Am I being unreasonably overprotective?

[Monkley]

DS(6) has been invited to a birthday party next Saturday. It will be from 10 til 3 and the family will be driving all the children to another city for bowling and macdonalds. I like the family but just feel quite nervous about the whole thing, especially the driving. I realise I am likely being very unreasonable about this btw!

or 2 cars.

Fred, can't you just ask the party host if you can stay with the party and help out rather than observing it all from a distance?

Dropdeadfred. Really, the two of you are actually going to sit in the cafe?
You didn't ask, but you are being irrationally overprotective!

I admit I'm over protective ! I would let my ds (5) go if it was a friend from outside school ie my friends children but not if it was a school friend that I didn't know the parents very well .

I would have let mine go without a 2nd thought . I must be a slack mother

The adult to child ratio is very good, if the car is big enough and you trust the adults why worry? Have you any reasons to think they may not be good drivers?

I'm worried now that other parents are surepticiously checking out my driving. How on earth do you know if someone is a good driver or not unless you have been in a car with them?

I'm a slack mother too as I run away from parties at the earliest opportunity

Usualsuspect - That makes two of us. I wouldn't have given it a second thought either!

Eek - I wouldn't be happy either ! I know it would probably be fine, but I still think 6 is young.

I'm sure it would be fine, but I would do as other posters have said, and drop off, shop / loiter, and collect.

If you're not happy, don't do it.

The thing about the driving though is - at what age are you going to feel comfortable with them going off in someone's car? Because you will love them just as much when they're 12! (or 15, or 20)

Is your ds happy going on his own?