My 8-year-old DS got left in a movie theatre game room for two hours. I'm allowed to be upset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I suppose telling the parent that you put your son in their care because you assumed he would be appropriately supervised, and being left in an arcade for 2 hours is not "appropriately supervised."

Then call the theater and tell them that they need to beef up their monitoring system, too. Your son was left alone in the arcade for two hours without adult supervision. They should've noticed. No need to press charges or anything, but you know... they are a business. They need to be looking out for stuff like this, too.

Why would you consider the theater responsible? It's not illegal to leave your 8 year old in the arcade, or to let your 8 year old walk to the movie theater and play in the arcade. It's incredibly bad host behavior to leave someone else's 8 year old in the arcade, but that's on the parents, not the movie theater.

I'm going to guess that the parents in this situation would have felt safe leaving their 8 year old in the arcade. I might have felt that way too (it's hard to say without seeing the set up of the movie theater) and when OP's kid asked to stay they didn't think that other parents might have a problem. That doesn't make it OK for them to have left him, they needed to consider that other families have different expectations for safety.

This. What the host parents did was inappropriate, but I don't see how the theater did anything wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:was he alone or with another friend(s) who also chose to skip the movie?

I skim through the postings and OP did not appeared to have responded to anyone's questions. Which sometimes indicates a troll. But if this story is true, I would want to know if another kid also skipped the movie. Maybe the son chose not to go. I would talk to the Bday parent to get her side of the story. It is likely that she will read it on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I suppose telling the parent that you put your son in their care because you assumed he would be appropriately supervised, and being left in an arcade for 2 hours is not "appropriately supervised."

Then call the theater and tell them that they need to beef up their monitoring system, too. Your son was left alone in the arcade for two hours without adult supervision. They should've noticed. No need to press charges or anything, but you know... they are a business. They need to be looking out for stuff like this, too.

Why would you consider the theater responsible? It's not illegal to leave your 8 year old in the arcade, or to let your 8 year old walk to the movie theater and play in the arcade. It's incredibly bad host behavior to leave someone else's 8 year old in the arcade, but that's on the parents, not the movie theater.

I'm going to guess that the parents in this situation would have felt safe leaving their 8 year old in the arcade. I might have felt that way too (it's hard to say without seeing the set up of the movie theater) and when OP's kid asked to stay they didn't think that other parents might have a problem. That doesn't make it OK for them to have left him, they needed to consider that other families have different expectations for safety.

This. What the host parents did was inappropriate, but I don't see how the theater did anything wrong.

Press charges for what, exactly? Pray tell what criminal charges would or could be brought against the theater? And what, exactly, should they have noticed? A child using the game room for the purpose for which it was established? Yes, they are a business. They have a game room, for children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:was he alone or with another friend(s) who also chose to skip the movie?

I skim through the postings and OP did not appeared to have responded to anyone's questions. Which sometimes indicates a troll. But if this story is true, I would want to know if another kid also skipped the movie. Maybe the son chose not to go. I would talk to the Bday parent to get her side of the story. It is likely that she will read it on DCUM.

OP has responded numerous times. She hasn't said "I'm the OP..." but it's clear that the responses are hers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is just so strange. Did the mom say it was pay your own way when inviting the kids? I cannot imagine.

There were seven boys attending and she did request we send money because of the number of children.

Name the school please. This is not a private school parent, right ?

Did your DS bring a gift ?

Its common knowledge that the party activity is provided free of charge by the host. She is classless, but why did no one have a heads up when she amended the invite asking for each kid to bring money for the movie.

That was your warning ....

The number of children is no excuse. My kids have always known that if they choose a more expensive party option then they will invite less guests. Movie, pizza, etc.=a couple of friends. You plan for the party that you can afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:was he alone or with another friend(s) who also chose to skip the movie?

I skim through the postings and OP did not appeared to have responded to anyone's questions. Which sometimes indicates a troll. But if this story is true, I would want to know if another kid also skipped the movie. Maybe the son chose not to go. I would talk to the Bday parent to get her side of the story. It is likely that she will read it on DCUM.

OP has responded numerous times. She hasn't said "I'm the OP..." but it's clear that the responses are hers.

+1. And I think she has graciously also ignored the ridiculous responses. The point regardless of hours, gifts, etc. no 8 year old should be left alone unsupervised. Gross misplacement of responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thr other parent is crazy. This is the one time when I would give the other parent a damn good verbal thrashing.

I would be careful doing that. They might be the types to concealed carry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be furious at the other parent. And what a strange party, to not pay for the guests.

THIS!!!
My kid would have been in tears...
Not my usual course of action, but I think I would have cursed her out!

I honestly might even go so far as to send class parents an email warning them, just in case they ever thought about planning a play date. I know that might sound crazy to do but as a class parent who it could have happened to, I would appreciate the warning.

OP, I would share it verbally rather than via e-mail. E-mails like that have a way of starting parent wars. No matter how clueless and in the wrong she was, the other parent is likely to have defenders --if for no other reason than that she is being supposedly "attacked" by you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is just so strange. Did the mom say it was pay your own way when inviting the kids? I cannot imagine.

There were seven boys attending and she did request we send money because of the number of children.

Name the school please. This is not a private school parent, right ?

Did your DS bring a gift ?

Its common knowledge that the party activity is provided free of charge by the host. She is classless, but why did no one have a heads up when she amended the invite asking for each kid to bring money for the movie.

That was your warning ....

:roll:

[Anonymous]

Troll.

[Anonymous]

Drop off at 11 and pick up at 6 is a loooooong time for an 8yo with people you don't know very well. Also allowing them to take your child somewhere is not something you do with acquaintances. I don't get your logic, OP. And I am a young parent, fwiw.

The other parents were wrong to leave your child, but next time you should just agree to chaperone your kid or drop him off at the theatre. Even had he gone in, would the other parents allow him to go to the restroom alone or escort him? See, even if you didn't know to escort a boy in a men's restroom or find the family restroom so that he could go in solo, I would expect you to wait outside and leave the other parent in the theatre. I know others aren't always as diligent so I would never ever set my kid up for a sure failure like this episode. Everyone made poor decisions. Boo on all adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many things wrong here. Who is this host?

A) who invites 8-year-olds to a birthday party and doesn't pay?

B) even if you are this tacky, if the kid is short, you pay.

c) even if you are a cheap-ass and won't pay the extra, you call the parents.

Sorry, OP. I didn't realize there were so many people raised by wolves out there. I really would have told the other parent off.

Teach your son your phone number, if you haven't, he should have asked an adult to let him call you.

+1

I had a birthday party for my boys. I took 10 kids to the movies, I paid for the movie tickets. We had pizza afterwards and video games at our house. My husband and I each drove our cars with the kids. There were a couple of parents who asked if they could pay me for the movie, which I politely declined.

Who the hell invites 8 year olds to a bday / movies and does not have intentions of paying? WTH was the parent thinking of leaving you 8 year old in the game area??? This is both child neglect and dangerous. I would have a discussion with this parent.