I arrived at my sister’s house while she was at the grocery store. My 15 year old nephew showed me the metal “sword” that his visiting friend had made for him. The friend had one, too, and after I expressed my admiration and turned to my iTouch to check email, the two began dueling. In the living room.
“Has your mother talked to you about this behavior?” I asked.
“Good point,” he said.
And experts say 15 year olds can be left home alone.
Reit This Way 
Oh, I know. Frankly, 11 and 13 year olds seem more mature than 15 year olds, or 16 year olds. I have been stunned how dim my older kids seem to be getting when they are in charge while I am gone. Really dim.
15 year old girls, maybe!
As Dad likes to say, there is nothing more responsible than a 10 or 11 year old boy.
In my experience, everything goes to hell in a handbasket after that until they get a taste of the real world.
Experts have never seen several teenage boys in one place. Even the “good” ones, even the Boy Scouts. Something about combining teenage boys produces a certain reaction that implodes their common-sense capabilities.
Over the past few years I have come to believe that 15 is the low point for boys. Seriously. I am dreading 15. (I think it is 13 or 14 for girls.) So my girl is heading out of it but my boy is just coming around the corner. Sigh.
Sharilyn,
Excellent. My eldest child (boy) and my second (girl) will hit their respective lows at the same time. Then three boys in quick succession with the youngest of the three hitting his at the same time as my youngest child (girl) hits hers. Excellent.
Of course, the fact that the youngest of the six is only eight days old gives me some time…