Hellobee Boards

not alone but with siblings was 1st grade - my parents got divorced and my mom had to work - I was the youngest of 4

For short jaunts, I think it was around 10. I had 3 younger siblings at that time, but my mom had trained me well on changing diapers, mixing the formula, where the first aid kit was, and I could always call the neighbor family if needed.

By 12, I was watching my siblings for the whole evening while my parents would go out on dates.

It would probably have been different if my siblings and I got into trouble, but we were a fairly cautious lot and the riskiest thing we did was watch Walker Texas Ranger and not clean up dinner until the garage door started opening

I had a 4 1/2 year older sister and my Mom WAH so I was rarely alone.

I was 9. Our babysitter didn't work out, so my sister and I were latchkey kids (she was 7).

It's hard to say since my sister is 2 years older, so maybe she was 10 or 11 and I was 8 or 9? I can't really remember.

When I was about 10, my parents started leaving me alone sometimes, often with my brother who's 4 years younger. I was responsible, but not emotionally ready. I'd be terrified, and often sit with a kitchen knife, imagining intruders breaking into our home. Nothing bad happened, but I can't shake those memories of being scared.

All these post really had me thinking the other day. I was either 7 or 8 when my mother started leaving me home with my 2 younger sisters(5 and 2). I remember being in day care before that, and then at some point her deciding she couldn't afford it anymore. I was in charge of both of my sisters. I know I've said it before but my mother is an alcoholic, and at certain times in my life was sober and in aa, but at that particular time I'm pretty sure she was drinking and that was a factor in her decision, even if we did live way out in the country. I can't imagine leaving DS home alone that young . I will say at 8 I was already able to use a stove, cook dinner and able to take care of both my sisters. Like @PawPrints said i felt confident in my abilitys. It freaks me out now lol.

I think I always had after-school care in elementary school, but by middle school, so when I was 11, I definitely would be unsupervised from the time school let out (we lived close enough that I walked home) until about 5-6ish when my dad would get home. I had an older brother, and he and his best friends would often but not always be over at our house, but they weren't officially in charge of watching me. I remember often going home with friends after school as well--by 8th grade there were definitely sketchy unsupervised shenanigans going on, lol!

I was 9. I was also allowed to babysit my baby cousin at that age, and care for my 7 year old little sister. There is zero chance I'd leave my kids home alone at the same age.