How to be the teen house?

[newbluesofa]

I know this is many people's worst nightmare, but my husband and I have always said we want to be a home where our children and their friends feel welcome to come over whenever, be the place they like to hang out and feel comfortable. We grew up together and had a house like that to hang out at and it meant a lot to us.

How do you cultivate a home like that? Welcoming but expecting respect. Making them feel safe and comfortable yet supervised. Relaxed yet responsible. Are any of you the house where all the teens hang out?

It’s all fun and games until someone vomits on your paintwork and a couple break your toilet seat having sex..

Seriously, I loved having DS’s friends over. They were generally polite, fun and respectful (apart from toilet sex people) and I also liked knowing exactly where they were and what they were up to.

I have teen twins and when they started secondary school we told them their friends are always welcome... we always have teens traipsing in and out.

It helps that we live 10 mins walk from the school but my DC are also quite natural leaders and organisers like DH. So they tend to suggest things and people follow. I try to keep snacks and pizza in the freezer etc.

DS has already asked if he can have 10 friends to sleep over on the last day of term, I've agreed but we don't really have the space!

It either happens or not, and it’s really your kids that make it happen. My DD was not interested in seeing her friends outside school. My son, however, was a social butterfly and there always seemed to be a number of his mates over. He had a games room which they used. I just made sure there were snacks and drinks (I did not provide alcohol - and I warn you they will get fake IDs and buy it themselves and inevitably get sick on your watch) and he just got on with it.