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At what age did you start leaving your kids home alone???

Shannintipton - posted on 08/18/2011 ( 3 moms have responded )

36,025

I think the legal age is 12 or 13 in the state of California. What are your thoughts. Please share with me. Thanks

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Sarah - posted on 04/17/2012

268

eldest left at 18 and broke my heart, gave him two leaving parties, one with his mates and one with me he came back 12 months later

my middle son left at 18 and still lives away i was used to it that time

Lady - posted on 08/19/2011

2,136

My son was 12 before I ever left him alone, and then it was only for about 20 mins, he's been left now for about an hour or so now and then - he's 13 now.
I left my 10 year old once when she was ill so i could take the younger one to school/
I would never leave them to look after their younger siblings though - I would just be too scared of what might happen.

Teresa - posted on 08/18/2011

10,689

There isn't a legal age where I am.... it's based on maturity. I've left the girls twice in the past week (first 2 times ever) to go to the store for a last minute item. The first trip I took their brother w/ me and we were gone for less than 20 minutes. The second time was when their brother needed medicine and he stayed w/ them too (so I could get back to him faster)... I was gone for about 10 minutes.

I'm not really comfortable leaving them yet and I won't leave them for longer than that until they have a phone of their own (we don't have a landline).... and won't leave them w/ their brother for longer than that for at least a couple of more years. I wouldn't have left him this last time, but he was lying on the couch w/ a fever and a headache and wouldn't have really been able to get out at the store w/ me. I left the kids w/ the phone both times and we have a good friend that lives about 2-3 minutes down the road that they could call in an emergency.

The girls are 9.5 (10 in December) and my son is just under 3.5... As I've told them... I trust THEM entirely, but I know that stuff can happen (even when I'm there) and it's just not worth the risk to me.