To have said yes to my 14 year old son

[Mitmoo]

When he asked if he could have a couple of friends around to sleep in a tent in the back garden tonight.

I'm stressed already.

That sounds OK. Tell them if they make a racket, they have to come inside and can it.

Or are you expecting booze at pimms o'clock?

I'm definately going to have a glass of wine before bedtime.

rubyruby what have we let ourselves in for?

No of course You Are Not Being Unreasonable.

It sounds like fun!

As long as you trust the other friends ( I presume boys).
Give him a back door key on a nappy pin to clip into his pj s and a torch.( And some snacks for a midnight feast!) Let them get on with it.
I would let my 11 yo DS camp out

I had a bivvy and a huge tent but they couldn't find the pegs, so they've negotiated the string off it against the fence, now a second tent has gone under the overall covering from the first tent. It's pretty ingenious really, they've turned a pretty small garden into a camp site.

I couldn't say no I've been suffering with anxiety really badly and they tidied up the garden and shed yesterday to cheer me up. One even went to his mum and aunts to get some Avon orders for me.

I do love teens.

I have six girls aged 9-11 in my lounge. They have been there since 5pm whilst me, DH, DD and DS are stuck upstairs. They have nail varnish, face packs and lots of food and DVDs.

I have my son's his step-brother to stay for 4 days. They get on really well and are having a great time.

Last week we had DS + 4 boys for an end-of-term sleepover.
They all kipped in DS's room.
DS +2 didn't go to bed until 3am! (which was when I threw them into their room because I wanted to go to sleep)
Then I heard DS chatting at 5am.
Yeah Gods child- do you run on Ever Ready Batteries?

Maybe I should've put them in a tent? No X-Box or Wii.He might not go for it

You all sound like fab parents to me - hope I'm that cool when my dcs are teenagers! I'm sure youll have nothing to worry about and they'll have great fun memories!

They havent fell out yet. My lad is autistic I'm not sure he's not going to be terrified when it gets dark, but he has got a whole lot of peer pressure going on out there.

Should I sleep downstairs just in case?

You could fire up the barbie and have sausages!

they'll have a ball, and i wouldn't worry about sleeping downstairs yourself, get off up out of the way and enjoy the peace while you can!

they will come and find you if they really need help, but they will annoy the hell out of you if you are 'there'

Lord LOL Tooblunt thanks for that. I don't feel cool right now I just feel like it could well be a long old night.

I would if that's the case Mitmoo.
Just tell your DS (only him) that you'll be on the couch so that he knows you are near but doesn't lose face in front of his mates.
Then you're there if he needs you.

i used to bloody well LOVE camping in people's back gardens!

am reet jealous now

They are stuffing themselves stupid with sweets right now that's after a chippie night. They could well be farting later lol

Six years ago I let my then 8 year old ds, with aspergers, put up his tent in the garden on a Saturday night. He really wanted too and was packed up with food, drink, torch, books, ds, cuddly toys, sleeping bag, duvet (just in case!), favourite pillow, pokemon cushion etc.... most of his bedroom in fact! Was about 8pm.

I kept the patio doors open and got my bedding prepared on the sofa so I could listen out for emergencies. Was expecting 'I don't like it mummy'.

At 11 there was a kerfuffle in the garden, went out and loads of teenagers were in my garden running past DS's tent shouting 'hide. run!' One of them actually apologised to me on the way past...next door but one were getting raided again (ex council estate, now moved!). All the kids ran therough the gardens to escape.

Packed Ds back up, popped him into bed so I could put his toys etc back, he said it was the best night ever but he has refused to camp since!

Bless I'm quite looking forward to the dc having good friends round like this.