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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:
morningpaper · 17/07/2008 21:37

and a large spider in a jam jar

StellaDallas · 17/07/2008 21:37

Goodness, I have just read through this whole thread and I really have to hand it to you, Tiger. I've never seen anyone on MN defend an untenable position so undauntedly before. Most people would be gibbering under the dining room table by now.
But you are still wrong, you know

morningpaper · 17/07/2008 21:37

and those magazines from under your mattress

morningpaper · 17/07/2008 21:36

and some Anne Summers "Party Games"

and a cap gun

tigermoth · 17/07/2008 21:35

Oh come ON morningpaper!

Anyway, have to go now!

OP posts:
ingles2 · 17/07/2008 21:35

tigermoth if you really thought it was ok for your ds to take his "SS" you wouldn't even be asking us,

scrappydappydoo · 17/07/2008 21:35

Sorry, have to agree with everyone else, don't do it. It may be just a picnic in the park but its still a party and therefore party rules apply. Were you really considering sending your son to a party with a toy just because you think it would 'add to the event'?? How rude and insulting to the host who has obviously worked hard to plan the party!!

morningpaper · 17/07/2008 21:34

And a punch-bowl full of alcopops

And some fags

morningpaper · 17/07/2008 21:34

Why don't you just give him an air rifle

tigermoth · 17/07/2008 21:31

It's possible other children are bringing all sorts of outdoor stuff, 'SS's' included to this party/picnic - the host parent has not made it clear what's is happening. Has only said that ds2 can bring his SS when I asked her what was the score on this.

OP posts:
spicemonster · 17/07/2008 21:27

But the host is probably not okay about it! As you said in your OP!

Okay, I give up now.

onceinalifetime · 17/07/2008 21:26

You'll certainly be taking something to the party, a reminder not to invite your ds to the next one.

wordgirl · 17/07/2008 21:24

Presumably if they thought it was a nice thing they would have brought their own supersoakers!

Jackstini · 17/07/2008 21:24

But if the host thought that - they would have been providing them.....
Maybe she likes them but just not at her dd's bday party.
Each to their own.

themildmanneredjanitor · 17/07/2008 21:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ingles2 · 17/07/2008 21:23

you are joking right?????
Never in a million trillion years would I let my 8 yr old ds take "super soakers" (trademark) to a class party in the park where I'm not supervising!
This maybe why he's invited to all the parties!

Doobydoo · 17/07/2008 21:23

You are being odd I think.

tigermoth · 17/07/2008 21:21

It just goes to show how different our perceptions are. I thought, as long as host was ok about it, that having some super soakers would be a nice thing on a hot day. Would add something to the event, not take something away from it.

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spicemonster · 17/07/2008 21:20

tigermoth - I have come to the conclusion that you are either on a wind-up or totally deluded. At the risk of sounding like a stern teacher (or your mum), I would think very hard about your attitude towards bloody super-soakers, your DS being a 'livewire' and the fact that he doesn't get invited on many playdates and consider whether these elements might be in any way connected.

Of course, if you want your DS to continue to be treated as a social pariah, go right ahead.

Doodle2U · 17/07/2008 21:19

@ morloth!

Doodle2U · 17/07/2008 21:18

THREE "super soaker" mentions in that post TM. Are you trying to get it to come higher up the Google search list? Is Super Soaker business slower than expected with this spate of wet weather?

TheFallenMadonna · 17/07/2008 21:18

He seems awfully keen on them tigermoth...

Madlentileater · 17/07/2008 21:18

can't you invite any super soaker owners to another play date in the park, hosted by you, equipped with towels and spare old dry t shirts?

Morloth · 17/07/2008 21:17

yes yes, it's all OUR fault that this was a crap idea.

tigermoth · 17/07/2008 21:16

I will be saying 'no' - I had a feeling before I started this thread that I probably would.

But many of you are o incredibly doom and gloom about bringing super soakers out of private gardens and my own experience of this is different.

My son has taken his super soaker to playgrounds on hot days, I have been there to watch and tbh no child has burst into tears and no one has been soaked to bits. DS2 takes two or more super soakers with him and happily and lets other children user them. There is far more more running around than firing of water and when it's fired, the other children seem to dodge out of the way quite easily - and everyone seems to have fun.

OP posts: