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Hosting school friends in a smaller house for drinks and nibbles

6 replies

Ivegotonehandinmypocket · 07/09/2026 22:10

We want to return the favour and have some of my son’s school friends and parents over for drinks and nibbles. We have been to all of these peoples houses now and not had them all together at ours! Hosted some friends in the summer when they could use the garden also and that went well but I’m nervous this time.

Mainly because the three couples all have huge houses and we don’t! We are end of terrace three bedrooms, joint dining kitchen room and front room. Plus not sure the kids will want to go in the garden when the weather isn’t necessarily going to be great if it’s over the next month or so.

It will be six adults (8 including us) and 6 kids.

The last time we went to one of theirs, the kids had the run of an 8 bedroom house on three floors with a games room etc etc! They served champagne that kept on coming.. and ordered in food.

I worry that the kids will get bored, we can’t afford excessive drinks and basically want everyone to have a nice time!

I’m thinking do it on a Friday evening so we can say it’s an early afternoon even thing.. nothing major. Getting a cheese board and nibbles then maybe pizza in oven for kids and some nice sparkling wine we can afford, beer and soft drinks.

Hoping the kids will be happy to watch a film together downstairs or play in sons room.. I just get a tad anxious re mess and not much space!

Help.. any advice?!

OP posts:
Thingcanonlygetbetter · 07/09/2026 22:22

Your plan sounds great, honestly if they are proper friends they won’t care. If they do care then they are awful people and not worth worrying about.

butidid · 07/09/2026 22:45

Agree, it sounds great. I would still try and boot the kids outside for a bit at least, unless the weather is awful.

Anyone judging you for your house is honestly not worth the effort.

RocketLollyPolly · 08/09/2026 13:17

Sounds great. I’d be very happy to come along. You can tell people ahead of time what you’re planning and give an end time too.

Ivegotonehandinmypocket · 08/09/2026 14:24

Thanks for the positive replies! Yes I mean we have a 100ft garden with football goal, basket ball net etc! What baffled me was when we went to the house the other day, all the kids sat separately playing their iPads (my child was able to borrow one!) I don’t like this idea if I’m honest as we don’t allow our child to do that for long periods of time but I mean it meant they were quiet!!!

OP posts:
AtleastitsnotMonday · 08/09/2026 14:35

How old are the children?

Ivegotonehandinmypocket · 08/09/2026 14:50

They’re all 7-8 with one teenager who did her own thing who I don’t think will come

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