To not allow sleepover

[malika54]

Dh's ex colleague has 3 children, 5, 3 and 1. They have come to play 3 times at our house, and their 5 year old asked if they could have a sleepover. We are having them over (only the 2 eldest), and that's no problem for me. Kids are happy, etc
However they have hinted at my kids having a sleepover at theirs to 'return the favour' and this is the one I am having an issue with. Maybe it's my professional background (teacher, child protection) but I don't feel comfortable at the idea of letting my kids stay over at people who are randoms to me. Dh knows the man as he's an ex colleague, but realistically they are strangers to me, and the kids have only played together a few times. Ds is 9, but Dd is 4.
Am I being a paranoid weirdo?

As an 11 year old I spent many a wonderful weekend sleeping over at my friends dads house. My mum was worried as she hadn't met him but she knew my friend well and her mum (friends mum and dad were separated but still good friends) and trusted her judgement. I would've missed out on so much fun if she hadn't let me go.

Not a paranoid weirdo. Do what you feel comfortable with. I work in Child Protection and it certainly skews my judgement I think at times! But it is what it is, i just have to try to balance it out. Do you ever go to play dates at their house? I'd want to know them much better before I agree to an overnight...

Nope. You are being very reasonable. Especially with the 4 year old..a simple "its so kind to offer but no need to reciprocate, my two are real home birds" would do.

I find it weird that you think its okay for their kids to stay at yours when you are the same 'randoms' to them as they are to you. Bizarre!

No I wouldn't let my kids stay there. My dd has sleepovers but only with good friends of hers, there wouldn't be much fun with children hugely different in age that she'd only just met. I think the response above is fine - thanks for the offer but they both prefer sleeping at home. Any attempt to pressure you into it would be even more off putting.

I do think it's weird that they would let kids that young stay with us, and I can't say I'm entirely comfortable with it but I'm not here to judge their parenting decisions. Each to their own