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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

18th birthday party: anybody got any tips or scare stories!?

19 replies

donna123 · 29/09/2008 09:57

It is DD's 18th birthday in a few weeks. We have hired a village hall and a disco. We will do a small amount of decoration, no food, lots of soft drinks. It will be fancy dress. We won't be in attendance but will be in the pub down the road so they know that adults are keeping a watchful eye on them. Judging by (what DD has told me of!) parties last year, they are a fairly sensible crowd so there shouldn't be a problem with drugs or drink (I am expecting them to bring their own booze but not go crazy).

Has anybody got any top tips or dire warnings?

OP posts:

poppy34 · 29/09/2008 12:01

have a guest list of some kind - a couple of dss friends parties got out of hand due to numbers of hangers on that turned up .

jesuswhatnext · 29/09/2008 12:14

a little bit of food is a good way to soak up booze and makes it feel more adult.

poppy34 · 29/09/2008 16:14

and am assuming its buy their own booze

MegBusset · 29/09/2008 16:25

Have someone (adult and sober) keeping an eye on the door to stop gatecrashers.

Do not leave soft drinks bottles unattended (and definitely no punch bowl) as they can easily be spiked.

Expect a certain amount of vomiting and at least one girl to spend the whole night outside in tears.

MegBusset · 29/09/2008 16:25

Food definitely a good idea.

MaryAnnSingleton · 29/09/2008 16:26

food - you need some food !

poppy34 · 29/09/2008 16:26

she may alternatively lock herself in the loo to be sick/cry megbusset..or you could have one in the loo and one outside

Original poster

donna123 · 29/09/2008 17:04

DD said that food was not necessary. I was happy with this as I can imagine it being used as ammo in a food fight and it saves me effort & cost!
Part of the reason for choosing a village hall was the difficulty with transport - somebody has to be responsible enough to drive the guests home afterwards and hopefully it will be too remote for many gatecrashers.

Will stock up on mops and buckets!

OP posts:

RTKangaMummy · 29/09/2008 17:11

crips and stuff won't make much mess though will they?

MegBusset · 29/09/2008 19:04

I would think that some spilled food would be much more pleasant to clear up than the puddles of puke left by teenagers who have drunk on an empty stomach

NotCod · 29/09/2008 19:06

soem crisps?

NotCod · 29/09/2008 19:06

bacon sarnies at half time?
a chip van?

mumblechum · 29/09/2008 23:17

I think you should do food tbh.

Even if it's just something like chili & crusty bread.

Original poster

donna123 · 29/09/2008 23:30

I like the idea of a chip van but I don't think that we have any round here.
The hall has a kitchen: I suppose if we do some hot food at some stage then it gives us a legitimate and non-embarrassing reason for checking up on them being on site.

OP posts:

RTKangaMummy · 30/09/2008 09:51

If it has an oven

Buy some chips from chip shop earlier and then let them go cold

You can also freeze them

Then heat them up in the oven and they are deffo brill just like they are fresh cooked

potoftea · 30/09/2008 14:03

DD had her 18th here at home a few months ago. No lasting damage thankfully.

I only did crisps and nuts as she said she didn't want food, but found that lots of the boys ordered pizzas to be delivered. Next time I'll do lots of sandwiches and stuff as people drinking do get hungry.

Next time I'll have a couple of boxes ready to load the empties into for the recycling bin. Plastic bags break!

Give your mobile number to a couple of the most trustworthy friends, and get them to promise to ring if there is any trouble like people gatecrashing.

mumeeee · 30/09/2008 22:02

You should have food.

motheroftwoboys · 02/10/2008 13:03

Our son's 18th on Saturday - in a club. Nothing to do with us hurrah - apart from setting up the PA club def said to us don't bother with food, it never gets eaten. same experience when we have had parties at home. They just drink ... and drink some more. By 18 they have USUALLY got past the vomiting stage. They seem to get a lot of practise! We have always stayed in when parties in our house. Keep out the way - our house has a cellar where they have parties - but we are there in case of trouble. Luckily there never has been any trouble apart from mess and yes, usually one is sick. Hope she has a great time.

Original poster

donna123 · 25/11/2008 11:38

Quick update.
Motherof2boys is right. Most teenagers are lovely: they go to a party to have a good time and not to cause trouble (like most adults, in fact!). All they need is a venue and some music. We didn't do proper food but appealed to their inner toddler by providing bowls of sweeties and lollipops which were v. popular.

A good time was had by all, especially DD.

OP posts:

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