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

[Anonymous]

DH and I will both be away for a few days next week and have told 15-year-old DD she needs to stay with her grandmother, who lives a mile away. (Grandma is not very mobile and does not want to stay with DD at our house). DD very unhappy, as Grandma can be a lot to take, and is begging to be allowed to spend one or two of those nights at staying home alone and/or with her best female friend sleeping over. She argues that she has been away for most of the last few weeks at camp and just really wants to be in her own room. She is a good kid and generally responsible, and we live in a safe neighborhood and have security cameras over all doors, etc.

I said "I'll think about it." I totally understand her desire to be home rather than at Grandma's but am still leaning towards just saying no, I'm sorry, 15 is too young to stay alone overnight. Am I being too much of a worry wart, or should I stick to my guns?

[Anonymous]

No, absolutely not. And, I wouldn't let mine sleep at your house without an adult there.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I did at that age and it was fine.

[Anonymous]

Alone, yes. With a friend, no.

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I will both be away for a few days next week and have told 15-year-old DD she needs to stay with her grandmother, who lives a mile away. (Grandma is not very mobile and does not want to stay with DD at our house). DD very unhappy, as Grandma can be a lot to take, and is begging to be allowed to spend one or two of those nights at staying home alone and/or with her best female friend sleeping over. She argues that she has been away for most of the last few weeks at camp and just really wants to be in her own room. She is a good kid and generally responsible, and we live in a safe neighborhood and have security cameras over all doors, etc.

I said "I'll think about it." I totally understand her desire to be home rather than at Grandma's but am still leaning towards just saying no, I'm sorry, 15 is too young to stay alone overnight. Am I being too much of a worry wart, or should I stick to my guns?

Can Grandma stay with your dd? One night would be fine but, I wouldn't want to do two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alone, yes. With a friend, no.

+1

[Anonymous]

No. I wouldn't allow it unless it were an emergency. Like, I'm a single mother and need an appendectomy at 11pm or something.

[Anonymous]

We allowed our child to stay home alone overnight at 15-16 when there was a conflict of schedules. We had a neighbor who was available to check in and who could loosely monitor (no parties etc). DC loved doing it and seemed to be responsible.

[Anonymous]

Oh of course. Given that you trust her and know she’s a good kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alone, yes. With a friend, no.

+1

Agreed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alone, yes. With a friend, no.

depends on the friend but in general, no friends.

yes to my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alone, yes. With a friend, no.

depends on the friend but in general, no friends.

yes to my kid.

This for me too

[Anonymous]

To me this is 100% kid dependent. I'd say it's on the early side but I think there are probably lots of kids whom could do this easily and responsibly

[Anonymous]

I say yes. What I would do is have some contacts who can be available in case she needs someone. Some of my kids had a really easy time staying alone and others got anxious. It’s nice to have someone close by you can call and who will drop her off at grandmas if necessary.