Other people's kids! Aaaagh!

[horsejody]

I would just tell the parents what time the party starts and what time it ends. Guests don't get to choose the begin and end times. The hosts do. Just say to the parents, "I'm sorry. We have some other plans too. We won't be able to accomodate guests until XXXX time, and everybody needs to be picked up by XXXX time. I really hope you daughter can still make it because we are going to have lots of cake and ice cream." No special accomodations are necessary. If the kid can be there during the specific times, fine. If not, that's fine too. If she can still make it, don't worry about the food. She'll either eat or be hungry. Too bad, too sad. It sounds like these people treat others like doormats. The kid should either be able to attend on your terms or send her regrets and not come. It's no big loss if she doesn't make it.

 

[Davaroo]

I have WHAT in my yard? :

You and my DH would get along great!! I think he thinks he'll be able to handle little Miss, I suspect it'll be a ten o'clock come get me call.......



Or maybe it'll be a ten o'clock come get ME call!!

I've always figured most kids could use some sort of real guidance, and not a bunch of Liftime Channel, Barney motivated, New Age rearing.
I found that to be the case most often. Most kids were very agreeable when things were laid out this way, in fact.
The few who weren't tried to sneak outside to do whatever they knew they shouldn't be doing, I caught them - and then I made the call myself. One reason for having parents contact information at your fingertips.

The girl who called me "dude?" She only did it once - and to this day we still joke about it. Jessica is a parent herself now and told me not long ago that she respected my correction... and that I was right.

EDIT: the comment above about times and limits is a given, and well mentioned. Ive had a conversation or two with a tardy parent after we were stuck with their kid half the day.​

 

[Ec_Prokta]

Quote:

BRAVO!!

 

[horsejody]

I have WHAT in my yard? :

I agree with most of this and had I been the one that had talked to Mom the answer would have been, "Gee I am sorry looks like she'll have to miss it." and would have been relieved to get out of it. But, DH got the call and said, "Sure!"

Oops. I should have read this before I posted. If that happened in my house, DH would be in charge of the whole babysitting the brat thing. I would leave it all in his hands, and I guarantee he would think twice about ever doing it again. Let me warn you about those parents. I'm willing to bet that they will be even later than they said about picking the little snot up. You will be stuck with her even longer.​

 

[gabrielle1976]

I understand youre frustration, I dont deal all that well with spoiled brats myself , My son of course dosnt count cuase he is my spoiled brat

.
That being said though. You told youre dd to invite a friend and its her birthday, why get wraped up in how much you dont like a child , she is a child pitting youre self aginst her is not the most productive thing to do. Make rules and keep to them its still youre house and youre party , but by agreeing to let her come over you agreed to put up with her and its not fair to DD or her for you to get all snitty about it now.
Oh and is the fact that she isnt allowed to eat junk food what makes her a brat, 1 its not her fualt her parents dont let her eat junk food and 2 thinking badly about someone that wants to put good healty food in there body seems a bit I dont know iffy. Its like a smoker getting all tiffy cuase someoen who dosnt smoke not wanting smoke blown in there face . Hey I have the right to not get cancer just like I have the right to eat good food and not have a heart attack do to clogged artieries by the time Im 50 , its all relative

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

My.

It isn't about not eating junk food that makes her a brat. It is about being bratty about it. I am not pitting myself against a child. I am recognizing that I am allowing an obnoxious child into my house and I will have to deal with her.

I think the story got a little misconstrued.

We, DH and I, will have to agree to set the rules and have her follow them. Period.

 

[horsejody]

I have WHAT in my yard? :

My.

It isn't about not eating junk food that makes her a brat. It is about being bratty about it. I am not pitting myself against a child. I am recognizing that I am allowing an obnoxious child into my house and I will have to deal with her.

I think the story got a little misconstrued.

We, DH and I, will have to agree to set the rules and have her follow them. Period.

Good luck. If she gets bratty, call the parents and tell them that they have to come get her. If they are out of town, too bad. It's better that their trip get ruined than the party.​

 

[cherig22]

I have WHAT in my yard? :

My.

It isn't about not eating junk food that makes her a brat. It is about being bratty about it. I am not pitting myself against a child. I am recognizing that I am allowing an obnoxious child into my house and I will have to deal with her.

I think the story got a little misconstrued.

We, DH and I, will have to agree to set the rules and have her follow them. Period.

Smart woman, lol. Just have some granola bars and carrot strips.

You are so brave, I remember those days of parties and sleepovers. I remember one kid whose parents neglected to tell me she reacted bad to too much sugar. Kid drank coke after coke before I knew it and she was bouncing off the walls. Finally called her Dad to come get her. She was a frequent sleepover pal after that, and truly sweet without sweets.

Cheri​

 

[Ol'FashionHen]

Davaroo I'm with you. Kids like rules wether they admit it or not.
I do the same thing these are the rules and that is that.

"Show no mercy"

sorry ... I couldn't help it

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

I think alot of this is about parents. parents who say their child has no food issues when they do are not doing anyone any favors.

If you are offered something in some one else's house that you do not like, co not want or think is bad for you, the answer is, "No, thank you." If you really object to the issue in the home you leave.

I believe as hosts you need to do everything you can to make a guest feel comfortable. I believe as guests, you need to do everything you can to make as little trouble for your host as possible. Regardless of age.


Please. Thank you. Yes, sir. No, ma'am. Be polite. Ask permission. Be kind. Be friendly. Be honest, but you don't need to say all that is true. Clean up after yourself. By 9 most kids should have the basics down most of the time.