6th birthday party. 25 (ish) children present of all ages from 1 to 14. 5 adults including me, though three hardly moved out of the kitchen. 4 of the children have autism, my son included (he has aspergers). Party held on a housing estate in london - house near the end of a cul de sac containing approximately 60 properties, so not a quiet little back water.
Arrived to find a dozen children (almost all under 8) playing on bikes in the road outside the house, all adults inside. Back door open, front door open, side passage gate open, so children are free to come and go as they please. Children on bikes tearing up and down, no helmets on. On and off pavements and regularly disappearing from view into a small car park at the end of the cul de sac. The two babies tottered around between the bikes.
I ended up spending a lot of the party standing outside shouting at the children not to go too far down the road, sorting out squabbles over the bikes, and ordering the kids off the road as cars drove down it. I'd go indoors for a minute leaving another adult standing there, but come back to find the kids unsupervised again. There was no discussion among the adults as to whether an adult should be outside supervising.
Was amazed that three of my friends left their kids there unsupervised and buggered off. The family hosting the party are really, really lovely, but very young, lots of children and very relaxed about everything. Relaxed in a good way I would have said, up to today. Ie, very attentive, patient and loving at all times with their children. But today I felt very anxious about all the kids - thought it was a bit mad to have them all out in the road.
So mn jury, AIBU to not want to leave my kids (12, 8, 6) there unsupervised and to hover over them and all the other children during the party?