My daughter Ava is 6. Her BFF is having her own 6th birthday party next weekend. Ava is so excited to go, it's a Sugar and Spice party.
The girls will all get Rock Star makeovers complete with hair and nails and costumes. Then they'll get to go "onstage" and perform on camera in flashing lights and sing karaoke at the Sugar and Spice studio. They will also get a special limo ride around town together. It's a rock star night!
I know she will be starstruck and it will be a lot of fun. My problem? I was just made aware that parents, none of us, are allowed on the limo ride. Not even the birthday girl's Mother. There will be no parental supervision, only representatives of the company.
I don't like the idea of complete strangers taking a whole group of our little girls away in a limo expressly telling us parents that no one can supervise. They are 6 years old. It's not like they are teenagers, or even pre-teens.
My husband thinks I am overreacting to have fear about that, and to consider talking to the company or withholding just that portion of the party from Ava. But my Mommy alarms are ringing. What do you think? Do any of you have experience with these kinds of parties?
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Comments (29)
I absolutely would not let my daughter go on that ride unless a parent I KNEW PERSONALLY was going to be in that limo as well. I do think it's a little shady that no parents are allowed. Girls just wanna have fun but at 6 there should be parental supervision. I would call the company, talk to the mom, and talk to your daughter.
and yes, you should feel unnerved by it. I'd advise talking to the mother planning the party about withholding your daughter from that portion, and why she might reconsider as well.
ha ha yea no way. They are only 6! It would be different if a parent I knew and trusted would be going along.. but to say no parents at all?? Not gonna happen.
If it triggers your "mommy alarm" then follow your gut. Better to have your child home safe and sound and angry at you, then something terrible happen.
This sucks, I'm going to have to be the uncool "overprotective" Mom yet again. I love it.
Does the company having a good reputation change anyone's opinion?
I don't have kids... but there's absolutely a ZERO % chance in hell my mother would EVER have let me go.
Yeah....that would send up red flags for me as well, especially if I was the mom hosting the party! I'd tell the mom that she needs to tell the company that she is coming in the limo or that you can't let your daughter ride.
Umm yup, they are 6...last time I check 6 year olds needed supervision and not by just some company. What makes you think the people working are going to want to take care of 6 year olds and how well would they really be looked after? I also agree it's a tad weird no parents are allowed. I would do something else with my daughter for the time being or express to the parent who is holding the party that I am uncomfortable with the idea and my reasons why.
I don't see how this is significantly different from summer camp or school if this is a business specifically geared toward parties for kids. That said, I think it's a pretty poor business move for them to not allow *even one* parent to go.
They're six years old. No WAY would Iet any child of mine do that without parental supervision, and there's no way my parents would have let me go either. You're not being overprotective - follow your gut.
I dont have kids, but I dont think I would want my sisters to do that and they are 9 and 11 lol. It would be alot different if the parents could be there. Especially for 6 year olds? That is a little young for that.
could somebody talk to the limo drive about letting parents on the limo? or why don't the parents drive the kids to the studio? or even having the karaoke set up at the people's house? it may not be the same, but it would still be fun for the kids :)
If you're uncomfortable with it, that's all that should matter. I know I wouldn't even think about letting my daughter in that limo without me or an adult I trust. My daughter would get pretty upset with me for making her miss out on something fun like that, but oh well lol. I'd be the uncool mama in this scenario for sure.
You should always, always, ALWAYS pay attention to your Mom alarms. They are built into you for a reason! Your brain doesn't have to go along, your spirit is always right.
I don't have children, but this just doesn't sound fair. You're her parent, and she's only 6!! That's very young, and I would be concerned too. Who knows, the driver may decide to show up to work that day with a hangover....or worse drunk! It happens.... Or not to mention if the driver did anything wrong they may tell your child "oops don't tell your parent, I'll give you xyz if you keep it a secret" And a lot of young kids are very impressionable and may fall for it. Yikes! If I had a daughter I wouldn't let her go on that ride unless I or another responsible parent was going.
First of all, it's not legal. They cannot do that without written parental consent, so before all this happens, and your child feels left out, contact the company, and in good faith tell them that you plan to be in the limo. If they say there isn't room, contact your Attorney General, asap. Not tomorrow, asap. One phone call from that office and I guarantee you that you will be in that car. Otherwise it really sounds neat for the little girls! I didn't have that kind of money when my little girl was that age! What fun!
Yea. No. I wouldn't do this. It's not cool at all. I get that they are trying to have a super cool experience for the kids, but this is kind of not cool. While I kind of agree that this is the same as a kid being at school or camp but it is not, the school can't transport you kids without your permission and you can visit your child so long as you follow their protocol. I knew someone that did this (not through a company). She rode in the front seat. I would let my child go if a parent would be in the front seat. The little girls could still feel like big girls while being under the supervision the rest of the parents know and trust.
@Pollypinks@xanga - gave really good advice. It is illegal (which is the reason schools need parental consent for field trips).
What does the consent form ask permission for?
So participation in the party includes the limo stuff... It seems to me that it should be a different permission when you take kids off of the grounds of the party. It's also a fake release because you can't release liability if there is negligence or careless regard. How many kids are we talking about? And do you get to watch the show? Anyway - what if you follow the limo in your own car with other moms? Surely you aren't the only concerned parent. It sounds like a blast EXCEPT for the deliberate parent exclusion - which is weird. I can't imagine why they would exclude all parents - even the mom of the birthday girl?
I don't know limo law, which I guess is a chauffeur's license, with limited?unlimited? passenger count. Does an adult party coordinator go, or are they seriously letting excited 6 year-olds decide how they will act in the back of a limo with no supervision except a driver (who may be behind a partition), cuz that's crazy! What if they want to hang out the windows like a rock star? Who's in charge of the door locks? They must have an employee that goes with them. Female employee. Right?
@galliver@xanga - This.
Maybe it's because I'm not a parent, but... if the company checks out, I wouldn't be worried about it.
I find it strange that the company would provide such services but not allow any parent(s) to attend, especially with little girls as young as 6. I think at least the mom of the birthday girl should be able to go with. I'm with you on this, to be concerned.
Maybe it's time to call the party place and talk to a party supervisor. And - as usual - I can't believe no one else has qualms about it. They're SIX, for heaven's sake, not ten. The "Trust Me" factor is very unusual - and that's a concern, too. Make that "Trust Me But Sign This Waiver" factor. All this needs is one parent that you know in the car - just one, and this wouldn't be a point of concern. The part about that one being excluded is just terrible.