Lunch and Movie Theater for Daughter's 8th Birthday- Invite Help!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, just be prepared that some parents are not going to be comfortable with a drop off at a movie theatre with that many kids and few adults. Who would take the kids to the bathroom? I would not want my child to go knowing you'd probably send them in the bathroom alone. I'd have no problem paying for myself (no siblings so its a non-issue) but not a chance I'd send my 8 year old alone.

You don't let your 8 year old go in the bathroom alone? What if you have a kid of the opposite gender? I have a boy and he's very big for his age (7). It would be wildly inappropriate to go to the men's room with him or bring him to the women's room. He's been going in the bathroom alone since he was probably 5. I can't even remember honestly.

Yes, my 7 year old still goes into the women's bathroom with me. If you don't like it, too bad.

This is sincerely mind blowing to me. I also believe you are way in the minority because not once in my life have I seen a 7 year old boy using a public women's restroom. I'm curious how long you plan to do this? What's the cut off?

I'm curious too. I'll take your "too bad" and raise you one - once they can independently use the bathroom, they are all set to use the men's room. Your caution does not match the likely danger level of the scenario.

No they aren't and things happen in bathrooms. I take my 7 year old in and am not at all concerned about what others think.

Please enlighten us with what happens in the men's bathroom at movie theater during a matinee. I am honestly curious.

Not the mom who pees with her 7 year old boy at all times, but people like this think a perv is going to accost their child. The thing is, I'm sure this has happened before to someone at some time but as someone suggested, it's probably best to prepare your kid for what to do if that happens rather than pee with him until college.

[Anonymous]

My daughter went on a Field trip today. 1 teacher and 1 volunteer for 26 kids. Do your forbid your 8yr old to go on field trips?

What school is this?

When my kids went on field trips when they were 8, the teacher would have taken about four or five volunteers for that number of kids.
This was at public schools in Virginia and California.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter went on a Field trip today. 1 teacher and 1 volunteer for 26 kids. Do your forbid your 8yr old to go on field trips?

What school is this?

When my kids went on field trips when they were 8, the teacher would have taken about four or five volunteers for that number of kids.
This was at public schools in Virginia and California.

MCPS school. The location could only take 1 volunteer per class. So 103 kids and 4 teachers and 4 volunteers total.

[Anonymous]

We had a similar invite for our 6 year old. The invitation also said something like 'there will be four adults attending so please don't feel pressured to stay and watch the movie. However, if you do want to stay, you are most welcome to purchase a ticket and join us. The movie is at xxx time.'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter went on a Field trip today. 1 teacher and 1 volunteer for 26 kids. Do your forbid your 8yr old to go on field trips?

What school is this?

When my kids went on field trips when they were 8, the teacher would have taken about four or five volunteers for that number of kids.
This was at public schools in Virginia and California.

MCPS school. The location could only take 1 volunteer per class. So 103 kids and 4 teachers and 4 volunteers total.

NP here. Jesus. Our FCPS school takes a lot of volunteers. Usually 1 parent per 5 kids, or if they go someplace like the Air and Space Museum (very crowded), they took 1 parent per 2-3 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a similar invite for our 6 year old. The invitation also said something like 'there will be four adults attending so please don't feel pressured to stay and watch the movie. However, if you do want to stay, you are most welcome to purchase a ticket and join us. The movie is at xxx time.'

Thats a great way to put it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter went on a Field trip today. 1 teacher and 1 volunteer for 26 kids. Do your forbid your 8yr old to go on field trips?

What school is this?

When my kids went on field trips when they were 8, the teacher would have taken about four or five volunteers for that number of kids.
This was at public schools in Virginia and California.

MCPS school. The location could only take 1 volunteer per class. So 103 kids and 4 teachers and 4 volunteers total.

