Home Alone!

I thought I had hit all the milestones with my girls, they are 22 and 17 years old after all but no, we had another a little while ago. They stayed home alone, overnight!!

I remember the the first time we left the girls home alone on an evening, it was in 2019. Becky was 16 and Ellie was 11 and Stu and I were only out a few hours. They were absolutely fine but that was a long time ago and a lot has happened in our lives since. Over the summer I thought I would never leave the girls alone in the house when we had some things going on but I felt like enough time had passed without any further incidents and no one knew we were going away so it felt safe!

Stu and I decided to stay in a hotel before we went to York Christmas Market. It meant we could sleep for a little longer and not have to worry about catching a bus to the train station on the Friday morning. The girls were not bothered in the slightest that we would not be at home! They had strict instructions to keep their phones turned up and near them, the doors locked and Becky had to keep an eye on the security camera. 

Stu and I left, checked into the hotel and I text to check on the girls. They replied quickly which set my mind at ease a little but they were too busy to chat, they had ordered their first takeaway! Taco Bell, it was an experience for them as Ellie had never had it before. We have only recently discovered that Uber Eats deliver to us so it's opened up a whole new selection of food options!

Just after 9pm they both text to say they were going to bed, I reminded them to switch the heating off, they hadn't so it's a good job that I am a worrier and a nag. The next morning when Stu and I were awake I text the girls and didn't expect a reply, they both said they were going to have a lie in. Becky did text me just after 9am to tell me that the tickets for Coldplay didn't go on sale at 9am like she thought, they went on sale at midday so she was going to go back to sleep.

I kept texting them throughout the day and sending them photos of what Stu and I were up to. Becky had a productive day changing her bedding and doing some washing and Ellie spend her day playing on her computer. They ordered Subway for lunch, their 2nd takeaway. lol

I don't think Ellie missed us in the slightest, she is never chatty through text but I thought I would get more than "yea and yea" as a reply. lol Aren't teenagers a joy!

When Stu and I were on our way home they were the one's texting us, asking if we were on the bus and what time would we be home? I am sure it was only so they could make sure the house was tidy. When Stu and I got home I was very impressed. The dishes had been washed, the rubbish was put out and the house was pretty tidy! I did say well done to them for remembering to shut the curtains and they both chuckled, I knew there was more to it. It turns out they had left the curtains shut all day, no wonder they hadn't been fussed about putting the heating on. lol

The girls had a great time without Stu and I being there, they had 3 takeaways in 24 hours and probably spent more on food than Stu and I did in that time. lol They now want to know when are we going away again? I think we will leave it a while, I was worried the whole time we were away but at the same time it was nice to have some time away.

How old were your kids when you left them home alone, over night for the first time?