Son’s friends joining us on short trip - liability?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't you ever carpool to practice or parties or other activities? Have kids sleep over?

Of course there's always a chance something can go wrong when you're in charge of someone else's child, but this level of anxiety sounds over the top. Just be a parent to all and make smart choices. It would almost read as a red flag if someone asked me to sign a waiver.

When I drove on preschool field trips I was asked to verify I had umbrella insurance, etc.

You have to know the parents well and know that they are reasonable and know that they are on the same page regarding level of supervision. You also have to know the kid well enough to know if he/she is responsible or needs more that age appropriate level of supervision. When I was growing up the standard was to let us roam free from an early age and so when I went on trips with friends the expectations were low. Now you really need to know the family you are dealing with so if Larla sprains her ankle or breaks a finger you aren't just dealing with that, but crazed parents immediately blaming you and talking to their lawyers. Really though I would not take a friend who is very impulsive or immature. It's not worth the stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't sign away negligence. Take care of this child as if he your own or even better. Make good choices

It's not about negligence in many cases. You have to know the child's level of functioning. Just don't take a kid who needs more supervision than your child does. Sadly, some parents are in denial about this. We've had kids come to our house and just go wild doing dangerous things where suddenly we have to supervise at a level of a much younger kid. We don't invite them back unless we have the time for it and the parents are open, aware and honest. After you have hosted enough, you know which kids will be easy to bring on trips and you can easily provide the amount of supervision to keep them safe. I certainly would not invite someone I had not hosted many times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH is the same way, that’s why we would never bring kids that are not ours on a trip. Chances of something happening are slim, but the anxiety is real!

Same here for my DH. Statistically speaking, the risk of anything happening, and being sued for it, is so incredibly small that I don't get why this is a concern. I think it's more of a displacement: these fathers don't actually want to burden themselves with additional people to ferry around and supervise, so their brain manufactures a safety/liability concern...

[Anonymous]

Get an umbrella insurance policy. It runs around $300 per year.

[Anonymous]

I think your DH is being paranoid and there's nothing wrong with bringing your DS's friends, particularly if he's an only child. But if your DH has this mindset, it's probably best to just leave the friends out of it cause your DH's anxiety will ruin the trip for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you feel that way, don't bring them. I can't imagine being asked to sign a liability waiver by a friend's parent.

+1
But neither can I imagine suing unless the parents like left my kid alone in Philly to wander around and something happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are taking a short trip to Philadelphia and bringing 2 of my 13 yr old DS friends along. My DH is worried something will happen and we will get sued. Is there some form we should have them sign? We aren’t rich, lower end of UMC.

Parents can’t sign away their child’s legal right to sue if you are negligent. It would be a wasted effort.

[Anonymous]

You need to be in agreement. If he doesn't want it, don't do it. My whole purpose in bringing friends is to make life easier. The kids are happy and entertained. We don't chose the "partner in crime" friend, but instead the "gosh, they get along and entertain eachother so well together" friend. That said, it has to be less stressful for BOTH you and your husband.

As an aside-my neighbors teen daughter (age 16) brought a friend to the beach and the friend got caught shoplifting. You should be able to let 16 year olds go to a shop on their own. The parents didn't sue my neighbor nor could they, but they were pissed at HER as though this was somehow HER fault.

[Anonymous]

OP - could you temporarily keep a local attorney on retainer for at least the duration of the trip? (or maybe a few weeks after, tacked on).

[Anonymous]

omg, this is so sad....