Anonymous wrote:Have your kid stay with a friend or relative.

Hire a house/dog sitter.

This. I can’t believe someone didn’t immediately come to mind and you need to crowd source this.

I would hire Rover for the dog, assuming your teen has a busy schedule.

Install some sort of security camera so you can keep an eye on the place with the teen and tell the kid this, even if it’s similar to a Ring doorbell.

Tell your kid someone will be periodically stopping by. A neighbor or one of your friends, even if it’s not true.

My sister and I were left alone when my parents when out of town when we were 16 and 19. They told us to let a relative know if we needed anything but that she would also be stopping by from time to time. She didn’t but we always wondered if she would pop in.

I did this many years ago.
I had been a Nanny for a state dept family and they went overseas. Then the Dad and oldest son came back. Dad wanted to go see wife for 5 weeks but son was in school.
I was nannying for someone else but live out and had roommates. They paid me to just sleep at the house and be around in the evenings and weekends. Worked out well.
I knew the kid already and they knew no parties and mayhem were happening. Plus they were in a different country for the duration so wanted a responsible adult around for an emergency.

What is wrong with your kid? Why can't they drive?

I'd get them an uber account instead. It's a good practice for going off to college next year.

I'd rather my kid stay home alone then with a complete stranger for a week.

Is this a joke? A riddle?

Anonymous wrote:I suggest you re-think this. Your kid should be just fine, they can take use the bus/train/uber/friends to get around. Hire a dog walker.

This.

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t your teen take care of the dog if they will be home?

+100 this post makes no sense to me.

What? Your kid is off to college soon no?

OP, I would go on care.com and find somebody who can drive her, and stay overnight if needed. It's easy work, someone should be willing.

Rover for the dog.

OP, I had the exact same situation and hired someone to stay with my 16-17 year old while we were gone for a week. All those that have come after you are absurd IMO. My DS left for school at 7 am and arrived home between 6-630 pm; he drove himself but the dog was at home all day. DS also needed someone to get have dinner waiting when he got home because he was starving when he walked in the door. We were out of the country and have no family nearby, so I was not at all comfortable just leaving him alone. I also didn't want him to have to deal with peer pressure on the weekend when all his friends would have definitely pushed for a party at our house.

You can post adds at AU or other nearby colleges - call and ask their student affairs offices. Or ask a neighbor with a college kid at home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG people! OP never said she needs someone to walk the dog while her kid is home. If OP's kid is like mine, she's gone from early in the morning (my kid needs to leave the house by 6:50 to make it to school on time) and then has various activities after school, so usually doesn't get home until after 6:30 pm. That's a LONG time for a dog to go without being let out.

And if OP's kid doesn't drive, but stays after school for activities, it isn't necessarily just easy to take the bus home. Maybe her kid's school has an activity bus, but my kid's school doesn't.

Then they can ask a friend for a ride home, call an uber, or just have to skip for the week.

Or OP can hire a responsible person to be home with her kid which is what she is trying to do.
I'd never force my kid to skip school for the week so they can stay home to let out the dog!

I coach high school kids and do NOT recommend leaving them home alone — even as a senior. The amount of things that have gone wrong either by the kid’s choice or a friend are astounding.

Anonymous wrote:OMG people! OP never said she needs someone to walk the dog while her kid is home. If OP's kid is like mine, she's gone from early in the morning (my kid needs to leave the house by 6:50 to make it to school on time) and then has various activities after school, so usually doesn't get home until after 6:30 pm. That's a LONG time for a dog to go without being let out.

And if OP's kid doesn't drive, but stays after school for activities, it isn't necessarily just easy to take the bus home. Maybe her kid's school has an activity bus, but my kid's school doesn't.

Then they can ask a friend for a ride home, call an uber, or just have to skip for the week.

OMG people! OP never said she needs someone to walk the dog while her kid is home. If OP's kid is like mine, she's gone from early in the morning (my kid needs to leave the house by 6:50 to make it to school on time) and then has various activities after school, so usually doesn't get home until after 6:30 pm. That's a LONG time for a dog to go without being let out.

And if OP's kid doesn't drive, but stays after school for activities, it isn't necessarily just easy to take the bus home. Maybe her kid's school has an activity bus, but my kid's school doesn't.