No, my kids would not go on that kind of field trip. Either we go, or our child does not go. We've been on enough field trips to see kids get separated with parents not paying attention or on their phones, especially working. My kid in MCPS doesn't like most of the field trips so when we ask, he's glad to opt out and do something fun with us instead. We had a teachers only field trip, no volunteers and we declined and kept her home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter went on a Field trip today. 1 teacher and 1 volunteer for 26 kids. Do your forbid your 8yr old to go on field trips?

What school is this?

When my kids went on field trips when they were 8, the teacher would have taken about four or five volunteers for that number of kids.
This was at public schools in Virginia and California.

MCPS school. The location could only take 1 volunteer per class. So 103 kids and 4 teachers and 4 volunteers total.

No, my kids would not go on that kind of field trip. Either we go, or our child does not go. We've been on enough field trips to see kids get separated with parents not paying attention or on their phones, especially working. My kid in MCPS doesn't like most of the field trips so when we ask, he's glad to opt out and do something fun with us instead. We had a teachers only field trip, no volunteers and we declined and kept her home.

Is your kid a he or a she? Also, in the history of field trips at MCPS, has any child ever been lost? Kind of doubt it.

Your anxiety seems like it might be overpowering you and smothering your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, just be prepared that some parents are not going to be comfortable with a drop off at a movie theatre with that many kids and few adults. Who would take the kids to the bathroom? I would not want my child to go knowing you'd probably send them in the bathroom alone. I'd have no problem paying for myself (no siblings so its a non-issue) but not a chance I'd send my 8 year old alone.

You don't let your 8 year old go in the bathroom alone? What if you have a kid of the opposite gender? I have a boy and he's very big for his age (7). It would be wildly inappropriate to go to the men's room with him or bring him to the women's room. He's been going in the bathroom alone since he was probably 5. I can't even remember honestly.

Yes, my 7 year old still goes into the women's bathroom with me. If you don't like it, too bad.

This is sincerely mind blowing to me. I also believe you are way in the minority because not once in my life have I seen a 7 year old boy using a public women's restroom. I'm curious how long you plan to do this? What's the cut off?

I'm curious too. I'll take your "too bad" and raise you one - once they can independently use the bathroom, they are all set to use the men's room. Your caution does not match the likely danger level of the scenario.

No they aren't and things happen in bathrooms. I take my 7 year old in and am not at all concerned about what others think.

Please enlighten us with what happens in the men's bathroom at movie theater during a matinee. I am honestly curious.

Not the mom who pees with her 7 year old boy at all times, but people like this think a perv is going to accost their child. The thing is, I'm sure this has happened before to someone at some time but as someone suggested, it's probably best to prepare your kid for what to do if that happens rather than pee with him until college.

Very true. And it is going to be horrible for your child when he sees his 1st grade classmates in the ladies room and they are all talking about it in school on Monday. Find a family restroom or stop taking him out alone in public unless you have a male with you to use a men's room. He is too old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter went on a Field trip today. 1 teacher and 1 volunteer for 26 kids. Do your forbid your 8yr old to go on field trips?

What school is this?

When my kids went on field trips when they were 8, the teacher would have taken about four or five volunteers for that number of kids.
This was at public schools in Virginia and California.

MCPS school. The location could only take 1 volunteer per class. So 103 kids and 4 teachers and 4 volunteers total.

No, my kids would not go on that kind of field trip. Either we go, or our child does not go. We've been on enough field trips to see kids get separated with parents not paying attention or on their phones, especially working. My kid in MCPS doesn't like most of the field trips so when we ask, he's glad to opt out and do something fun with us instead. We had a teachers only field trip, no volunteers and we declined and kept her home.

I am not being mean but honest. You really need to go see a therapist. You sound like you look up every possible scenario that COULD happen for any situation, stress yourself out about it, and not allow your child to have a life of their own. You are a victim of media telling only bad news.

I am surprised you even send her off to school since MCPS is known to have sex offenders in their buildings and there is always the chance of a shooting.

