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Super soaker etiquette at parties

411 replies

tigermoth · 17/07/2008 19:22

Does this sound ok to you?

My ds2 age 8 has been invited to a classmate's party tomorrow (after school ends, last day of term).

The party will take place outdoors in a small park next to the school. (Host and helpers will take the whole class to the park after school ends in the afternoon - hurrah!)

I saw the host's mother yesterday to confirm arrangements. Ds1 begged to bring his large super soaker water pistol with him - and a spare one to give to someone else.

Host's mother and I had a quick talk and agreed it was ok as long as it was warm weather. But I am not sure if host's mother was agreeing under duress IYSWIM. Ds2 was being very insistent and I wonder if the mother was just being polite through gritted teeth?

I told ds2 in front of host's mum that she had my absolute permission to veto any super soaker activity on the day.

ds2 has come home from school today obsessed with super soaker plans. He has apparently got his teacher's permission to bring in bottles of water and store them, along with his two super soakers, in school for use at the party (as there is no water supply at the park). I keep reminding him that if it is cool or if children get upset, the water fight is off, but he seems to have his mind set on this.

I cannot contact host's mother - can't get her phone number and I am unlikely to see her tomorrow morning as she does not do the school drop off. So as it stands,
ds2 will arrive at school tomorrow complete with super soakers.

I plan to write a letter to host's mother re-iterating that she has my utter permission to ban super soakers and ds2 knows this. I will give this letter to ds2 to give to her at the beginning of the party. Ds2 knows I will check that he has given her the letter when I collect him.

It's the end of term, the party is outdoors, I don't want to put the dampers on ds2's plans but hmmm.... what would you think if you were the host's mother? Would you be ok with this?

PS Bit of extra background - some of the parents of ds2's classmates see him as a bit of a livewire, so from what I can gather, he tends not to get too many play date or party invites. This is the first class party he has been invited to for ages and I have told ds2 it's really important that he does what he is told by the host mother so the other parents will see he takes notice. At school, ds2 is reasonably well behaved - I never have to see his teachers about his behaviour, and as a rule he plays well in a group, but I know he will be running around in a frenzy of super soaker, end of term excitement.....

OP posts:
spicemonster · 17/07/2008 21:03

Yes if I were having a picnic in the park on a sunny day and one of the kids arrived with a super-soaker my heart would sink, I'd regret inviting him and I'd curse his mother. Sorry but you did ask

onceinalifetime · 17/07/2008 21:03

'livewire' plus supersoaker = nightmare

parent minus discipline and manners = double nightmare

traceybath · 17/07/2008 21:03

I would think it was rude.

To be honest i'd have thought you were mad to let him have one at a school fair.

Its just asking for trouble.

Fine in your garden as numerous other people have said but not on in a park.

Also - other non-party attendees would get mightily pissed off if they got wet in the park.

NorthernLurker · 17/07/2008 21:03

20 children and 1 or even 2 toys is not fun. It is a disaster! Get a grip woman!

themildmanneredjanitor · 17/07/2008 21:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tigermoth · 17/07/2008 21:02

But super soakers are meant to be fun? Like a football or a frisbee. If I was having a picnic and a friend's child turned up with a super soaker, providing the day was warm and it was used responsibly I would be delighted!

OP posts:
CaptainUnderpants · 17/07/2008 21:01

Anything good on TV tonight ? Getting a bit bored

meglet · 17/07/2008 21:01

tigermoth if a child turned up unexpectedly with a super soaker at a picnic then it wouldn't bother me if the parent was staying to supervise.

it just isn't reasonable to expect the host of the girls party to control your DS with his super soaker.

Hulababy · 17/07/2008 21:01

But this is not a picnic in the park on a summer's day - it is a party where your child is a guest, one of many.

nd TBH, unless all cildren at the picnic had soakers then yes - you probably bug me. And I'd like to know in advance so that if my child was to join in I could have brought spare clothes, etc.

GentleOtter · 17/07/2008 21:00
nkf · 17/07/2008 21:00

No no and no again.

NorthernLurker · 17/07/2008 20:59

If they super-soaked me or any of my chicks then yes I would think it was bloody rude actually!

pgwithnumber3 · 17/07/2008 20:59
pgwithnumber3 · 17/07/2008 20:59

It's not just a picnic in the park though, it is an organised party to which there is etiquette, doesn't matter if it is for an 8 year old.

themildmanneredjanitor · 17/07/2008 20:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mutt · 17/07/2008 20:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

onceinalifetime · 17/07/2008 20:58

Good God alive......

peanutbear · 17/07/2008 20:58

I think that as the other children wont have a change of clothes its not a good idea no one will want to stay for a picnic after running round the park in wet clothes

and I think if he accidently caught a parent with some water it will only lead to bad feeling

DO you really want to be worried all day tomorrow about what you may turn up to

Its not like the other mother can call you to get him if you are at work when he himself gets soaked

Also this is a public park I assume could be embarrassing if the hijack a complete stranger with loaded super soakers

EffiePerine · 17/07/2008 20:58

yes

EffiePerine · 17/07/2008 20:57

can't see the prob with telling him 'not your party, no supersoaker'

odd

tigermoth · 17/07/2008 20:57

Hang on everyone, before you run away in disgust. Say you were having a picnic in a park on a sunny day and one of your guest's children happend to arrive with a super soaker - would you automatically think they were terribly rude?

OP posts:
pgwithnumber3 · 17/07/2008 20:57

It's what will happen though TheFallenMadonna.

morningpaper · 17/07/2008 20:56

Tell him 200 people surveyed said they thought it was a bad idea and so you have changed your mind.

lolololol

cocolepew · 17/07/2008 20:56
TheFallenMadonna · 17/07/2008 20:56

Now that's not really fair TMMJ.