Can we have 7 people at our house for DD’s birthday?

[Honeyhoneyy]

I know technically we can’t, but DD is about to turn 7 and has invited 4 friends for dinner after school on her birthday. They are all in the same bubble at school. She has been really looking forward to it, as have her friends. The trouble is, including her younger sibling and me, that would bring the number to 7. I thought about asking a friend to have DD2 but she would be devastated to miss her sisters birthday tea so the only option I’m left with is for DD to uninvite someone which seems so cruel.

It’s frustrating because she is with these children all day Monday to Friday anyway. I would ensure the house is deep cleaned before hand and after. My husband is a soldier and the kids have just found out he’s deploying in a couple of weeks so he will miss DD’s birthday, and now this limit of 6 has really got DD down in the dumps. She really struggles when her dad is away so I really wanted to make her birthday as good as I possibly can for her.

I totally appreciate there are many far worse situations that other families are in just now and this is trivial in the grand scheme of things but I know to DD, it means a lot.

I really think they've got it wrong in Scotland and Wales So you can have 6 adults and an unlimited number of kids? Really? Why bother with the rule at all, then?

Oh I see there is a two household limit in Scotland. I guess that sort of makes sense then. Unless you have two familes like the Radfords I guess

Rules don’t include kids under 12. Carry on.

@Honeyhoneyy

I know technically we can’t
No. If it's on or after Monday 14th September in England, it is illegal. You should not have the party unless you only invite 3 friends or your other DC dies not attend.

@LizzieSiddal

I’m usually a stickler for rules but as Scotland and Wales don’t count dc Under 12, I don’t why us in England can’t do the same!
In England the 6 can be from up to 6 households. In Scotland they don't allow the 6 people (excluding under 12s) to comprise more than 2 households.

Whether in England or Scotland the OP's scenario wouldn't be allowed.

Can people not say the rules don't apply to under 12s unless the OP has said which country she is in

@Potterpotterpotter

Rules don’t include kids under 12. Carry on.

I know the OP hasn't said where she lives which suggests England in which case you couldn't be more wrong.

Are you looking for permission OP? There's nothing that anyone can tell you other than that 6 is the maximum, whether you choose to ignore the rules is on you, own your decisions.

It’s illegal , technically

These new rules make no sense, so you’ll have to decide to break the law or not

It puts so many people in stupid positions like this

Sorry, can you do it this weekend instead?! Quick? Before the rule sets in?

Pop a sign outside your house calling it The Queen’s Arms, wear an apron and call yourself a waitress, becomes a table of 6 in a Covid secure pub and perfectly acceptable.

I wouldn’t in case a parent reported me.

@nex18

Pop a sign outside your house calling it The Queen’s Arms, wear an apron and call yourself a waitress, becomes a table of 6 in a Covid secure pub and perfectly acceptable.

It's my son's birthday in a few weeks and we'd arranged a bouncy council. I've spoken to the parents and they're dropping the children off an hour at a time. It's ridiculous, but it follows the guidelines. They're all in the same school bubble, or siblings, so would all be exposed if someone had it anyway.

I love the idea of a bouncy council...

The OP is the kind of the situation the police/marshals will jump on to flex their muscles. The easy target.

Organise a rave instead or a protest, you can have as many as you want though.

I think its laughable you think the police or the covid marshals will be going around kids birthday parties! And even if they did knock at the door surely you'd just be like "nope just 6 of us in here!" Last time I checked they didn't have powers of entry. Or have I really been transported to a dystopian horror movie??

I think its laughable you think the police or the covid marshals will be going around kids birthday parties! And even if they did knock at the door surely you'd just be like "nope just 6 of us in here!" Last time I checked they didn't have powers of entry. Or have I really been transported to a dystopian horror movie??
@Juststopswimming Do you find other things relating to Covid19 funny or just this topic? Do you think not obey the law yourself if you think you won’t get caught or is it just advice you give to others?
We are a family of ten, we can’t have a single visitor . My daughter has a milestone birthday next month. I still agree with the law.

Yes I would

At most police would come and advise you of the rules

They’ve issues almost zero fines throughout lockdown for all the rules that have been broken

Our police force is advertising on Facebook that their first step is to advise

I’ll be doing it for dd at end of month

I dont really understand your point Aldiaisleofcrap but no, I don't find covid laughable - just that some of the accepting attitudes are very at odds with my own.

I am law abiding in general but the way we have had arbitrary rules enforced on us this year for a virus that is largely harmless is utterly terrifying. The OP was asking would others break the law in the instance she described, and my answer is yes I would. To me, giving some joy to my child for one afternoon on her birthday when her dad is away is worth the risk of the police or covid gestapo coming to fine me. I doubt very much they would.

If the OP was asking was it OK to have a 100 guest party with people coming from tens of households then i would not be advocating for having the party. But in the circumstances she described, yes I would go ahead with it (if all other parents were on board of course!)

@ineedaholidaynow

Your youngest DD is not in the same bubble, I would try and find someone to have her for the time of the party, and then do a treat with the 2 of them

This.

@AldiAisleofCrap

I think its laughable you think the police or the covid marshals will be going around kids birthday parties! And even if they did knock at the door surely you'd just be like "nope just 6 of us in here!" Last time I checked they didn't have powers of entry. Or have I really been transported to a dystopian horror movie?? *@Juststopswimming* Do you find other things relating to Covid19 funny or just this topic? Do you think not obey the law yourself if you think you won’t get caught or is it just advice you give to others? We are a family of ten, we can’t have a single visitor . My daughter has a milestone birthday next month. I still agree with the law.

Personally, I’m with *@Juststopswimming* if she’s finding the whole of the covid situation and rules laughable. It’s laugh or cry, to be honest.

Apologies, I’m in Wales where our dc aren’t infectious yet!

Just do it!!

I'd say just do it tbh, as long as parents of the other kids are comfortable with it.

[quote Chloemol]@Nikori

What do you suggest then as the guidelines where being ignored, hence making it the law

The number has to be somewhere, and as guests, within the home or outdoors still have to SD then 6 is probably the max most homes could cater to[/quote]
The new rule seems clear, but just looking at this thread shows that many people don't understand it. Also, there are so many exceptions to the rule, which causes further confusion. Kids can attend school, they can attend youth clubs, they can attend certain sporting events, but they can't meet up for a birthday party. How many people on this thread alone have said just hold the party anyway? This will be happening all over the UK. It's a waste of time. My personal feeling is that the government shouldn't have the power to ban children's parties. I think every household should stop looking at the rules and bubbles and all this stuff and just be strongly encouraged to minimise social meetings as much as possible. It's not safe right now. COVID-19 is massively on the rise again, so people need to try their best and use their common sense. So, as I said, I wouldn't be looking for a loophole to hold the party anyway, I'd cancel it and hold it when numbers go back down.

Avoid social meetings?! No thanks. I completely agree that we need measures in place like SD, masks etc and to be sensible about the social interactions we have, but humans are social and its unrealistic to ask them to avoid social interaction altogether for a virus that largely has no symptoms.

Also re the numbers point - how about if there are very few cases in the OPs LA? Should she cancel because the numbers have gone up hundreds of miles away?

Yeah, f**k it. Shockingly ridiculous rule anyway