Entertaining Ideas
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I could use your advice...
I wrote about it in my blog so, in an effort not to rewrite everything, if you have a minute, could you take a look and let me know your ideas?
Thank you so much in advance!
Re: I could use your advice...
If this party has always been an adult Halloween party and it's now a family party, you're completely changing it. It's not the same party any more and IMO it'd be close to impossible to try to keep the original spirit. You'll have to do all the things people do when they have family parties - chicken nuggets, pizza, activities, etc.
You said "How do you keep sane when you cannot have a drink to take the edge off and you have lots of kids running around the house?". Are you planning on making this a completely dry event? Do the guests who've been coming to this party for years know this and about the other changes? No offense, but if I always went to a great adult Halloween costume party and now heard that it was going to be dry with kids, there's no way in heck I'd go. I'd check with your regular guests before making these kinds of dramatic changes.
The other thing I'd expect is that people with children often do other things for Halloween - church harvest festivals, "trick or trunk", etc. Are you sure that the folks with kids don't already have other plans?
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I can sort of speak to both sides of the issue since I'm a new mom. Prior to having my DS, I did not have a problem attending parties where kids were involved. I did my own thing or I left early if everything was centered around the kids. I always obtained a joy from seeing how the kids looked at things.
Now, after becoming a mom, I wouldn't even think of attending a Halloween party without my DS. I know I'm in the minority, but Halloween seems like such a kid holiday to me. So, I would enjoy your new style of party.
You will not please everyone. It's impossible. Could you hire a babysitter or even a younger relative/friend to watch and entertain the kids, so that the parents can have some fun too? I would do kid friendly finger foods. Most adults secretly love those types of foods too, but just won't admit it. Mini corn dogs, chicken tenders, potato skins, jalapeno poppers, etc. It's Halloween, so most people do not expect gourmet, fancy food. I would also leave out a huge bowl of assorted candies for people to snack on.
Honestly, I would not do something like beer pong when you know there will be a lot of small children in attendance. What if the parents have too much to drink? Do you really want a lot of little kids staying overnight in your home, while the parents are too drunk to take care of them?
You can do this and have a really fun party. I would come!! Have fun!!
Hi! I enjoyed reading your blog. I have hosted a couple of parties in the last two years that have included both children and adults - I usually make the start time around 2 or 3pm. I serve apps at 2 - then a dinner (like lasagna or BBQ) etc. around 5 and then dessert/cake/fruit/coffee around 6pm. We (my husband does the bar) serve beer, wine, soda, juice and usually a vodka or margarita etc. Adults who want to stay late and drink/smoke/curse do - families with young kids leave while it is still light out. Everyone has a great time. I'm sure your true friends will understand that your priorities are changing - especially if you spread the word or have a schedule of activities on your invite.
I loved all of the ideas you presented and want to encourage you to have a great party. Goodies bags etc. I'm sure will be very appreciated by your young guests. If you have a contest for the kids - make sure everyone gets a prize etc., kids friendly menu etc.
Guests with children are responsible for their own children. They should make the decision when to leave; you shouldn't need to hire a babysitter either - unless you wish to. They also can decide how much or if they want to drink etc. As a parent of infant/toddler/young child you are constantly supervising your child anyways... and are more worried that their behavior is offensive...
Good Luck and Have a fun and Happy Halloween!
This. All of this.
Here's my take as part of a kid-free couple: If I showed up to what I thought was the same awesome Halloween party only to find it was now totally dry with kiddie food and kiddie activities, I would not stay longer than maybe an hour. And that would be just to be polite. At least if you told me ahead of time I could decline and not waste my time and yours. That said, every party I went to as a kid with my parents involved adults drinking and smoking and being loud, normal food and both kids and adults having a good time. Kids will play with other kids. You can have an activity or two but it's Halloween---kids will find a way to play. It is not your job to parent the children of other people, including worrying whether they are too drunk to parent. That's a deeper problem than a Halloween party.
I think there's a big difference between an adult party to which children are invited and a kid party to which adults are invited. You should decide which you want to have and let your guests know what to expect.
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In my experience, it is either one or an other. It is either an adult party, or it is a kiddie party. We don't have kids, but we were willing to have an adult party where kids were invited. It was a disaster. Now, all of these people are in their mid thirties. There was drinking, but all adults knew this before the party started. Some parents got really mad when there was some swearing that took place (it was a Superbowl party) and we were stuck, very uncomfortably, in the middle. Since then, we have stuck to a "no-kids invited policy". I'm not saying that this will happen at your party, I'm just throwing it out there that the adult drinking parties with kids aren't always a good solution.
Yikes! Fire pit and beer pong don't mix well with kids. I don't know the ages of the children or how well their parents keep an eye on them... just seems like there would be potential for kids getting into some unsafe territory. I was at a kid's party where adults had beer. The kid's dad left his beer on the ground. The 2 year old picked it up and chugged the entire thing!!! I was too far away to stop it, so yelled for someone to stop him (hello, dad). The dad said, "He didn't drink it... he just spilled it". Ugh.
How old are the kids? Are they old enough to know not to drink an adult beverage? Would they stay in their designated kid area? Who would keep them entertained? If someone says that their kid wants to hang out with them in the adult area, are you okay with that?
If I were you, I would make it simplify the party by picking one direction - either adults and adult activities... or family friendly with no beer pong.
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