to pop out when dc have friends to play?

[receiverofopiniongiver]

Most weekends one or more of my kids have friends over to play which I have no problem with.

But it does mean that more often than not there are random children in my house.

My dh and I work full time during the week, so of course there are chores that need doing on the weekend, both in and out of the house.

Now of course if dh and I are both going out for the day, no kids can come and play no problem.

If dh needs to go out and I'm at home no problem.

So why do I think that the parents of the other children will think I'm a bad mother if I pop to the shops (I don't mean spend 4 hours down at the shops I mean literally out of the house max 1.5 hours) and leave the kids in the perfectly capable hands of my dh?

AIBU to think that parents will have an issue with this? Or will they/would you really have an issue with me doing this?

Of course YANBU. If there is a responsible adult around I don't see why you can't get your chores done. BTW, how old are the children?

I wouldn't have a problem with it - mine often go to play with kids where dad is the adult home - and I often nip to the shop and leave DH at home with the kids and visitors.

As long as there is a responsible adult within earshot I would be happy.

Oh that's good.

Ages 6-14.

If it was my DD (6) I would want to know who would be looking after her. So I would expect you to tell me whether it was you/DH. I wouldn't necessarily see you and him as interchangeable - it would depend on whether I/DD knew him.

I would't leave six year olds alone in the house even with a 14 year old.

But the 14 year olds are fine no problems at all, I think after the age of 11 kids have to learn to be responsible.

There is an adult there so it's fine.

Fot the very young children it might be worth saying to the parents, as part of natural conversation: "Of course XXX is welcome to come in and play but have you met XXX (DP) - he'll probably be in charge as I've got to pop out for a while".

I still like to at least know what the adult looks like when mine go visiting. Not because I'm nosey but because I trust my instincts in case I had some doubts about the environment they are in.

Good for you for having such a welcoming, happy home btw.

Ps - Can I come and play too?

I wouldn't have a problem with my dd (5) being over to play with any of her friends dads being the responsible adults BUT I know them and have met them meny times, I would also want to know before she went who's care I am entrusting her to.

I don't mind saying that's the case, i just thought they may get funny about it. I don't know why, parents have met my dh, get on well with him, he's actually the one that the children know to go to get what they want, so the children interact with him. He's normally the one who does the birthday parties for example.