Considering hosting sleepover for 10th birthday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could always do a sleep under from 6:30-9:30 ish. Pizza, movie, Xbox, bye go home!

For an elementary kid? No, don't do that. It would be weird. A sleepunder is something you do for preschoolers or kindergartners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could always do a sleep under from 6:30-9:30 ish. Pizza, movie, Xbox, bye go home!

For an elementary kid? No, don't do that. It would be weird. A sleepunder is something you do for preschoolers or kindergartners.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: . . . Likewise, I wouldn't allow a sleepover to a house I've never been to nor do I know the parents. I also wouldn't want my child sleeping in a basement without an adult there.

We do tons of sleepovers. In fact, it's the rare weekend when I don't have a bunch of kids at my house. This is not the norm.

Also, I wouldn't check with other parents - nothing is going to work for everyone and once you check, you are going to have to pick which kids can't make it to the party. If there is a particular kid that your son wants there, he should know their sports schedule, so you can ask him.

Totally get it...to each his own...but this sounds like my idea of personal hell.

This was always the norm growing up. Kids coming in and out of houses, bikes plastered all over the lawn. Impromptu friends over for dinner and last minute sleepovers. Why are so many parents of our generation so introverted, fearful, and just selfish to not allow their kids a normal childhood with autonomy and socialization.

Organizing activities and sports while hovering 24/7 to make my kid a little robot sounds like personal hell.

Lots of assumptions!

I didn’t grow up like that. I’m pretty extroverted. I have lots of friends and so do my kids. We all see all our various friends and host people regularly. We’re friends with all our neighbors and our kids all hang out at various houses at various times. I just don’t want a bunch of kids who aren’t mine in my house sleeping over every weekend. I like some downtime and privacy. That’s it.

[Anonymous]

We had a sleepover for my 9YO's birthday and it was awful for us. Kids went to sleep crazy late because one or two couldn't stop saying things about being scared or how weird to sleep in a basement, or I don't know. One kid kept needing to call their mom, so others wanted to as well but we averted that. They woke up for the day at 4AM I think. They all loved it, but man, exhausting!

One kid left early (planned), around 9pm, thank goodness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to check with the parents and see their schedules. We have sports in the AM so that would be an issue. Likewise, I wouldn't allow a sleepover to a house I've never been to nor do I know the parents. I also wouldn't want my child sleeping in a basement without an adult there.

[Anonymous]

We had a sleepover for DD's 9th bday. Overall it was fun but man they kept me hopping. I had seven girls aged 9-11. I thought they wouldn't be as high maintenance/needy as they were. It was a hectic night. They all slept like crap. There was one very dramatic kid (with a helicopter mother) that I wish hadn't been invited. I'd recommend making sure you don't have any of those invited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a sleepover for DD's 9th bday. Overall it was fun but man they kept me hopping. I had seven girls aged 9-11. I thought they wouldn't be as high maintenance/needy as they were. It was a hectic night. They all slept like crap. There was one very dramatic kid (with a helicopter mother) that I wish hadn't been invited. I'd recommend making sure you don't have any of those invited.

I do think 7 kids is too many. Aim for 3-4. Maybe have one or two back up invites in case the first 3-4 can't come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m stunned at a 6000 sq ft basement that has 2.5 bathrooms!

That was my takeaway as well!

I don't believe it. She probably meant the house as a whole is 6k SQ feet. No way is there a 6000 SQ feet basement!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m stunned at a 6000 sq ft basement that has 2.5 bathrooms!

That was my takeaway as well!

I don't believe it. She probably meant the house as a whole is 6k SQ feet. No way is there a 6000 SQ feet basement!

Why do people care about how big our basement is?

Fine, we live in a very large house. The basement has an au pair/in law suite and several rooms mentioned above. That is why the sf is so high. I stated it doesn’t feel as big because the actual open space where kids would hang out is probably only 2000sf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a sleepover for DD's 9th bday. Overall it was fun but man they kept me hopping. I had seven girls aged 9-11. I thought they wouldn't be as high maintenance/needy as they were. It was a hectic night. They all slept like crap. There was one very dramatic kid (with a helicopter mother) that I wish hadn't been invited. I'd recommend making sure you don't have any of those invited.

I do think 7 kids is too many. Aim for 3-4. Maybe have one or two back up invites in case the first 3-4 can't come.

Op here. I think we are going to invite 3-4 kids only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:you have a 6000 square foot basement??????
how is this even possible?
how big is your above ground house?

This. No way is it 6,000 square feet. One level, in a basement?

My brother had a 4500 sq ft ranch and it has a 4500 sq foot basement.
It also has a big bar, two living areas, a play room big enough for an indoor play gym and full sized trampoline, bathroom, Butler pantry. And there is an area that is unfinished.
His is big but 6000 is enormous....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:you have a 6000 square foot basement??????
how is this even possible?
how big is your above ground house?

This. No way is it 6,000 square feet. One level, in a basement?

My brother had a 4500 sq ft ranch and it has a 4500 sq foot basement.
It also has a big bar, two living areas, a play room big enough for an indoor play gym and full sized trampoline, bathroom, Butler pantry. And there is an area that is unfinished.
His is big but 6000 is enormous....

Add excercise room, media room and au pair suite and you have our basement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:you have a 6000 square foot basement??????
how is this even possible?
how big is your above ground house?

This. No way is it 6,000 square feet. One level, in a basement?

My brother had a 4500 sq ft ranch and it has a 4500 sq foot basement.
It also has a big bar, two living areas, a play room big enough for an indoor play gym and full sized trampoline, bathroom, Butler pantry. And there is an area that is unfinished.
His is big but 6000 is enormous....

Add excercise room, media room and au pair suite and you have our basement.

I'm surprised by how many posters are stuck on the basement thing. Man, I'd love a nice basement. Our basement is decent sized for us but not finished comfortably - yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a sleepover for DD's 9th bday. Overall it was fun but man they kept me hopping. I had seven girls aged 9-11. I thought they wouldn't be as high maintenance/needy as they were. It was a hectic night. They all slept like crap. There was one very dramatic kid (with a helicopter mother) that I wish hadn't been invited. I'd recommend making sure you don't have any of those invited.

I do think 7 kids is too many. Aim for 3-4. Maybe have one or two back up invites in case the first 3-4 can't come.

7 isn't too many when they are normal kids from normal families. The uptight families with anxious high maintenance kids are bad. The kids that come up to talk to the adults every 30min and tattle on other kids are THE WORST. You really have to know the kids and plan. And my rule is you get one call to say goodnight to parents if you want it. After that, if you are crying/homesick - mom/dad come pick you up. It is no big deal. It is one night. So many of these kids sadly have never been on sleepovers and are just not used to it. Parents are just too hovering or like other moms here, think it is "hell" to have kids over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m stunned at a 6000 sq ft basement that has 2.5 bathrooms!

That was my takeaway as well!

I don't believe it. She probably meant the house as a whole is 6k SQ feet. No way is there a 6000 SQ feet basement!

Why do people care about how big our basement is?

Fine, we live in a very large house. The basement has an au pair/in law suite and several rooms mentioned above. That is why the sf is so high. I stated it doesn’t feel as big because the actual open space where kids would hang out is probably only 2000sf.

My house is 2400sq ft total.

Your perspective is pretty funny. I get what you are saying in your relative, but the way it comes off when you type it..... "Oh this little bitty ring? It is only 5 carats."