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Super soaker etiquette at parties

407 replies

tigermoth · 17/07/2008 19:22

Does this sound ok to you?

My ds2 age 8 has been invited to a classmate's party tomorrow (after school ends, last day of term).

The party will take place outdoors in a small park next to the school. (Host and helpers will take the whole class to the park after school ends in the afternoon - hurrah!)

I saw the host's mother yesterday to confirm arrangements. Ds1 begged to bring his large super soaker water pistol with him - and a spare one to give to someone else.

Host's mother and I had a quick talk and agreed it was ok as long as it was warm weather. But I am not sure if host's mother was agreeing under duress IYSWIM. Ds2 was being very insistent and I wonder if the mother was just being polite through gritted teeth?

I told ds2 in front of host's mum that she had my absolute permission to veto any super soaker activity on the day.

ds2 has come home from school today obsessed with super soaker plans. He has apparently got his teacher's permission to bring in bottles of water and store them, along with his two super soakers, in school for use at the party (as there is no water supply at the park). I keep reminding him that if it is cool or if children get upset, the water fight is off, but he seems to have his mind set on this.

I cannot contact host's mother - can't get her phone number and I am unlikely to see her tomorrow morning as she does not do the school drop off. So as it stands,
ds2 will arrive at school tomorrow complete with super soakers.

I plan to write a letter to host's mother re-iterating that she has my utter permission to ban super soakers and ds2 knows this. I will give this letter to ds2 to give to her at the beginning of the party. Ds2 knows I will check that he has given her the letter when I collect him.

It's the end of term, the party is outdoors, I don't want to put the dampers on ds2's plans but hmmm.... what would you think if you were the host's mother? Would you be ok with this?

PS Bit of extra background - some of the parents of ds2's classmates see him as a bit of a livewire, so from what I can gather, he tends not to get too many play date or party invites. This is the first class party he has been invited to for ages and I have told ds2 it's really important that he does what he is told by the host mother so the other parents will see he takes notice. At school, ds2 is reasonably well behaved - I never have to see his teachers about his behaviour, and as a rule he plays well in a group, but I know he will be running around in a frenzy of super soaker, end of term excitement.....

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Mutt · 17/07/2008 20:53

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Morloth · 17/07/2008 20:53

This is a wind up isn't it? Surely you can just say NO.

Not his party, he doesn't get to decide the games. If you don't want the other parents there to be thinking, 'geez that kid is a brat how dare he mess up PartyGirl's party with his water pistol'

I would be mightily pissed off if I sent my kid to a party in the park and he came back wet and cold, also have you considered the fact that there will be only 2 water pistols and who knows how many kids.

Don't do this to your son.

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unfitmother · 17/07/2008 20:53

But you don't know do you??

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pgwithnumber3 · 17/07/2008 20:54
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tigermoth · 17/07/2008 20:54

whatupdoc, if you're that hot and flustered I could send my son round with his super soaker to cool you down

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onceinalifetime · 17/07/2008 20:54

I suspect your invites may dwindle further.....

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meglet · 17/07/2008 20:54

[stunned silence at tigermoths refusal to take sensible advice]

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Heated · 17/07/2008 20:55

What's the point of this post?

You've phrased it in the OP as a stupid idea, everyone has universally agreed it is a stupid idea, ergo...

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FrannyandZooey · 17/07/2008 20:55

blimey o reilly

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themildmanneredjanitor · 17/07/2008 20:55

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NorthernLurker · 17/07/2008 20:56

No it doesn't sound ok to me. It sounds like a nightmare. Your son and his friend will be completely out of this poor woman's control as soon as they hit their soaking stride - because that's what excited 8 yr olds are like. As a bonus she also gets to contend with wet and pissed off children - including her own child - whose arrival in the world she would probably quite like to celebrate. If she wanted a water party- she would have organised one. Just say no to your ds. 'NO' - it's a wonderful and useful word!

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TheFallenMadonna · 17/07/2008 20:56

Now that's not really fair TMMJ.

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cocolepew · 17/07/2008 20:56
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morningpaper · 17/07/2008 20:56

Tell him 200 people surveyed said they thought it was a bad idea and so you have changed your mind.

lolololol

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pgwithnumber3 · 17/07/2008 20:57

It's what will happen though TheFallenMadonna.

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tigermoth · 17/07/2008 20:57

Hang on everyone, before you run away in disgust. Say you were having a picnic in a park on a sunny day and one of your guest's children happend to arrive with a super soaker - would you automatically think they were terribly rude?

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EffiePerine · 17/07/2008 20:57

can't see the prob with telling him 'not your party, no supersoaker'

odd

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EffiePerine · 17/07/2008 20:58

yes

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peanutbear · 17/07/2008 20:58

I think that as the other children wont have a change of clothes its not a good idea no one will want to stay for a picnic after running round the park in wet clothes

and I think if he accidently caught a parent with some water it will only lead to bad feeling

DO you really want to be worried all day tomorrow about what you may turn up to

Its not like the other mother can call you to get him if you are at work when he himself gets soaked

Also this is a public park I assume could be embarrassing if the hijack a complete stranger with loaded super soakers

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onceinalifetime · 17/07/2008 20:58

Good God alive......

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Mutt · 17/07/2008 20:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

themildmanneredjanitor · 17/07/2008 20:58

This reply has been deleted

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pgwithnumber3 · 17/07/2008 20:59

It's not just a picnic in the park though, it is an organised party to which there is etiquette, doesn't matter if it is for an 8 year old.

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pgwithnumber3 · 17/07/2008 20:59
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NorthernLurker · 17/07/2008 20:59

If they super-soaked me or any of my chicks then yes I would think it was bloody rude actually!

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