'Are You Mad? 11 Teenagers, No Way Let Them Hang Out In The Park' she said
By ellie333
@ellie333 (21016)
July 17, 2008 3:27pm CST
I was telling a work collegue yesterday that I was going home from work to a house full of teenagers having a sleepover and her reply was 'are you mad? 11 teenagers, no way let them hang out in the park and out of my way' I look at it that it is the last sleepover my daughter can have before the new carpet gets laid and before she starts her new job on Monday and she is safe indoors with her peers rather than out on the street so in fact think I am being a sensible parent in allowing this. I like to have young energies around me and my daughters friends are all lovely people. The evening went really well, there was no excessive noise and in fact only 7 turned up and they played the Wii and made pizza. What are your views on this. I personally feel that hanging out at the park as a large group is not necessarily safe especially with all the knife crime these days. Ellie :D
13 people like this
43 responses
@paisleylass (440)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I agree with you. I have 2 teenagers and prefer them at home, here, with their friends over, rather that running around outside. They cant be out past 10 any way or they get picked up for beng out over curfue. That is when teens start to come alive. As long as they keep the noise down they can watch movies, play games or go on the computer.
3 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
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18 Jul 08
Hi Paisleyglass, Its great to know that you do this too. This way I also get to meet her friends and get a feel of what they are like too, and they are all lovely people. My neighbour was amazed that there were so many as they kept so quite. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
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17 Jul 08
You did exactly the right thing Ellie. The children are safe and sound at home. Speaking as one that has had many such nights, whilst they can be intrusive, this is far and away the best way for them to relax and allows you some peace of mind. Plus you get brownie points for being a cool parent. That pays dividends. I had lunch made for me today by Clare and two of her girlfriends. Bliss! Mind you, I had to wash up (or load the dishwasher)!
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@ellie333 (21016)
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17 Jul 08
Oh I was an extra cool parent last night as I came home with a handful of bandanas that the Corporals bar had to give away and an ice bucket too as Jess loves to drink her drinks really cold, she'll go made if someone leaves the squah bottle out of the fridge. It does give peace of mind and from now on it will be just one or two rather than a bunch as when carpet gets laid no way as they spill some of these drinks at times. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I would say your children are safest at home especially in larger groups. Usually, groups of kids get together and trouble happens. So I think the sleep over was a great idea. I miss those days of being young, hanging out with the girls and having sleepovers. :(
2 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
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18 Jul 08
Hi Skinnychick, Oh they did have so much fun all of them and were so well behaved and well mannered. I even had a cuppa made for me in the morning and no mess either. I think they are much safer at home these days and like to know that she is either here at her fathers or at a friends house rather than hanging out where trouble can begin. Ellie :D
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@littleowl (7157)
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17 Jul 08
Hi ellie I agree with you that young people shouldn't hang around the park if you felt comfortable with the situation then that is fine having teenagers over is nice I really enjoy it when my daughters or sons friends come round-if other people don't like it then it their problem not yours-huggles littleowl
2 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
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17 Jul 08
Hi Littleowl, By doing this it also means I can meet her friends and get a feel for whether there are any I have a bad feeling about and last night they were all lovely. Yes the rpoblem is theirs, I'm the one who decides who comes into my home eh not them. Huggles. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@littleowl (7157)
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18 Jul 08
Yes thats true and you will also know what they are like as you said you all had a good time and that is what counts also to feel young again yourself 
huggles littleowl
huggles littleowl2 people like this
@dizzblnd (3073)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Good for you! There is no way in the world I would let 7 teenage grls that were trusted in my supervision to hang out at a park. You are asolutely a great mom and your kids are lucky to have you.. I can almost guarantee tht thoses girls had more fun at your housr that night than the would have roaming the sreets. This will surly be one of their most memorable nights of their lives and you should feel honored tha you were a part of it! 
Your co-worker either has no kids or no brains 
Your co-worker either has no kids or no brains 2 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
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18 Jul 08
Hi Dizzblnd, Firstly my co-worker has grown up boys so perhaps her days of wanting lots of teenagers round the house caused the comment, she even rang me to see how it went expecting some sort of disaster story so maybe in the past her experiences of these things have been bad, I don't know. All I know is that they all had a fantastic time and they were all well behaved and well mannered and I even got a cuppa made for me in the morning. My daughter loves to bring her friends round and a lot of them call me mum No2 bless. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
18 Jul 08
Ellie..Sounds like all the 7 had fun and i'm with you keep them at home and as long as they still like doing that then they are safe and know you are there for them..most young ones don't even want to be around their parents so you are one of the Lucky ones!
