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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Party for 14 yo DD. AIBU, or is she?

188 replies

CamillaTurner · 01/05/2018 13:49

DD turns 14 in a couple of months' time.

She has decided that the only possible party that will cut the mustard is a house party (at my house) for 15-20 people aged 13-15. According to her, it is very sensible and reasonable for me to provide "a bit" of alcohol, and for her friends to bring their own, to which I will turn a blind eye.

Some of these "friends" are people she has, strangely enough, never mentioned before (namely boys from the boys' school - hers is all girls).

I said I would be willing to have her (real, good) friends for an evening of doing what they normally do (singing loudly, make-up, pizza etc). At a very big push, I might let them have a glass of Cava. But nothing beyond that.

This produced a meltdown about how I'm the worst mother on the planet, Everyone Else's parents let them have this kind of party, Everyone Else's parents let them invite 50 people, never mind poxy 15, etc, etc. I told her that she would be having no party whatsoever if she carried on like that. She said she didn't care, and would hire a marquee, pitch it in the park, invite whoever she wanted, and that they would all bring their own alcohol. Hmm

I refused to argue, and merely said we could talk again about a party when she could be more sensible. At this, she huffed off and is now not speaking to me (has decamped to her father's - though if she thinks she'll get any further with him, she is very much mistaken...)

She has older siblings (which might account for some of the 'wanting to be "grown up"' stuff), though they just happen not to be bothered about parties, so this is the first time I've had to face this one.

Could those who have been there advise me, please?

OP posts:
Joinourclub · 01/05/2018 13:52

I've not been there, but I'm sure when I am, I'll take the same stance as you!

3stonedown · 01/05/2018 13:52

You're doing the right thing but it does take me back to when I was 15 and thought my DM was fucking awful for not letting my friends bring alcohol to my party. they brought it anyway and we just hid the bottles

She'll get over it

Aurea · 01/05/2018 13:54

DO NOT GIVE IN TO HER DEMANDS. You will regret it if you do......

CamillaTurner · 01/05/2018 13:54

Thanks, both. I am very happy to be told if IABU (other than by a stroppy 13 yo). Grin

OP posts:
CamillaTurner · 01/05/2018 13:54

Aurea, yes. I would. She said "what could possibly go wrong?" Er...

OP posts:
Cath2907 · 01/05/2018 13:55

Yeah my mum was a shit mum who wouldn't let me do what I wanted either!!!!! Her response was always "I don't care what anyone else's mum says I am saying No!"

I am 40 now and I love my mum very much, we've been very close since I stopped being a teenager!

Remind her you love her, then stand firm.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 01/05/2018 13:55

Teenage strop. Well done for holding your ground - hope her DF does too!

Wait for her to calm down, then repeat the offer of the good friends/pizza/glass of cava.

She has shown she is too immature for a full-on house party this year.

MyotherUsernameisaPun · 01/05/2018 13:56

If she were 15 turning 16 I'd say let her have a bit of a house party with some (weak) booze but I think you're right that she's still a bit young! Stay strong, let her stew for a bit and then if she's still being a stroppy madam tell her she's got one day to cheer up and accept the party on offer or there won't be one at all.

Stay strong OP!

Hideandgo · 01/05/2018 13:56

For the love of God don’t give them Cava or any alcohol!!! She’s turning 14 so was 13 the day before! Her friends will be full of 13 yr olds and maybe even a few 12 yr olds.

I’d be livid f some Mum gave my 13 or 14 yr old alcohol.

SoftSheen · 01/05/2018 13:56

I don't have teenagers yet, but I just wanted to comment that giving 13-14 year olds alcohol is a very bad idea, especially when they're in a big group and not your own children. Some children won't have had alcohol before, most won't know their limits, and many parents will be pretty cross, especially if they have to come and collect their vomiting child.

I think a smallish group of known friends, with pizza/music/movies etc, would be a much more sensible idea.

