I appreciate your response, and would like to clarify that I really wasn’t trying to attack OP.

I definitely think OP’s mum is the one to blame here (and perhaps I should’ve gone with NTA to reflect this).

My only point was that, in this tricky and unfair situation, I felt that OP had another choice rather than leaving 4 very young, potentially high needs children, on their own. I wasn’t trying to blame OP for this, which is why I stated that I understood they were only 16, and couldn’t be expected to fully take the blame for their actions.

My intention was only to help them, should this horrible situation where their mum does this to them, repeat itself. OP didn’t seem to understand the dangers of leaving huge kids alone “they were all asleep so I didn’t think it was too dangerous”, and I just wanted them to understand that there is a danger to leaving them alone.

Should OP be the one responsible for the kids safety? Absolutely not. But if this situation repeats itself, perhaps my comment and similar comments would give OP a moments pause, in which to call the cops/a relative/neighbour, in order to ensure that someone else is aware of the minors being left alone.

OP, I wasn’t trying to shame you, and I hope I’ve explained myself a little better. You were put into a bad situation and handled it in the best way you knew how. I hope things improve for you.