Huggles and now pass the pizza!..LOL
2 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
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18 Jul 08
Hi Rosekitty, Thank you, I would rather have her with her friends at home or round someone elses house than to be out and about with them too.
What pizza would you like, ham & pinnapple, meat feast or just four cheeses? oh and any dip or coleslaw to go with LOL?
Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
18 Jul 08
Ok I'll take ham and pineapple and love parmason cheese and chocolate pudding to dip it in..I know my kids make faces over that but it tastes good!
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Hello ellie333.
You sound like the coolest mom ever to allow your daughter to have so many friends at one time for a sleepover. I'm sure they all enjoyed it. It sounds like it must have been alot of fun and that the kids were quite well-behaved and respectful.
I can't think of a single thing wrong in what you did. In fact, it was fantastic!
Take care and keep on being the great mom that you are. Don't let anyone change you.
2 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
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18 Jul 08
Hi PearlGrace, what lovely kind words, thank you. Yes they all had a great time and I was relaxed knowing where she was eh! I done it for my eldest daughter too and a lot of her friends still pop in to say hi even if she is away at uni (mum No2)LOL. I like to have young energies around me at times and they were a great bunch that didn't make mess and put everything back away, duvets etc in the morning and I got my morning cups of tea made for too,bonus! Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@marketing07 (6266)
• South Korea
17 Jul 08
hi ellie..id rather want to be my kids be home i feel safe, and if the kids is on the street they can meet a bad influence friends..have a nice day..
2 people like this
@Remembering1996 (2219)
• United States
17 Jul 08
I agree with you that haveing them at the house is safer than haveing them out on the streets or at some park. They respected the noise level kept things to a minimum. I'm glad your daughter had fun and she got to at least have some civil respectful friends over for a night at the house.
I hope she especially likes her new job may she do good I wish her the best of luck take care.
2 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
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17 Jul 08
Hi Oh thank you I will pas of your good wishes to her. She knows because she will be working fulltime all week and already works at a weekend that this is the last one she'll have for a while so that is why I allowed many but I do like to know that she is safe in amongst her own friends indoors rather than hanging out somewhere. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@honeydew82174 (1720)
• United States
18 Jul 08
I would rather have all the teens at my house to! At least I know where they all are and I can keep better track of mine and know what they are doing!@ellie333 (21016)
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18 Jul 08
Hi Honeydew, this is the exact reason why I allow it, it gives me chance to meet her friends and get to them them more too and I must say they are all a lovely bunch. So polite and well behaved. I even had a cuppa made for me in the morning. I ccoked them all a big fry up for breakfast too and that was fun with all of us around the table. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@valeria1 (2721)
• United States
17 Jul 08
I have a saying "Criminals accuse others of what they are doing". And is impressive how this saying is true. People judge others from themselves. Careful with this person. LOL. I think is very well thought of you to have them in your house, why not? Pfffff to this person. hahahaha!
2 people like this
@soooobored (1184)
• United States
18 Jul 08
Where I live, a group that large would be okay in the park. But its great that you are willing to host them! That gives them the option, and if it is for any reason unsafe to be out at night, you don't have to feel guilty about it at all.
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@ellie333 (21016)
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18 Jul 08
Hi Soooobored, It is lovely to hear that you live in an area where it would be safe in the park, here I don't know so rather than take the risk prefer to have home with me. They had lots of fun and the evening went well and I had peace of mind knowing she was safe at home. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
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18 Jul 08
Hi Reckon, I am her mother but will take the compliment as a parent thank you. I like to know where she is but allow her to have fun with her friends so this was ideal and they were just so well behaved and well mannered any one of them are welcome over again just not that many next time LOL. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
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18 Jul 08
I agree with you my friend... it's the other person who's mad, thinking the teenagers would be better off hanging out in the park! Indeed, they're not safe in public places these days, and besides, I would rather know what a large group is getting up to! I think it's a compliment too, that your daughter should want to share her time with her friends, with you, and certainly agree that it's far better to have them there before the new carpet is laid. lol.
Brightest Blessings, my dear friend. xx
I think it's a compliment too, that your daughter should want to share her time with her friends, with you, and certainly agree that it's far better to have them there before the new carpet is laid. lol.
