To have wanted it to be a child free evening?

[Flowers876]

Ive planned an evening cinema trip with the work girls. In the group chat one of them asked if she could bring her daughter (7 year old) I didnt know how to say I would rather she didn't but I was surprised she even asked tbh. Now it turns out another girl is bringing her 9 year old. I just wanted a grown up girls evening. I know I had the opportunity to say no but how would I have phrased it without sounding rude and offending her? How would you have said it? I'm not looking forward to it as much now as I dont know either child. I know I can be a people pleaser.

So have you chosen a movie or will it now have to be a kids movie? As long as they can sit quietly it doesn’t really matter who you’re at the cinema with as you just sit in the dark and go home. But I would be annoyed if it now has to be a kids movie that I didn’t want to see and I’d say “you guys watch XX with the kids and we’ll do something else/catch a grown up movie another day”. I think now you’ve said yes it will be hard to say no or make a fuss about the movie choice

That isn't always the case. Even in the UK ....

This is so bizarre. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE FILM IS!!!

Are we going to have to guess what film it is? I'm trying to imagine an evening out with work colleagues where the film would be suitable for a 7 year old.

Yeah, how hard is it?

Saw Michael last week with ds 17. A young couple walked in(7pm showing when it had already been on hourly since 10 am) with a baby no more than 3 months old..
Idiots imo.

My money is on it being the Devil wears Prada film.

Which is going to bore kids to death.

How was it suggested? "Shall we go to the cinema on Saturday?" is more open to hijacking than "Shall we go and see Devil wears Prada on Saturday?" So if they want to change it to something more child friendly, no sorry the trip was to see that film. If the film of choice was open to negotiation you might as well give up now.

Why?! The first four or so months with a baby are great for cinema trips. They are either asleep or feeding, and as long as the parents are prepared to take the baby out if it wont settle, I dont see the problem.

I wouldn’t do it (unless my child was say 15+ and wanted to see the film). Don’t think bringing an older child to a film is a big deal as not like you’ll be chatting or anything. I wouldn’t bring a younger child though, seems a bit odd.

It's a 12A though!
It must be The Magic Faraway Tree.

When we've done a cinema trip from work it usually then moves to a bar where we chat about it. Also, it's always an evening performance.
I'm guessing this is a matinee.

Children under 12 can see a 12A as long as they have an adult with them.

Tell us what the film is please!?

Oh good call, I had forgotten about that.

Definitely not then, because if OP gets pissed off with the kids behaviour she will be the bad one as "It is a kids film, what did you expect?!"

I think a breezy ‘Just the grown ups tonight, but we should arrange a cinema trip with all the the kids soon’ should suffice.

well it maybe is too late now, you should just have said at the time “I’d rather not actually” why have they got to have their kids tag along anyway?

I’d cancel to be fair x

I'm also childfree and have to say this wouldn't bother me. I would understand your point more if you had children and were looking forward to time away from them, or if it was a big event (wedding, your birthday etc).

Fair point

Yeah, I'd think it a stretch for a 7yr old to be honest, but some parents wouldn't bother.

Was the idea to socialise afterwards as well?

If it’s just a movie I can’t see the difference. But I am confused about the logistics - did you have plans with other adults to see a daytime kids’ movie and then go home? Because then it doesn’t really matter who comes. But if it’s dinner and a 15+ film at night then I can’t work out what the kids are doing there.

Surely the film is irrelevant? It’s likely either Michael DWP.

Urgh I’m with you op. See also other people’s teens. I’m here to chat to my friends not make polite conversation about your kids a level choices 🙄. It’s also weird doesn’t the kid have their own friends? Most kids and teens would detest actively hanging out with their mum and her friends.

So......'It was lovely to have a nght out with the kids but I'm planning a work girls only night on ....at...... Hope you can come!'

God you can see why other nationalities find
the English frustrating! Why on earth would you advise the op to say “it was lovely to hang out with the kids”?! That’s the exact opposite of what she actually thinks!