To think this is an absurd party request?

[MerryMax]

DD is invited to a 7th birthday party today. The birthday girl's mum has given clear instruction that all parents need to stay and be present on the climbing frame. I've had a cold and don't feel like traipsing around a climbing frame trying to follow a bunch of 7 year olds. Surely at 7 they can be in there on their own?

She can't have meant you actually go on the frame. At my local soft play adults aren't allowed on the frame unless the child has sn and needs help.

Surely the party children would be wanting to play together tho, so 10 or so adults all in there together in one group. I don't think that would be allowed when it comes to it, you would be blocking parts on the frame off for children who's parents have paid for them to be there.

Maybe she doesn't want to be held responsible if any child is injured? I don't think she's being unreasonable to ask parents to stay.

Something’s clearly worrying her. I’d just do as instructed.

For the record though, accidents happen at soft play. Near me, a child fell 15ft when a structure came undone and my friend had a soft play party where one of the guests broke their arm. Not to mention arguing etc. I also saw 2 boys punching each other at a soft play party that my ds went to!

I don't think it's unreasonable to be asked to stay and supervise your own children at a soft play party. If a kid gets injured or goes missing, how are they supposed to get help if they have a huge number of other children to look after?

I've given myself whiplash as a kid before on climbing frames, the padding etc makes it look safer than it is.

@christmasisforadults2 that's an unfair thing to say - asking about a disability isn't an excuse, its inclusion, ie not assuming everyone is able-bodied and can do what you can do. I'd rather be given the benefit of the doubt than have to explain my disability to all and sundry!

Stay, yes. I doubt you'll need to go.on there. I think she just means remain responsible for your child.

Just place marking for when op comes back. I'm dying to know what was expected.

AIBU?
My boyfriend's sister made plans to have Christmas day with her boyfriend, my boyfriend (her brother) and their mum. Absolutely fine. Then falls out with her mum and says mum can't come round for Christmas day until she apologises. Are you still with me? 😁
So my boyfriend (her brother) decides to do invite his mum to mine for Christmas day. Again, I am fine with this.
Then mum and daughter sort things out so boyfriend invites mum to mine for Boxing Day instead. Again, fine, but I'm starting to get a little annoyed.
Latest is daughter has now decided to go away for Christmas with partner and boyfriend now wants to invite mum to mine again! Aaaargh! AIBU if I say no?

@ShellyT17 You need to start your own thread.

Is she Softzilla...remastered?!

How did the party go OP?

@DressageNut - ooohhh l wonder what happened with that in the end

Op are you stuck in a climbing frame somewhere do you need help??

What a ridiculous request!

It's totally bonkers. Asking to stay is one thing (although not usual at 7), but asking to stay on the climbing frame is pushing it over the edge into bonkers territory!

YANBU. This is totally bonkers.
DeadRinger has it right, both on P2 and 100% with this :

If I invite anyone to my home or to a party at a venue, I expect to take care of them. I don't expect other parents to give up their time to facilitate my child's birthday. If I need help I will rope in family or friends, and I expect to feed and entertain the children I invite and keep them safe and happy for a couple of hours. It's no big deal and all the other parents I know do the same

Is this a parent you speak to, or have these orders come written down ? I would certainly have replied, explaining that I can facilitate getting my child to the party but I wouldn't be able to stay as I had other commitments, so did they still want my dc to come or did that exclude them ?

itswinetime 😂😂😂

Come on @ MerryMax, put us out of our misery and tell us what happened!

Maybe she doesn't want to be held responsible if any child is injured?

No, that “responsibility” will be left to whichever unfortunate parent is currently wedged under the climbing frame.

Surprised that the DM hasn't picked up on this one....

I'm a twat. We are new to the school and hadn't met this mum yet. They are refugees and have been through a lot of trauma. So I'm a twat. And yes I and all the other parents spent the party on the frame.

I'm sorry, but what does their trauma have to do with parents staying by the frame?

(and I thought their request could be fairly reasonable)

@MerryMax

You’re not a twat. It totally explains an “unusual” request that over here looks OTT and helicoptery.

For understandable reasons their risk aversion is probably off the scale x

Oh OP, you're not a twat. You weren't to know.

However the fact that they have probably been through things that most of us cannot even begin to imagine explains the fact that the Mum is perhaps more overprotective than most.

I hope the birthday girl had a wonderful party, and that this is only the begin of many more happy times for them.