Brightest Blessings, my dear friend. xx@Darkwing (21583)
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18 Jul 08
Sussed me out, did ya?
I'm sure they were a great bunch of kids, as I know you will have brought your daughters up to choose wisely, my friend. They appreciate Mum joining in, I feel. It's a good bonding process. They were obviously grateful to you and enjoyed your company if they made your morning cuppa for you. Yes, I think you have to make rules when you get your carpet down, as they're too expensive to ruin with drinks and food, and I know how you've been looking forward to getting everything sorted there.
I would love to come down and stay again sometime, but maybe for a little longer next time, as we didn't seem to have time for much, and spent half of it on a fool's errand! lol. But, thank you for the offer. I'll very likely take you up on that, my friend. I like pizza too, and I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Jess yet! 
xx1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
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18 Jul 08
I knew you with agree with this one Darkwing and we all had so much fun too and I even got my morning cupps made for me, lovely. They are such a great bunch of kids anyway I really don't mind but have said that once the carpet is down just one of two at a time as teenagers can be clumsy with drinks and Jacob is banned drinks and food from the lounge, kitchen table only once carpet laid. You'll have to come and stay again once the house is luxurious eh! You know you are welcome anytime and you can join in the pizza party LOL. Huggles. Ellie :D
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@ellie333 (21016)
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18 Jul 08
You will love meeting Jess she is a very interesting character. Yes you must come down again and stay for longer that would be good as we can get to go out to the beach and have a proper drink out too as I was the driver so couldn't on our errand he he. Huggles. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
17 Jul 08
WHen my kids were growing up this was the house that everyone hung out at.....and I prefered it that way. I knew they were safe, could somewhat control their activities and besides....I always wanted alot of kids...and most of them to this day still call me mom....even now that they are all grown up and have their own families...so kudos to you for letting them use your house! It's a very very responsible decision for both the kids and yourself!
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@ellie333 (21016)
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17 Jul 08
Thanks Jill, I am lucky in that I have always done this with my girls and they and their friends do enjoy. Ok I may have sleeping lions all over the lounge for the night but they are safe within their own group of friends. Mum No2 eh, I get that a lot too and they will talk to me about stuff too which is lovely. Ellie :D
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@ellie333 (21016)
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17 Jul 08
Hi Rose, Here in the UK many children of this age group do hang out and get into trouble so I guess I am lucky that she will have friends round and also go to their homes rather than out in the streets or the local park really at night time. Ellie :D
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@gemini_rose (16264)
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17 Jul 08
That is the problem, too many parents "cannot be doing with them under their feet" so they tell them to go out instead of encouraging them to be able to be social as a group in their own homes. They would rather they hang out on street corners just so they get a bit of peace, hey we all like peace but if we have kids then we kiss goodbye to that for a long time LOL.
I think that you did the right thing, very sensible, and if they behave themselves then it is all good!!
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@ellie333 (21016)
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17 Jul 08
Thanks Gemini_rose, I would rather know mine are at mine or at someone else home than out on the streets at night, it just too dangerous these days also really isn't it. She has only ever had one sleepover where there were problems and that was due to an emotional girl wanting to leave cos her boyfriend had phoned and I refused to let her go as it was 3.30am unless her parents collected her. She thanked me in the morning but I wasn't liked at the time LOL. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
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17 Jul 08
Hi ellie,
I entirley agree with you all teenagers get a bad name because of minority. When my friend children were in their teens their mum likes her house all neat and tidy and she didn't like mess,she was always chucking her kids out, so one day her kind and their friends all decendid on my door steps mine you not that my house is messy it just that I seem to get along with them very well. I had 14 teens in my house all sitting on the floor chatting and asking questions about this and that, so much so that they come round to me all the time and call me their secon mum.I done so much for them that T had them doing my garden for me hehe my house was always full and my friend ask how I put up with them I just say to her I get down to theri level it helps. Now they are all grown up and married, thank God!
Love & Hugles
Tamara
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@ellie333 (21016)
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17 Jul 08
Hi Tamara, I love having a houseful of her friends, it brings young energies into the home and yes they help too when needed. I got my morning cuppa made for me this morning LOL. It sounds like you enjoyed it too another mum No.2 eh! Huggles. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@sugarplum9084 (1771)
• United States
17 Jul 08
I agree with you, you'd rather your children and their friends in your home than in the streets. You should always embrace it if your kid actually wants to be home haha
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