous]

I probably wouldn't because I definitely had parties and had my BFs over every time my dad went out of town. I've only left my teen home once, for the night, and I had a couple of friends on call in case she needed something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course. I have left my 16 year old boy on his own for several weekends and for 4 or 5 days at a time. He is very responsible and there have been no issues. 16 is pretty much an adult. You can get married at that age! I would not join in the general infantilizing of young people that this board engages in.

Most teens are very sociable, sexually actively, driven by hormones, and fall under peer pressure. Unless… unless… your child is that weird awkward child. 🤔

My teen is, like his older sibling, a very nice, respectful and responsible young man. You should try parenting. You might realize that your demonization of older teens isn’t justified.