Would you let a group of 16 year old boys have a sleepover without you there?

[Spudlover]

We are going away for NYE and letting DS stay home as he’s been invited to a new year gathering he was desperate to go to.

Now he has asked if they can have it at ours instead. 6 of them, total geeks and none of them drink apparently. I do know DS doesn’t.

They will play games all night and eat every bit of food in the house but I don’t anticipate (perhaps naively!) much debauchery. I’m more concerned with noise for the neighbour.

I can’t work out if I’m being totally irresponsible considering it or if it’s pretty normal!

SDD is in her thirties so zero worries there. Although far more likely to work her way through the booze cupboard.

It's not just drink some are experimenting with weed at that age. Even sensible kids are susceptible to persuasion and taunts ...are you scared, frightened mummy will find out ext. Cigarette burns in the carpet or sofa when they've had a few sneaky alcopops. No thanks.

Yes I'd allow it if you feel he is trustworthy. Just say only these friends and no publicising it on SM though. If he is respectful of the house then no problem. They will really enjoy it. I've got 2 late teen DS here and they've always been fine when we are not around - after all it's their house too and they respect our family home.

Oh so what if he had some drinks or whatever, he’s 16, teenagers are supposed to have fun and experiment. I spent all my weekends from 15 onwards as various friends houses doing just that.

No chance.

We went away just after decorating and putting new carpets down. The DC went to stay with my sister.

Our 14 year old DS allowed his friend to hold a birthday party in our house.
The mess and destruction was dreadful and it broke my heart when we got home and found it.

There had been drinking, drug-taking and smoking. The police had apparently been called.

The birthday boy was the son of a friend of mine and she was horrified when she found out.

OP you cannot trust teenagers. Not for this. Even my sister, when she was a teenager, held a party at our parents' house (while they were away on holiday) and caused a LOT of damage. Someone turned on the bath taps and left them running.

I would not for a moment give permission for a teenager to hold a party while I was not there. They have no control over what some of their friends do.

Nope, no way!
I am positive mine will not drink or anything like that, but 16 is still too young for me to be left alone in a group.... think risk of falls, fire, locking themselves out. This kind of thing will worry me.

Only if you wanted a wrecked house

Not a chance

I want to say yes but...when I was sixteen my best mate had a party while her parents were away and word got out (pre social media). Lots of people came that we didn't know. Her house was beautiful, lots of art and flower arrangements - destroyed. A sink was pulled off the wall. Totally out of control.

No. It doesn’t matter how trustworthy he and his friends are, if word gets out (and it will) of a free house they won’t be able to stop the tsunami of incomers.

I see you’ve already decided against it but just echoing others (having been there 😩)

When I read the thread title I thought to myself probably yes if they were a nerdy/geeky group!

But that's a fair point about others showing up. So probably no.

Absolutely not. Doesn’t matter how geeky and sensible you think they are if news gets around that there’s a free house all sorts will turn up … particularly on NY eve when they’re too young for pubs and it’s freezing outside.

Absolutely not, you’ll have gate crashes and a wrecked house