16yo staying by themselves for a few days
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Anonymous
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No. No way, no matter how mature they are. Things happen. You are responsible for this child so you have to stay or provide adequate care in substitution.
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Anonymous
| Depends on the kid. I have a 16 year old DD who just learned how to drive. She has a very active social life and a boyfriend. I would never leave her alone for a few days. I see her having friends over that can easily turn into a party with kids bringing alcohol and I can see her inviting her boyfriend over for a sleepover. Even though she's responsible, I can see her not being able to resist the temptations that come with a few days of freedom. |
Anonymous
Exactly. You have zero control over what happens if a ton of kids show up, wreck your house, bring booze etc. No thanks. |
Anonymous
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Really depends on the kid IMO, and also what supports you have nearby in case they need anything while you are gone.
I have both a 16yo DD and a 16yo DS. They would be fine alone for a few days but I’d definitely let the neighbors and a close local friend or two of ours know they would be home alone (and make sure the teens have their phone numbers). |
Anonymous
| Can the kid stay with a friend for a few days? Or even part of the time? |
Anonymous
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We are probably leaving our 15 and 17 year old boys home alone together for a few days this summer. We are doing a long distance move and given logistics this might be the best option. New house is in a safe neighborhood and walkable to anything they’d need.
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Anonymous
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I wouldn’t at 14, like the other post, but I would at 16 and driving, as long as I had neighbors willing to keep an eye out.
If a teen sneaks in their girlfriend or boyfriend, as long as I don’t hear about it, does it really matter? My 17 yo is on birth control and already having sex, oh well.. |
Anonymous
| F no |
Anonymous
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I was the biggest goody two shoes on the planet and when my parents left me alone for a long weekend, the first thing I did was sneak out and spend the weekend with my boyfriend.
Absolutely not. I don’t care how responsible your kid is. They’re still a kid. |
Anonymous
+1 Was also a goody two shoes, other than the boyfriend.. Did pretty much the same when my parents were out of town (and also when my boyfriend’s parents were out of town). Lots of action going on during those weekends. That said, we were already sexually active regardless. It just gave us extra opportunities LOL. |
Anonymous
| I will and did. When my kid was 16 we left her at our second home (at the beach) for 3-4 days at a time on a regular basis. She was working a summer job and would bike to work. That was 2 years ago and guess what? She survived. She's become a super capable, independent kid who is headed to a top 20 college in the fall. |
Anonymous
| Have someone check on them like a neighbor or friend from church etc |
Anonymous
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I was a very responsible teenager and I had a party when my parents were gone and would have had my boyfriend over. My parents left my older siblings alone once and a window and door were broken from the party they had.
Peer pressure is real no matter how good your kid is. |
Anonymous
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Newsflash - teens have sex and will whether you are in the house or not.
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Anonymous
| No, absolutely not. See if the other parent can help, a relative, or hire someone. |