[Anonymous]

Wait, did you say 18 kids? And it will be you and your husband only? Sorry, that does not work. Kids at that age lose interest or get scared by movies ( not all, but some). Some will want to go to the bathroom. You need to enlist the help,if either some of the other parents or adult friends. Then you can say drop,off- do not worry we have x number of chaperones.

My dh and I did a movie party once and 4 kids was a handful. They are excited and and will act insane, even the kids that are normally well behaved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, did you say 18 kids? And it will be you and your husband only? Sorry, that does not work. Kids at that age lose interest or get scared by movies ( not all, but some). Some will want to go to the bathroom. You need to enlist the help,if either some of the other parents or adult friends. Then you can say drop,off- do not worry we have x number of chaperones.

My dh and I did a movie party once and 4 kids was a handful. They are excited and and will act insane, even the kids that are normally well behaved.

No, she said it was SIX adults. How do you people function in society? This is a no brainer. Each adult sits at the end of the row. The kids split up into three rows. If someone needs to go to the bathroom during the movie (hopefully OP will make a pre-movie trip), the adult will whisper and see if anyone else needs to go. All the kids who need it (and the adult) go to the bathroom quietly and come back.

I am not sure what the HUGE issue is. They are going to BE IN A MOVIE. If your kid does not have the attention span at 8 to sit through a movie, decline. Don't make it about the parent - it is you and your kid. Eight years old is a perfect age for this. I sat in a movie party once a few years ago and felt like a dumbass, because my 3 yo was fine (the party was for a friend of his 5 yo brother, mom said it was fine to drop them both off). I only stayed because I wasn't sure how he would do. He was fine. I could have had two hours of free baby sitting and I f'ed it up.

[Anonymous]

Are you trying to forbid a parent from buying their own tickets to the movie to watch with a sibling in a different row?
I will admit that I have done that. If I have to drive a long way, and sibling wants to see the movie too we might just sneak in separately. But would not intrude on the lunch or cupcakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simply give the time as "Drop off at noon and pick up at 4". People should get the hint. I have 3 kids ranging from 9-14 and we have never had parents bring siblings. Parties are always drop-off and so I assume the same when my kids receive invites.

NP. Well, PP, you have good social skills and can pick up on cues. Some people are just clueless.

OP, we have parents like that in my kid's class. Show up with a spouse and 2-3 uninvited siblings to EVERY party. If the space truly cannot accommodate extras (or they don't want to) other parents have started being really explicit on the invites. "Please drop off your 2nd grader at 2; pick up is at 4. We are so sorry that we cannot accommodate siblings and other family members! We hope that your 2nd grader will be able to attend." All the other parents know it is on there because of the families who show up with everyone.

I didn't put that info on my child's latest invitation because I thought "who wants to hang out at a crappy bowling alley?" My mistake. Mom RSVP's for the whole family, 1 invited kid, 2 parents, and 3 siblings. I guess I will just get them their own lane? So weird.

I would email her and say "I apologize for the confusion [hers!] but we're planning this as a drop-off party for Larlo's friends. You know how it is with budget and space issues. We're looking forward to having Lardyn at the party!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter went on a Field trip today. 1 teacher and 1 volunteer for 26 kids. Do your forbid your 8yr old to go on field trips?

What school is this?

When my kids went on field trips when they were 8, the teacher would have taken about four or five volunteers for that number of kids.
This was at public schools in Virginia and California.

MCPS school. The location could only take 1 volunteer per class. So 103 kids and 4 teachers and 4 volunteers total.

No, my kids would not go on that kind of field trip. Either we go, or our child does not go. We've been on enough field trips to see kids get separated with parents not paying attention or on their phones, especially working. My kid in MCPS doesn't like most of the field trips so when we ask, he's glad to opt out and do something fun with us instead. We had a teachers only field trip, no volunteers and we declined and kept her home.

Your child is that horrible a listener, and that unable to follow directions and stay with the group? Your issue isn't too few chaperones then, the issue is your child.

I'd let my child go on that field trip. She follows instructions and doesn't wander.