Opinions on sleepovers , can we just stop it .

[Flowerpowersss]

Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s i had amazing fun at sleepovers as a child but looking back on them the stuff me and my friends got up too as young teens ( internet on computers, webcams) and the storys ive had from friends at other sleepovers i decided that my children wont go to another persons home at stay over especially now with smart phones and social media .

From the ages of 6-12 my children have been invited to multiple sleep over bday parties and ive said no to every one because i dont know the parents , i allowed my child to attend a sleep over party but i collected her just as they were going to bed .

Id like to add that ive allowed my child to have 2 friends stay at mine as i know im a safe person .

My child is now in secondary school and shes been invited to a sleepover party and i said she can go but cant sleep there so i will collect her before bedtime , the parents insisted it is a sleepover so my child has now been univited and her friend is asking someone else .
I did say when shes older i might reconsider sleepovers but because i dont know these people i cant allow her to spend the night .

Can we just stop birthday sleepovers !

Ah ok. No, there wasn't a constant stream of parties or events in secondary or 6th form (maybe there were and he just wasn't into it). Even if there was, can't see me picking him up from a party at 16 or 17.

We were away for his prom but isn't that just get dressed and go? Why do you need to mingle with other parents (genuine Q as this is very alien to me - we never did any of that)

My year 7 DD started secondary school in September and she didn’t know a single other person there. I’ve already got to know a fair few of her new friends’ parents due to birthday gatherings/parties, being asked round after school, sharing lifts for sports fixtures/events etc.

The parties in Y11 & Y12 seem constant here (as they’re not yet old enough to go out in town) and how else does a 16 or 17 year old get home safely
from a party at midnight/1am unless collected by parents?

As for prom, my son travelled there with a group of his friends (here in Somerset the kids go to prom with friends in fun vehicles like VW campers, tractors, buses, fire engines…all sorts!). His friends came to our house first (as we live en route to the venue) and they got dressed together. The families also came and we all had a glass of bubbly and waved them off/took photos and then all followed them to the venue. There was an hour at the start for all of the school families to come together and applaud the kids arriving on the red carpet, see all the crazy vehicles pulling up and take photos with friends/families/teachers etc.

Everyone then had to drive to the venue at midnight again to collect the kids and drop them at their after prom party. After prom was hosted by a family (in their field) and everyone had gone up the day before to put tents up etc. It went on all night and they had an amazing time.

It was all worth it… a really special event for everyone and according to my son one of the best nights of his life! It was nice to feel included too seeing as we’d spent money taking him suit shopping etc.

Exactly!