Once I got into grade ten, I was basically an only child. This is what happens when you’re ‘the best mistake they ever had’. My siblings were all working or in university. My parents traveled a lot. So….I had many, many parties.
Did I say many parties? Because I mean MANY parties. My friends were very respectful of my parents house – appreciating we had a place to drink our lemon gin and Schooner beer that wasn’t in a park. In all those parties, only a couple things went bad. One included my mom’s beloved wooden pig losing a tail (which was ultimately found at the start of the next golf season in my dad’s golf bag??). The other? Well, my boyfriend and I romantically left my own party to go and watch the planes land at Pearson (WHAT?) and when we came back, I couldn’t get into my own house! I left a friend in charge who thought a bouncer was a great idea. Unfortunately, they didn’t know who I was. At that same bash, someone stole some of my sister’s dirty clothes that she’d left at her house and managed to find some bottles of champagne that she got for her engagement. But that’s it. All things considered. I escaped unscathed.
I fear for Will and for the kids growing up now. Did you read about that party in Cleveland? The host didn’t put it on Facebook but someone else did. Next thing you know there are a ton of people there that he didn’t know, shots were fired and a teen lands in hospital. Or there was a story a few years ago when some kid had a party, dumbly posted it on Facebook, and next thing you know his parents house is destroyed.
I sound like a granny, ‘back in OUR day’…but it’s true. Back in our day, all we had to worry about was our parents finding out. We didn’t worry about shootings or our house being trashed. Were we naive or have times just changed that much?
My parents knew I was having parties, but they trusted us. Twelve years from now, I know I’ll trust Will but frankly, I don’t think I’ll ever let him have a bash like I used to host. Who would want that responsibility????
Thoughts? Did I just have a horseshoe up my butt or are things THAT different now.
*oh and the picture…not at my house…nor at one of my parties. BUT, it’s the only high school one I have available. Find me in it and win…*
Lots of people were going for that one….but nope – green vest back row. (god I loved that vest). We’ll be here Annabelle!
Red sweater back row? If I’m wrong, blame my husband, he had input on that one. Wow, everyone had the same hairdresser back then. I had to just glance through this post…sorry even reading about house parties makes me way to nervous, I am terrified of the next few years as my son is about to start high school. I was forbidden to go anywhere in high school, even had to lie to go to the library. (Crazy strict dad) I did get in a few house parties but always had to leave early…. So afraid of what my son may be exposed to. I will be looking for lots of advice on this site come September
i swear i found me in that pic! i’m pretty sure i won’t have to deal with parties when the girls get older. i have struck the fear of god in them if they spill milk 😉
Sara, I found you in the pic, but given that I knew you “in the day”, I won’t give it away here. Let someone else take the glory 😉
I was the oldest child, and a goody-goody. I never had any parties myself at my parents’ house, but I’ll wager that after I was safely off at university my younger sisters did…but we’ll let Jen comment on that one, shall we?
Sara,
Believe it or not, as much as one of my
kids was the partied of the century, he
knew enough not to host a large
party at our place. He said he had seen
what happened to other people’s
places. For that I am thankful. Both
of them only ever hosted their immediate
circle of friends. Even then, I didn’t
off scot free. I went out once for an hour
and a half on a Friday night. All was
quiet when I left. Not a soul in sight!
It’s as if they came out of the woodwork
when I left. I came home that short
time later and observed beer bottles
on the street and weed on the table.
About 14 kids wandering outside and in!
Neighbors wondering what was going on!
Thank God I had just innocently dropped in at
the neighbors’ party and left quickly.
Needless to say, in this day and age, even
a few kids at their height of their partying
career can cause chaos. I guess my son
was smart enough to know this as he never
held the big one!!
LOL I remember parties back in the day – not that I had any! (yeah right) I agree with Sara that things have changed. When we were in highschool and fights broke out it was typically with fists maybe a knive, but now it is guns – scary stuff. I honestly think it depends on the kids themselves but I agree with Jason – vomit will be found at some point hopefully just not in your bed or something lol!
Holy preppy handbook Buffy!
I too have vast experience in teenage house parties both as a host that witnessed the trashing of my house and at others houses where things were stolen (skis, art, money, a car!) and I think some sort of karma will come crashing down on my head in about 5-8 years.
My parents were also fun, social people so I am not sure when the detachment sluiced in where they seemed so obtuse to the possibility of house destruction, that they toodled out the door for the weekend.
I remember those days like they were yesterday and, while hopefully having a modicum of trust for my boys, will still be checking the level of my whiskey and suddenly deciding to stay home for the weekend at the last minute just to throw them off.
Maybe it’s my fear of the karma that is driving this. Either way, I guarantee vomit will be found at some point.
Great post Sara!
J..