DS is usually trying to catch up on summer reading for school. Does he have any of that?

What are his friends doing for those weeks? Will they be around, with a sahp or nanny? I ask because my mom was a teacher, and so was one of the few parents at home during the summer. She had no problem going to pick up one or two of my friends and then dropping us off at the pool,movies,etc. at that age. Other parents reciprocated when they could. A kid is still equally as likely to go a bit stir crazy even if they have a caregiver around, I'm sure they'll be glad to get their kid (and yours) a few distractions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I agree with the not being constantly entertained. However, we are in the serious burbs. No public transportation. Nothing to walk to other than a playground. No other kids in the neighborhood. Like I said, I could see one or two days, but 20 is really a lot!

Again, when I was 13, I was left home *all* summer, and I was absolutely not allowed to leave the house or have friends over while home alone. I was fine. I had chores and reading. That was pre-internet! And we were in the 'burbs (nothing to walk to other than a playground).

As long as you have electricity and an internet connection, he'll probably spend some time messaging his friends. I would require chores to make sure he doesn't spend all of his time doing that.

But really, I don't think it's that long for a 13 year old to be home alone.

Just because one kid survived something 20 years ago doesn't mean its the best thing for a different kid today. I don't think OP is wrong for looking for other options at least for some of the time.

Well, but OP mentioned he already has camps planned for part of the summer. I think it's actually a bad thing to book up up every hour. A 13 year old should be able to entertain himself at home during working hours for a month. period.

When my daughter was a little younger than your son, I teamed up with the parents of her best friend (who was your son's age) and used a camp-free summer week to help them move beyond "my parents aren't around to drive me anywhere so I'll just sit at home all day" to knowing their neighborhood and being comfortable with using public transportation (such as it is) to get places. It was basically a series of "field trips" which they undertook on bus and metro. It took some parental planning (and a lot of parental anxiety) but that ability to entertain herself and navigate the world on her own has really paid off for DD this year. I would look for a friend in a similar situation, maybe someone who lives a little closer to public transport, whose house you can drop him off at on your way to work.

OP, what about having him take a summer class? Not a "camp"... but a language immersion class, or something of that nature, for a week or two? Even something online, if he'd do it and it interests him?

I think 2 weeks would be the longest I'd have him stay at home totally alone for 10 hours a day. If it were half days, it wouldn't be such a big deal, but I agree with you, 10 hours totally alone, just at home, is a bit much for a 13 year old.

It's ok to do nothing for 4 weeks.He should be able to "entertain" himself.

Oh, and no relatives in the area who don't also work. Only cousins are preschoolers who are also in camp.

I realize in my first post I said 8 hours a day. With commuting, his dad and I are actually gone from the house closer to 9-10 hours/day.

Anonymous wrote:He can't entertain himself for four weeks? My lord.

Does he have any cousins he can visit?

OP here. Funny thing is, I'm a rather introverted bookish type, so a few days at home alone sounds great to me. My stepson isn't like this at all.

I recognize the knee jerk reaction against no entertaining kids all the time. However, I think there's a happy medium between constant entertainment and 4 weeks straight of 10 hour days in a house, by yourself. As it stands, I think we can find a sports camp for one or two weeks, and his parents will take some half days off. However, it's going to more and more of a problem in the next year or two, until he can get a summer job.

He can't entertain himself for four weeks? My lord.

Does he have any cousins he can visit?

Lots of sports and outdoor camps have spots for teens. Look into tennis camp at Georgetown Univ or Calleva for outdoor adventures. That covers 2 weeks, and then 2 weeks to hang around out at home.

Anonymous wrote:University of Maryland has some engineering camps. No interest in sports camps? Does he like the pool?

Bethesda Big Train has baseball camps up through 16. Academy of Fine Arts has performance camps up through age 17.

University of Maryland has some engineering camps. No interest in sports camps? Does he like the pool?

Have you looked into Calleva camps?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I agree with the not being constantly entertained. However, we are in the serious burbs. No public transportation. Nothing to walk to other than a playground. No other kids in the neighborhood. Like I said, I could see one or two days, but 20 is really a lot!

Again, when I was 13, I was left home *all* summer, and I was absolutely not allowed to leave the house or have friends over while home alone. I was fine. I had chores and reading. That was pre-internet! And we were in the 'burbs (nothing to walk to other than a playground).

As long as you have electricity and an internet connection, he'll probably spend some time messaging his friends. I would require chores to make sure he doesn't spend all of his time doing that.

But really, I don't think it's that long for a 13 year old to be home alone.

Just because one kid survived something 20 years ago doesn't mean its the best thing for a different kid today. I don't think OP is wrong for looking for other options at least for some of the time.

Dude needs to start a land-scaping business. He should mow neighbors lawns. Sleep till 8, mow two lawns, read for an hour, eat lunch, putter around, get together with a friend, go to the pool or b-ball courts, come home for dinner.