Leaving teenager home alone

[PraiseChrist]

the examen said not to leave them home alone for long hours, my bad…
Other than that, I still keep my original answer…

Have a good evening, and bless you

 

[LightBound]

the examen said not to leave them home alone for long hours, my bad…
Other than that, I still keep my original answer…

Have a good evening, and bless you

Did that examen perhaps mean leaving them home alone while one went off for a vacation? I could see where that would be grave matter if they were 14 or 15 and left home for an entire week, versus a teen that was left home during the day when the parents worked or even an older teen (who had a driving license) staying home alone in a safe neighborhood while the parents went away overnight. Where did you happen across this particular examen that states it is grave matter to have a teen home alone for more than a few hours?

 

[Lea101]

Most parents think if they leave a child alone, the child will host wild parties.

Most teens I know will eat pizza, cry, go on twitter and watch netflix. And they enjoy it.

Does your kid get into trouble? Introvert? Questions like this will guide your answer

 

[mommy_k]

A few days alone is fine in my opinion, but not the entire summer.

It’s always best to keep your teens involved and busy with things.

 

[OneMoreLife]

I ask for prayer. Leaving a child home alone was a big big mistake. Please pray.
Thank you.

 

[ConfusedLucy]

I was left alone a few times during the holiday as a teen. It wasn’t fun but I didn’t get into trouble or anything. It’s hard, parents have to work these days and kids will reach an age where they are too old for holiday clubs.

I think it depends how mature they are. Do they have hobbies? Do they have any friends or extended family they could spend time with? Could they do some work around the house to help you?

 

[struggling4him]

No, they should tie him to the tree outside and leave a dish of water in case its hot

 

[OneMoreLife]

I was left alone a few times during the holiday as a teen. It wasn’t fun but I didn’t get into trouble or anything. It’s hard, parents have to work these days and kids will reach an age where they are too old for holiday clubs.

I think it depends how mature they are. Do they have hobbies? Do they have any friends or extended family they could spend time with? Could they do some work around the house to help you?

My teen has gotten into trouble with his friends.

We no longer talk with family nearby who could watch her/him.

We are trying to get her/him involved with hobbies.

After being grounded we are slowly allowing our teen to do things with friends but we are limiting the wheres and whens.

Our teen wrote something heartbreaking on her/his computer about being home all day alone. This was due to our mistake on getting her/him involved during the summer in things.

Please pray for our teen and us.

Thank you.

 

[signit]

In general, a teen is perfectly capable of staying home by themselves, and babysitting others. There may be circumstances about a particular teen, the place they live, or the situation of the family that make that imprudent.

It’s prudential decision of the parents.

Agreed; this really depends on the individual circumstances, including the “track record” of the person involved,

I’m thinking of a few years ago, the loud teenage drinking party across the street with the parents on vacation, and the police having to come.

But, of course, not every teen would do that.

 

[PPeterson]

Most parents think if they leave a child alone, the child will host wild parties.

Most teens I know will eat pizza, cry, go on twitter and watch netflix. And they enjoy it.

Does your kid get into trouble? Introvert? Questions like this will guide your answer

Lol. While I was a teenager way back in the pre-internet days, I remember how it went every time my parents left me alone at home.

There would be a party every single night they were away, drinking, smoking weed, and mostly unsuccessful attempts to hook up with girls.

However, I would be at my summer job every day, complete all tasks that had been left for me, go to church on Sunday, and typically confession by the end of the week.

I didn’t do any crying, but all my parents would have heard about was the eating pizza and watching movies. And of course from their friends they would likely have heard that they saw me at church.

I’m sure all your teenagers are much more responsible than I was, but mine are never being left at home alone ever unless it’s an absolute emergency

 

[ConfusedLucy]

My teen has gotten into trouble with his friends.

We no longer talk with family nearby who could watch her/him.

We are trying to get her/him involved with hobbies.

After being grounded we are slowly allowing our teen to do things with friends but we are limiting the wheres and whens.

Our teen wrote something heartbreaking on her/his computer about being home all day alone. This was due to our mistake on getting her/him involved during the summer in things.

Please pray for our teen and us.

Thank you.

I do pray for your family. These longer holidays are really problematic for working families. We only get 6 weeks in the UK and it’s still an big issue for families. I know I stopped enjoying the summer holidays as a teenager but there aren’t a lot of options for parents.

 

[twf]

Lol. While I was a teenager way back in the pre-internet days, I remember how it went every time my parents left me alone at home.

There would be a party every single night they were away, drinking, smoking weed, and mostly unsuccessful attempts to hook up with girls.

However, I would be at my summer job every day, complete all tasks that had been left for me, go to church on Sunday, and typically confession by the end of the week.

I didn’t do any crying, but all my parents would have heard about was the eating pizza and watching movies. And of course from their friends they would likely have heard that they saw me at church.

I’m sure all your teenagers are much more responsible than I was, but mine are never being left at home alone ever unless it’s an absolute emergency

Not all teens are alike. My little brother certainly partied a lot… But me and my sister never did. Back in high school none of my friends drank or partied at all. I caused my parents grief by becoming Catholic and going to Mass… Dad put his foot down and insisted I still come to their protestant service on sundays so I had to go to Mass saturday nights… Caused a lot of pain in the family. That was my rebellion… Seeking tradition.

See my join date? 2004 I was in grade 11 and spent many hours on this very forum learning everything I could about Catholicism. That’s how I would have spent a day alone without my parents in those days.