Myse1f · 01/05/2018 13:57

If she can provide you with contact details for three sets of parents, whom you know and respect, who have allowed this type of party (and can provide positive feedback on how it went then) I think it's fair enough for her to claim 'everyone else' has done/is doing this.
If it is true then you may want to offer her some wriggle room to negotiate.
Alcohol to other people's 14 year olds without parental permission? Risky.

Dixiestampsagain · 01/05/2018 13:58

My answer would be no, no and thrice no!

Yika · 01/05/2018 13:58

She IBU, your stance is eminently reasonable!

Ginorchoc · 01/05/2018 13:58

My daughter is 14 in July I wouldn’t let her host or attend a party on this scale especially with a parent turning a blind eye to alcohol. I don’t know any of my friends with daughters the same age who would allow the same.

Mycatsarebetterthanyours · 01/05/2018 13:58

She's trying her luck.

Under no circumstances should you supply booze to her friends either, regardless of how little you give them, without their parents knowing either.

CanaryFish · 01/05/2018 13:58

I would say no to alcohol for 13-15 year olds you don’t know.

Has she been to one of these parties that “everyone else” has?

She’s obviously already gone and told all these people this is what’s happening and it’s gonna make her look bad now to do u-turn.
Stand firm, it’s your house. Do you really want to be responsible for these kids and drink?
All it takes is one of them to have too many swigs of vodka and it’s on your head

Fruitcorner123 · 01/05/2018 13:58

Definitely don't do it and be very careful about allowing other people's children to have alcohol. You've said some of them are 13. Why not suggest something else involving the boys if thats important to her.

CamillaTurner · 01/05/2018 13:58

GreenFingers, it's funny you should say that ("She has shown she is too immature for a full-on house party this year"). I made precisely that point to her.

Her DF is a complete prat in many ways, but I am 100% sure he won't cave in on this one. I think he'd think I was BU for offering them a glass of Cava.

Cath, that is lovely. I hope my DD will feel like that when she's 40! (Though ATM she is planning to be adopted by the Kardashian family and move to LA when she's older).

OP posts:
Ohyesiam · 01/05/2018 13:59

All her friends are sayin”everyone else’s parents “ too, that is guaranteed!
You are doing well op. Mine is 14 in August, I’m not really looking forward to itBlush

DailyMailDontStealMyThread · 01/05/2018 13:59

No way, not in my house. What if they are sick! Some one will be sick 🤢

Tell her you need each child’s parents mobile number to contact them for consent to drink alcohol and to make sure they will pay for any cleaning or repairs needed incase of an emergency- that will put her off grin

14 is just too young.

CrazedZombie · 01/05/2018 14:00

The only time I've turned a blind eye to drinking is post GCSE party (he was 16) I would not host that many teens at my house- especially as my kids are not likely to clear up properly and the thought of vomit and broken stuff sends me into a cold sweat.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 01/05/2018 14:00

I think that the only way kids learn to drink responsibly is to allow them a little every now and then - especially when they'll be sneaking down the pub in a few years.

OP is not suggesting she gets them all plastered!!!

saltandvinegarcrisps1 · 01/05/2018 14:01

First party circa 14/15 we bit the bullet and paid (a bloody fortune) for a teen disco in a night club - 730 - 10pm before the club opened. Bouncers on the door, breathalysed etc. It really took the stress out of it. Have friends who have had their houses trashed by blow ins and "friends of friends' .

Shampaincharly · 01/05/2018 14:02

Stay firm.
One guy I knew was " persuaded" to have a mixed sleepover!

Daughter said everyone was having them.
Other Mums later told him " you did not fall for that one did you?"

Soubriquet · 01/05/2018 14:02

I wouldn't mind my own dd having small glass of alcopop. One glass only. On her own birthday with me supervising

I wouldn't be impressed I feel she was given some at someone else's party.

I would be furious if her friends brought their own bottles of alcohol round and would immediately cancel the party

Stay firm OP

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