Would you ever have a sleep over/birthday party for kids 13+, boys and girls invited?

Question

My son is upset w/me I let him go to the party from 3 p.m till
10 p.m. then picked him up. Took 30 minutes for him to come downstairs...they were playing spin the bottle...7 girls 4 boys...
The girls came down and begged me to let him stay, I stayed firm....however he is really mad...oh well... Did what I thought was right...just wondered what you all thought and would you ever have a party like this? Thanks
This was a girls party..

Answer 1

You did the right thing. Don't second guess your decision. It's a shame that none of the other parents took their kids home that night. Makes you wonder if they're too lazy to raise their sons/daughters. I'm totally with you on this. It's gonna get harder, but you've got to stay firm. It's parents like you who help kids know that they're cared for enough.

He'll thank you one day. Maybe not soon, but when he has his own kid, he'll sure remember and respect you. And that's when you can relax (and of course start worrying about the grandkid) :)

Answer 2

Hmmm, I don't know, it does depend, I would generally say it's not necessarily a bad thing because I have had such experiences at sleepover parties where nothing happened...and I mean nothing...the kids were all there as friends and nobody tried anything remotely romantic or inappropriate...played cards and then went to sleep. (I think I had an extraordinarily good friendship group in high school. I know everybody thinks teenagers are horny and careless and just want to get off the whole time but we weren't like that at all, in fact I think mainly because of fear of making a move!) It's up to you to make the decision about your son and his friends...how well he knows these girls, what they are like, if you know the family...

However the fact they are playing spin the bottle was a bad sign, and I do know of loads of parties where people just plan to do inappropriate things. To be honest you're the parent and I think you did the right thing. I hope he isn't too cross with you.

Answer 3

In the old days we used to have sleepovers for kids from 10 to 14 and we used to have them in the hall. There would be two or three adults to supervise and we would sleep on the sofas halfway down the hall so that we could keep an eye on them. This worked well. we let them pretty much run riot and have fun but we were able to keep an eye on them to avoid potential sexual misconduct problems. (they would always be too embarrassed in the presence of adults to try that sort of thing!) these days the authorities tell us that us sleeping in the same room as them, even though it is around 10 metres away, is not appropriate, so the kids miss out on this fun annual party and their parents miss out on the night alone.
(And I no longer wake up with flour and sunscreen in my hair because the other two adults though it was funny that I'd fallen asleep. LOL)
So the answer is, if it is closely supervised then I believe it is acceptable but society does not allow close enough supervision anymore so it is no longer acceptable.

Answer 4

I went to a party like that in 1973, we were all necking like crazy. There was considerable fondling too. That was then, now kids go further even faster. I think you were wise to pull rank and take him home. YOu don't want to be a Grandma at this point.

The hostess of the party in '73 was pregnant at 14, married at 16, divorced at 18 with 3 kids.

Answer 5

Yes I Would Let Them I Had A Sleep Over For My 13 And Boys And Girls Were There It Was Sooo Fun =]

Answer 6

I think thats out of line, there only 13 and at that age emotions and hormones run wild you deffinatley did the right thing who knows what happend later that night at that party haha

Answer 7

you did the right thing! he might be mad at you now but he'll thank you in a few years. id never let my kid go to a party with games like "spin the bottle'', though.. and definetly not a sleepover!

Answer 8

well the key word being thirTEEN. once they are teenagers I think it is wise not to let him sleepover with other girls. just eliminates possible problems. escpecially at this age where their hormones are raging and their bodies are changing. you made the right call

Answer 9

he sounds spoilt coz u let him stay for 7 hrs and yet he was upset. Straighten him up while hes younger now

Answer 10

well it depends, is your kid the type of kid who would do those kind of things with girls? If he is then i dont know, if there's alot of boys and girls i dont think they would be doing anything too too serious, and if the parents were home what do you have to lose?