Our youngest son had finished his GCSEs and he asked us vaguely if he could hold a party to celebrate the end of the exams. This was unusual as he doesn't really go in for parties, not even on his birthdays for the last few years.
We said - fine, but for around 10, especially if they were staying all night.
No date was given so we assumed he had changed his mind about hosting a party.
Then he gave us a few days notice of a party - so we braced ourselves and said fine - we asked him how many were coming.
He asked if 25 people could come.
We took a deep breath and said OK. We have an annexe so the party would be held there and the swimming pool would be available plus tennis court. One of us would need to sit by the pool most of the night for obvious reasons.
We took him shopping to get food and drinks - my husband was looking for low alcoholic beers, in cans, as glass bottles would no doubt be dropped and broken glass everywhere. We had the same approach for the soft drinks - only canned or plastic bottles.
We decided to get carbohydrate rich food as we were warned that they would smuggle in Vodka and therefore they needed bready type food - we got a selection of pizzas, bread stick, crisps, cooked chicken jointed up, sausages, new potatoes, doughnuts, flapjacks, chocolate torte and mars bars. Some of the teenagers brought food too.
I deliberately removed any valuable items from the annexe and supplied old bedding and sleeping bags - stuff which didn't matter if it got ruined. We requested those who had tents to bring them as they could sleep in the garden - some did bring tents and sleeping bags.
On the day of the party the first guests arrived at 5.30 - a bit early we thought. Then many more arrived and our son started to lose count of who was coming - and who was staying.
The party was going well and it was still in full swing at 11pm, when some parents came to collect their children. By midnight it was still going and a lot of noisy shouting teenagers were in full throttle.
A boy jumped in the pool with his clothes on - so that was interesting.
By 3am it was still in full flow and my husband had to go and tell them off as we were worried about neighbours hearing it - luckily we are rural and not surrounded by houses, but even so, noise carries.
Our son was on duty all night - poor boy had just had braces fitted on that day so he couldn't eat. He's not a drinker either.
We went to bed at 3 and hoped they were all going to sleep, but I woke up quite soon after as I heard noises downstairs and I had a feeling someone was looking for alcohol, so I went down and called out my son's name and whoever it was fled.
Then I went back to bed and a whole hoard of teenagers were trying to get into the main house so I called down and told them to go to the annexe.
They obeyed and went to the annexe, and then our son came to the house with 2 friends, so as I knew one of them I allowed them in and put them in the 2 spare rooms.
The next morning I was shocked at the state of the annexe - the carpet had beer spilt all over it - there was broken glass as they had found glasses in the cupboards, and we found empty Vodka bottles - one was carefully placed in a drawer! The odd cigarette but was also in one of the bedrooms but this generation don't seem to smoke ciggies - there were some roll up papers so we assume there was a bit of whacky backie going on.
So the tips are - make sure you know who is coming - as you can lose control - especially if you have a pool. An adult needs to supervise the pool area.
Don't have glasses around - don't have valuables around - don't supply spirits or wine - they will smuggle those in anyway. Hide your drinks cupboard.
Have plenty of carb rich food and enough for breakfasts.
Make sure any bedding is old and you don't mind binning it - including pillows and duvets - make sure the mattresses are protected as they spill drink on them. Remove any valuable rugs too. A first aid kit is important. Have some adult support if you can - 2 as a minimum and prepared to stay up all night. You need to be seen to be around for emergencies.
I still don't know how many came but we think about 30 in the end - and half or more stayed, as their parents were unable to collect them.
Just hope it's a one-off!
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