I've left my 9 year old home alone for about an hour, last summer. She was sick, DD2 had a swimming lesson, the pool was 5 minutes from our house and she had taken a "home alone safety" class, so DH and I felt reasonably OK with it. We've left her home for brief periods of time since then to go run in-town errands that she's just not jazzed about riding along for. I would be comfortable with leaving just my oldest home alone and going to lunch 10 minutes away. When DD2 is 9 and DD1 is 12, I don't know...they can be TERRIBLE together. I'd leave them each home alone separately, but I'm not sure when I'll ever feel OK leaving them home alone together, kwim?
So in my case, the hesitation would be less leaving kids of those ages home alone, and more leaving sisters of those ages home alone together. YMMV.
Sarah
Mommy to:
Carolyn, 10/04
Anna, 7/08
Matthew, 8/13