Would you let your fifteen-year-old spend a night at home alone?

[Anonymous]

A year ago, I would have said yes. Now, I wouldn’t. A “mature, good girl” in our town died in an overnight fire this year. She had a friend over, who was critically injured but lived. Seriously tragic. The rumor is that they were drinking and may have been passed out, but I have no idea whether that is true. All I know is that a family lost their beautiful daughter, who had a bright future ahead of her.

[Anonymous]

Hard no and my 15 year old is what I would have in my day called a huge dork. Would be worried about safety. Fire. If she got hurt or sick. Break in (although I expect our “dire dog” makes that less likely). Etc. at 16 and driving maybe.

[Anonymous]

no no no

[Anonymous]

Not just no. But hell no.

[Anonymous]

Omg. I hacent read the responses yet But I was was just getting ready to post this exact same question.

[Anonymous]

I was a good kid. I had a raging party anyway. Almost irresistible

[Anonymous]

For those who say no, why not? Would you be fearful about their safety, or are you concerned that they would be up to no good.

[Anonymous]

We just left our 15 yo home for one night. Everything was fine. I think it depends on the kid. I knew mine wouldn’t have a party or drink/do drugs. I was concerned about whether he would be scared or if there was an emergency. We talked about it and he was so not scared. We went over emergency strategies and he had a list of neighbors who he could contact for help.

[Anonymous]

I stayed home alone as a team and never did anything. I stayed at friends houses as a teen and we never did anything.

Know your kid. If you have a very social kid who likes to take risks or be popular and who generally is a rule breaker or is easily peer pressured - then no. Otherwise - go for it.

[Anonymous]

I was a good responsible kid, and my friends were too. So responsible, that sometimes one of us would house sit for teachers who were on vacation and take care of their pets. And we would have parties are the houses and then clean everything like nothing happened...
I don't think the teachers ever found out.

HELL NO

[Anonymous]

I would. My concerns wouldn’t be about trust but rather safety (e.g., how would they handle an emergency), so I’d want to make sure a couple of our neighbors would be around to help in a pinch.

I wouldn’t have the friend sleepover, for the same reason; I’d just be extra worried about what happens in an emergency. If you think your daughter is worried about being alone, then I’d see if she could stay at the friend’s house. (I *might* start to doubt her motives if she all sorts of excuses for why the friend could come stay with her but she can’t stay over at the friend’s.)

[Anonymous]

I'd make her sleep at grandmas but let her go home or whatever during the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd make her sleep at grandmas but let her go home or whatever during the day.

This is a good idea. Make her be at Grandma's by say seven or eight every night (agree on a time with Grandma), but let her go home after school, etc.

[Anonymous]

For those who say no, why not? Would you be fearful about their safety, or are you concerned that they would be up to no good

I would not fear for their safety. I say no because I think it's neglect of parenting responsibility unless it's a true emergency. They are *almost* an adult, but they are not yet.

[Anonymous]

Only child here of a single parent. When I was 15 or 16 my mom went to California for a week and left me in charge. This was during the summer when school was out. I was a responsible teen, and didn’t do anything other than take the car out and raced around a bit. It’s totally fine if you think you can trust your teen. Depends on their maturity level too.