Should my son's party go ahead?

[Suki2]

My son recently turned 18 and we have planned to celebrate with a party at home. 50 guests have been invited, all from his school. I feel in the present climate this should be cancelled. I've booked a marquee and already paid for the catering; I see that money as now lost. It's difficult to see a time when the party could be rescheduled, as some of his friends will be taking gap years. It's now or never.

DS still wants to go ahead. He's arguing that the people coming are all mixing at school anyway. Plus that age group doesn't appear to be contracting the virus or are asymptomatic.

I'm tired of going over the same arguments at home. I'd genuinely appreciate your advice.

Of course not.

How can this even be a question?

No, definitely not!

The guidance is crystal clear - we ALL need to avoid all UNNECESSARY social contact.
That obviously includes parties.

Absolutely should be cancelled. It is just a party, albeit an important one to him right now - it can ways be rearranged or eebrated another time. The more they mix, the more chance of spreading he virus. Even if they are asymptotic, they then leave the gathering with the virus and speed it round their family/ households/ communities on their way home. It’s incredibly selfish to hold a social event now just because it may not make HIM sick. Now is the time to think of others for once - people are literally dying!!!

It does seem very unfair given they will all be sat together in the 6th form common room though every day.

No of course it mustn’t go ahead. You stick to your guns.
Please tell your son it’s not about him and his peers.

No! He may be turning 18 but you will obviously need to be the adult here and make the right decision.

Does your DS watch the news? If one person at that party is infected, even if they’re asymptomatic, they could potentially infect 50 entire families. Just no.

deffo a no op. You will probably give everyone a sigh of relief by cancelling but definite government advice is to avoid all unnecessary social contact

Nope, but good luck telling an 18 year old that a bunch of middle age women think he should cancel his party.

PurpleDaisies I agree it shouldn't go ahead but struggle to convince DS who's saying that the people at the party all see each other at school anyway. So where 's the extra risk?

It does seem madness that they will have probably all just spent the day together at school but I think you will have to cancel.

Would there be any compromise of just a handful of friends. I know also not ideal but maybe better than nothing?

Absolutely go ahead, wipe out a few more hard of thinking people

They are unlikely to be sharing / passing/ spillin/ mixing drinks/ food at school in lessons for one. Any and every single time contact is made between people is a chance to spread a killer virus. Holding a party is unduly selfish in a world health pandemic.

Nope.

Tell your son he will be having a better and bigger party next summer when this is over. (Then find a bigger place for next July where he can have a minimum of 10-20 more guests.)

It’s your home, you don’t need to “convince” him, you just say no, end of discussion.

It’s unfair and horrible but would he really prefer people to potentially die for a party? He can have a party when this is all over.

There’s no choice here.

Totally agree with his points. They will have come into contact anyway. But it can't really go ahead. Could you put it into his mind that people may drop out and not many would come, that it would be better to cancel?

The extra risk is everyone in the same enclosed room at once. Add to that alcohol consumption and the attendant relaxing of social barriers: hugging, leaning in to talk, sharing drinks and food (buffet?) and all the snogging and more that goes on at parties. Gross.

You don’t need to explain the extra risk. It’s against what the government says we should be doing to stop more people from dying.

My friend's a headteacher and she reckons by Friday schools will be closed. She's been expecting a message every day. And if one of his friends gets it, the whole lot of them will have it by the end of the party.

No

Of course not. The guidance is clear.

People who are unable to follow the guidance are the reason that other countries have police and troops out.

Totally understand. But nobody turn up, he'll be more disappointed. I wouldn't let my son go to school / party either.

Please show him this thread.

I know it's hard, but 18 year old man should understand.

Happy birthday!

A funeral planned for Thursday near me is now for close family only, I would have expected a churchful for this person normally. I feel so sorry for his family, please do not hold your party, he can have a big 19th instead.

Ok, thanks for your opinions; the party is well and truly cancelled! Thanks Gatofofo in particular, very clear.

Well done for cancelling