Ok - here is the situation.
Your 7/8 year old is invited to a 8th birthday party of a friend of theirs. You have known the parents for a few years and have a very favorable view of them. There is no pool involved.
The invite says "Feel free to drop off your child and pick up, as we have plenty of adult eyes for supervision".
Do you attend the party or drop and go (which could still mean walking in, saying hello and then heading out)?
I hear you. I think 6 was when I started to feel comfortable in the situation like you described - but now that they are turning 8, I am pretty good with ds1 attending a party with adults I trust by himself. It is actually a nice, new phase we have entered!
Quoting sjump25:
I am going through the same thing! My 6 year old was just invited to a party and the invite said the same thing. It's my good friend and I trust her 110% so I figure I'll ask my son what he wants. If he wants me to stay I of course will, but if he wants a little freedom of attending a birthday party without mommy I'll leave.
I know! He's growing up *tear*
Quoting Kris_PBG:I hear you. I think 6 was when I started to feel comfortable in the situation like you described - but now that they are turning 8, I am pretty good with ds1 attending a party with adults I trust by himself. It is actually a nice, new phase we have entered!
Quoting sjump25:
I am going through the same thing! My 6 year old was just invited to a party and the invite said the same thing. It's my good friend and I trust her 110% so I figure I'll ask my son what he wants. If he wants me to stay I of course will, but if he wants a little freedom of attending a birthday party without mommy I'll leave.
No, when our older son is invited to a birthday party by classmates/friends, my husband or I (whomever takes him) will stay also. The host parents actually like the other parents to stay in order to catch up and socialize. Our son's class (now in second grade) have been together since Kinder so we've gotten to know most of the other parents fairly well.
This is for my son's party...
Most parents in our group have started dropping and picking up. The kids have been together for at least 3 years and the parents all know each other.
To be honest, my life would be much simpler if all/most dropped off and picked up as suggested, but they are obviously free to stay as well.
It just makes my life more complicated and than I have double the people to feed.
The biggest issue, however, is that if there are guests I feel the need to be social, when in reality, I would rather be focused on the party.
My son begged for the party to be at our house... I wish it was somewhere else!
Last year, we did the party at Michael's (the art supply store, as ours has a party room) and everyone except one close family friend dropped off.
When I would go to the parties where they asked the parents to stay with their child, I never expected the parents to feed me. I would let the kids eat and then I would eat when I got home (or before we left the house).
Quoting Kris_PBG:
This is for my son's party...
Most parents in our group have started dropping and picking up. The kids have been together for at least 3 years and the parents all know each other.
To be honest, my life would be much simpler if all/most dropped off and picked up as suggested, but they are obviously free to stay as well.
It just makes my life more complicated and than I have double the people to feed.
The biggest issue, however, is that if there are guests I feel the need to be social, when in reality, I would rather be focused on the party.
My son begged for the party to be at our house... I wish it was somewhere else!
Last year, we did the party at Michael's (the art supply store, as ours has a party room) and everyone except one close family friend dropped off.
My girls have always said to me "Mom, this is a party of one of our friends, not your friends' parties like back in the old days, so please just drop us off." So, Leigh and I will drop them off, go inside to meet the parents of the child, and to make sure there is enough adult supervision, then we leave.
Awww - how cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quoting Kmakksmom:My girls have always said to me "Mom, this is a party of one of our friends, not your friends' parties like back in the old days, so please just drop us off." So, Leigh and I will drop them off, go inside to meet the parents of the child, and to make sure there is enough adult supervision, then we leave.
what are you doing right now?
- Kris_PBG
on Sep. 9, 2012 at 12:46 PM