How old were you when....

[Bodyflight.Net 0]

How old were you when your parents left you home alone overnight or late into the night while they went to a party? or a conference? etc?



Added: And if your a parent... how old before you left your kids overnight?

[BillyVance 34]

I don't remember when the first time was, but I do remember one time I was home alone, I wanted to start a fire in the fireplace. Jammed a bunch of newspapers and some kindling in there and lit it. All of a sudden smoke were coming out of the fireplace into the house instead of up the chimney! Oh shit... I forgot to open the flue! Too hot to reach in there, so I ran to get some water and doused it, but it was too late. So I opened all doors and windows, hoping to dissipate the smoke before the rest of my family got home. Didn't work. So I gave up and went straight to my room and sat there until they got in.

It was in the middle of the summer.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[AllisonH 0]

I think it was my senior year in high school. I was 16 at the time and my parents balked at first about leaving me alone overnight, but then I reminded them that the next year I would be living 2 hours away for college.

[Bodyflight.Net 0]

Well.. no matter your age, you put out the fire, so that's a good sign you were old enough to cope!!

I don't think there IS a "magic" age per se, I think each kid is different naturally, but people do seem to be obsessed with the number in regards to this topic, so I thought I would poll the waters.

[freefalljenn 0]

And it was at the point that I realized how much better life was when I was the only one at home. And it was at that point that I realized I HAD to go to college so that I could get out of the house ASAP!

jenn
Tunnel Junkie Since November 2005! ;o)~
TPM #46
Paraclete XP TPM Delegate

[mamajumps 0]

As a mom of three, the oldest being 9... I can honestly say I dont think I will ever leave them home alone, at least until they are adults. I worry way to much. My head is a constant barage of "what-ifs". My daughter, who is very mature for her age, stays home after school alone now for a few hours and if I need to run an errand I will leave her home for a bit. But I also live right next door to my aunt & uncle. Im a very over-protective mom... As for me tho, I stayed home after school alone starting at age 5 (early 80's) but I was never left overnight....

[Bodyflight.Net 0]

Thanks for your input!

Im hoping to get at least 100 votes on this one!

[NWFlyer 2]

I was probably under 12, but my brother was 3 years older, so I'm sure he was there to supervise. But I can remember babysitting as young as 12, so I guess I was also allowed to self-supervise by that age.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[weegegirl 2]

Damn Jenn! 17?? Teeeheee. You were SHELTERED!

I was 11 I think. I was terrified. They put me in their bed, with dinner, and full tv privlages. They told me to call the neighbor if anything was wrong. I did not move an inch until they got home. Every little noise had me shaking.

[turtlespeed 226]

Quote

How old were you when your parents left you home alone overnight or late into the night while they went to a party? or a conference? etc?



Added: And if your a parent... how old before you left your kids overnight?

For accuracy - you should put an option for "They Still Don't"

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[Bodyflight.Net 0]

[livendive 8]

I can't remember the first overnight by myself, but it was before I was 10 or 11 years old. I only know that because at 10 or 11 I did my first week by myself. I was given $50 for groceries and told to ask the neighbors for help if I had any problems.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[Bodyflight.Net 0]

You were expected to grocery shop for yourself??

I was one of the few that was NEVER left alone...

[Jewels 0]

Quote

I was 11 I think. I was terrified. They put me in their bed, with dinner, and full tv privlages. They told me to call the neighbor if anything was wrong. I did not move an inch until they got home. Every little noise had me shaking.

Noises are horrible when you are home alone. I don't think it was my FIRST time to stay home by myself, but I must've been about 12 or 13. It was winter. I kept hearing loud crashes that sounded like they were coming from inside the house and I was afraid to leave my bedroom. I called mom at work, who had to come get me. As it turned out, there were icicles on the roof that were melting. They would crash onto the roof and those were the noises I was hearing.

TPM Sister #102

[BIGUN 1,433]

Quote

I was given $50 for groceries and told to ask the neighbors for help if I had any problems.

Fifty Bucks!!!!!!! You were one of the rich kids, huh? Why, back in the day........

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[MrFreefall383 0]

I recall age 16, because they wanted to be assured that with all three siblings younger, that at least one person in the house could drive.

"If at first you don't succeed... well, so much for skydiving." - aviation cliche

[livendive 8]

Quote

You were expected to grocery shop for yourself??

I was one of the few that was NEVER left alone...

Yeah. The following year I did a longer stretch, but can't remember if it was two full weeks or just a week plus an extra weekend. In any case, it wasn't much longer before I got out of that house & moved in with an aunt.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[livendive 8]

Quote

Quote

I was given $50 for groceries and told to ask the neighbors for help if I had any problems.

Fifty Bucks!!!!!!! You were one of the rich kids, huh? Why, back in the day........

Well, back in your day, $50 might have been a lot more than it was back in my day.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[turtlespeed 226]

Quote

I can't remember the first overnight by myself, but it was before I was 10 or 11 years old. I only know that because at 10 or 11 I did my first week by myself. I was given $50 for groceries and told to ask the neighbors for help if I had any problems.

Blues,
Dave

That was back when it was safe for an 11yo to walk to the store by himself.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[lauraliscious 0]

I was sheltered too, I voted they NEVER did, but I guess technically the answer is 17 when I went off to college.

I can't remember a time when they left us alone overnight, I think they trusted me but it was my younger brothers they were worried about. Plus my youngest brother was 9 years younger than me. So my grandparents always came to stay over if my parents weren't there. I did start babysitting at age 12 or so though, and they would leave us home alone for a while, just not overnight.

Enemiga Rodriguez, PMS #369, OrFun #25, Team Dirty Sanchez #116, Pelt Head #29, Muff #4091

[AllisonH 0]

I did start babysitting when I was ~11 (for people who live nearby that my parents knew), but that was only during afternoon/evening hours. I wouldn't have been left alone all night (after say 11 or 12) at that age.

[Squeak 17]

under 10, i would look after my new born baby sister (well not NEW born, about 6 months old) at 10years old.
I left home at 15

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[jdthomas 0]

I think that i was maybe 10 or 11 and my parents told me that if I needed anything that i was to ride my bike to my greart grandma's house. (she live a few miles from our home) and they gave me a few dollars so i could go to the public swimming pool as well.
I spent the money on gas for my motorcycle (dirtbike) and rode it out into the country to my friends house, I lived two blocks fromt eh city limits where I could ride a dirt bike legally.
It is amazing to think that my parents used to leave my brothers, my sister or myself alone or let us run around town as long as we where home by dark.. I guess even in a small town (10,000 people) where I grew up times have changed.

www.greenboxphotography.com

[BillyVance 34]

Quote

Quote

I can't remember the first overnight by myself, but it was before I was 10 or 11 years old. I only know that because at 10 or 11 I did my first week by myself. I was given $50 for groceries and told to ask the neighbors for help if I had any problems.

Blues,
Dave

That was back when it was safe for an 11yo to walk to the store by himself.

Yep, pretty much. You don't see trick or treaters much anymore these years at halloween do ya? We had hundreds back in my day. Same correllation...

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[PLFXpert 0]

Eight or Nine.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.