Last night my oldest son had his first Big Party. He is a sophomore in high school. He has been planning this for two weeks and I must say he brought it off wonderfully. Mrs. Icy and I would have normally been big pests and done loads for him (that he didn't want done) but luck prevailed. Mrs. Icy had another gathering to attend and I am too floored up to render assistance. Hilltopper did all the setup from stacking the bonfire to setting up the PA system outside. Well done. As it was I sat in the game room and watched college football, occasionally surfacing to assure myself that everything remained under control.
There were about 50 kids at one time and probably 75 cycled through the place. A rather nice crowd and incredibly polite. We live off a main road so everyone had to park in the yard and nobody trashed it. The party was from 6 to 11 and they played kickball from 7 to 8:30 and then lit the bonfire. After hotdogs, s'mores, and glowstick jewelery they played Red Rover from 9 to 10:30. I couldn't believe it. But then again they all get to stand in a line and hold hands so maybe it's not so farfetched. I was pleasantly suprised that there didn't seem to be any drinking, smoking or drugs. I'm not totally naive but I am an old hand and I know what I'm looking for behaviour-wise. I did notice that there were 3 or 4 couples that seemed satisfied to cuddle up together on a lawn chair (I remember when we were that size) and gaze into the fire.
Mrs. Icy dropped by a couple of times and had to be removed for mingling too closely with the partygoers. Her comment was "They are a bunch of great kids. They just need a place to hang out." Yep. We've still got 3 years to go.
5 years ago
4 comments:
OK what gorilla with what kinda weapon (riot gun? bazooka?) did you put on that lawn and at the entrance to get that working out this way?
Need pointers... getting there, mine is turning 11 in a few monts and ya know... I still gotta go thru all that...
First of all my son is a Good Kid and knows the consequences when things break down. He kept the invite list to people that he can trust to have his back. Second, we don't live in a neighborhood as such so they actually had to pull in, park and be seen to get in. Finally, we know the parents of 90% of these kids so the kids know they'll be held responsible for their behaviour. Many of them are from my son's church group.
50 kids?! Blimey!
I'm impressed that you would even allow it, let alone that it would go so smoothly. I just can't cope with even the thought of that!
I was just hoping it stayed under 100. When his home church comes over after their Sunday evening meeting there are usually about 35 kids. We expect things to go smoothly and so they do. I've got a longer post on how to get a 16 year-old like this.
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