Leaving a 16-1/2 Year Old Home Alone for 3 Days (sitter, teenager, baby)
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My parents took us to Fontana Dam every year and we'd go rafting, hiking, etc. When I turned 16 I was tired of it, so my little brother took one of his friends in my place and I was left at home for the weekend. I was a partier but I had way too much respect for my parents to have a party there. I did invite my boyfriend over one night but not the whole night. I guess it's about respect.
As a parent, we let our 16 year old stay home alone while we went to Vegas. We got two phone calls while we were gone, one that she had stolen my husband's work van and was traipsing all over town in it, and then another when her older sister drove by and saw she was having a party and made everybody go home.
When we got home early Sunday morning, we saw she had had some kind of bonfire in the garage (where there was gas and oil stored), there were boys sleeping in her room (she had a friend over), and the house was a wreck. And she was our golden child.
We are leaving for vacation in a few weeks. Our 16-1/2 yo son would like to skip the 1st three days of it and join us later (us = mom, dad & 11 yo daughter). He is participating in a 7 week summer internship and if he takes vacation the entire week, he will be working later into the summer and cut into the free time before he gets into HS X-country training. Also, he says getting too old for these "family vacations" and rather spend time with his friends.
I (dad) am leaning toward saying yes. Of course, we would be in constant contact with him on those days and have friends and neighbors checking in. My wife is leaning towards no, saying he should go on the entire vacation.
He is generally a very responsible kid. Honor student, lots of xtra cirricular activities, sports. Some of his friends though tend to be a little wild. I'm looking for feedback from parents who have been in a similar situation or any parent who has an opinion.
Depends on the kid, but if he's responsible, I would say yes if there was a neighbor that could check on him periodically. If he's going to be a senior next year, you have one year til he goes to college or a year and a half til he's 18 and could move out. It's not that much time. A little "practice"might be a good thing.
Depends on the kid, but if he's responsible, I would say yes if there was a neighbor that could check on him periodically. If he's going to be a senior next year, you have one year til he goes to college or a year and a half til he's 18 and could move out. It's not that much time. A little "practice"might be a good thing.
My point exactly. He is not that far removed from leaving home for college. You have to start trusting that all you've taught them is going to serve them well in practice, not just theory.
We left our 16 year old son home while we went to New Mexico for a vacation one year, because he had things he had to do to get ready for the upcoming school year. He was (and is - he's now 40) very responsible, and we had good friends living next door, and a few blocks away, and his "second parents" (friends whose son he had grown up with and we were "second parents" to their son) were a phone call away.
It all depends on your son and your relationship with him.
I appreciate that your 16-year-old is an honor student, responsible, etc, that also describes my 16-year-old daughter, until last week. We got a knock on our door about 4 am, police bringing her home, drunk as a skunk found passed out at a park, while we thought she was asleep in her bed!
We then found she had been smoking marijuana as well. We simply had no idea of the double-life she was leading, apparently she was sneaking out the window at night. You just don't know what your kid can be up to. It was fortunate we knew the cop as a personal friend, he just brought her home, instead of charging her.
Also, do be aware that teens consider credit cards to be their's for the taking. We found out DD was taking our CC, buy stuff, then return for cash to buy drugs. Keep those CC under strict lock and key at ALL times, that means ALL times, you never leave such unattended. Even if the OP son is a responsible young man, you don't know who else will take advantage of the situation, get inside, and go through your stuff, cc, SSN, small valuables, believe me, its all happened to us via my totally trustworthy daughter.
Give it a ew years, 18 is a different world from 16!
I appreciate that your 16-year-old is an honor student, responsible, etc, that also describes my 16-year-old daughter, until last week. We got a knock on our door about 4 am, police bringing her home, drunk as a skunk found passed out at a park, while we thought she was asleep in her bed!
We then found she had been smoking marijuana as well. We simply had no idea of the double-life she was leading, apparently she was sneaking out the window at night. You just don't know what your kid can be up to. It was fortunate we knew the cop as a personal friend, he just brought her home, instead of charging her.
Also, do be aware that teens consider credit cards to be their's for the taking. We found out DD was taking our CC, buy stuff, then return for cash to buy drugs. Keep those CC under strict lock and key at ALL times, that means ALL times, you never leave such unattended. Even if the OP son is a responsible young man, you don't know who else will take advantage of the situation, get inside, and go through your stuff, cc, SSN, small valuables, believe me, its all happened to us via my totally trustworthy daughter.
Give it a ew years, 18 is a different world from 16!
Sounds like your daughter has some major issues going on, but no, not all teenagers are like that. My daughter was the same at 16 and 18. She was a good kid at 16, 18 and still is today
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