<p>My s and his merry band of about 20 or so friends were going to go camping at a campsite at a nearby big park (after the prom), but the weather forecast is not pretty. So, when it came time to put down the final $$$ on the campground site, they decided against it. Long story… dear ol’ kind mom here (What AM I thinking!!!) agreed to let them have it here. Anyone hosted one of these before? We are discussing the “groundrules”. Anyone hosted one of these events before? How’d you handle the “no alcohol” policies and such? I am not stupid enough to believe that someone will probably try to bring alcohol (or have it before they get here in their limos). If they bring it in, and we discover it, we will remove it, but I also don’t want them to feel they need to be “secretive” and hide it, lest someone get sick. I fully expect them (and my s knows this) to let us know if anyone isn’t feeling well, and parents will be called. All the kids will turn in their car keys so none will drive til the next morning. But any veterans out there with pointers… I am all ears.</p>
<p>Wow. Good luck is all I can say!</p>
<p>you are a brave woman…just don’t plan on getting much sleep :)</p>
<p>You seem confused at the get go. I think you are welcoming those who have been drinking. You don’t want booze there but you don’t want them to hide the booze but if you see it you are taking it. Get a plan. If kids have been drinking and you let them stay you assume responsibility. Sounds like fun tho.</p>
<p>I have no suggestions but am sending best wishes (what INDEED were you thinking?!!!) I’m pretty sure you get, not pennies in heaven for this, but silver dollars :D</p>
<p>I am not confused, hazmat. I know full well that there is the possibility that these kids will get their hands on alcohol sometime during the night of the prom. I am no fool. But I will not actively condone a drinking party here. That said, I will still want to have a safe environment for the kids, and if someone does something stupid I want them to be able to come tell us and not try to hide it. The good news is, hopefully much of the party will be held in the basement, which younger s considers his sanctuary. He has threatened to kill anyone who barfs in his domain…</p>
<p>I did this for oldest (never repeated for other kids!). I did take keys–not because I was allowing drinking, but I didn’t want anyone sneaking off and being out on the roads w/o my knowledge (you know with cell phones the news of a better/wilder party travels fast).</p>
<p>I had a guest list and absolutely NO ONE came in who wasn’t on it. The couple kids who did try to sneak alcohol in had it confiscated. I stayed up all night and did periodic checks in the basement under the guise of “just picking up a little, or does anyone need a pillow, and here are some more snacks”. Not that they didn’t see through it—but we made it clear to son that it was our liability and we would do whatever we felt we needed to in order to keep everyone safe and things in control.</p>
<p>The only thing more tiring was when we took 24 seniors on a cruise!!!</p>
<p>Best of luck, jym!! Our school sponsors an after-prom event that is really nice and well-attended. I think it’s generally easier for a place like that to institute and stick to a no-alcohol party with good success. I hope you have the same success at your get-together! You’re definitely going to deserve a night out after that…or maybe a DAY IN BED!!! :eek: :D</p>
<p>Our school hosts an after-prom party-- but many (most??) do their own thing at smaller private parties… AAAGGGHHHHH!!! Save me…</p>
<p>Pancakes! Will there be pancakes?</p>
<p>That’s my pointer. 
My favorite part of the post-prom parties at my best friend’s house.</p>
<p>
**
Very funny. The patrol on guard.</p>
<p>mkm-
Did you learn from the first (and only) party?? But you are far braver than I. This is just one night-- you hosted a whole passle o’ kids on a cruise?? I bow at your feet…</p>
<p>And mollieb-
Funny you should ask about pancakes! I was just thinking about that! However, the thought of cooking all that when we’ve had little sleep, and risking syrup being poured all over the place seems to be overshadowed by the ease of picking up bagels, cream cheese and donuts.</p>
<p>Yes, I learned from that party that I am too old to stay up all night!!!..and somehow I can’t do the sleep the next day like the kids do.</p>
<p>The cruise is a whole other story. Was lots of fun but very tiring. I would recommend a cruise with no ports of call…I worried constantly about someone not getting back to the ship.</p>
<p>The only real “rule” broken was that I had said “no tattoos” on my time and one boy got one done on an island. Of course he said “don’t worry, I asked the guy and he said the needle was clean”!!!</p>
<p>As far as breakfast after your all-nighter, I also opted for food we could bring in. Around here the kids like Bojangles so we got lots of biscuits, OJ, some doughnuts, and had some fresh fruit.</p>
<p>I thought about fruit-- the girls may not go for all the high fat stuff. Yogurt too. And OJ, and coffee… (for ME!!)
Great ideas. Any more???</p>
<p>Hazmat-
I don’t know which is a bigger threat-- s. willing to kill anyone who stinks up his “space”, or us threatening to call parents at any hour of the night to come get their kid. The school pulls kids froma wide ranfe inthe metro area of this big city-- sot it is possible that a parent would have to drive almost an hour to come get their kid. </p>
<p>I like the idea of a “guest list” so we don’t find ourselves hosting 40 kids instead of 20. And as I said, all carkeys will be taken so no going out to get other friends. The good news is, here in the Bible belt, they cant buy liquor on Sunday, so after midnight they wouldnt be able to go anywhere to get some even if they wanted to. Yay!! I finally agree with the “no alcohol on Sunday” thing!</p>
<p>
Homemade biscotti. I make it all the time. 
My hubster likes it with coffee and the paper on Sunday a.m.'s. Biscotti is naturally low fat, and I even have some extra low fat recipes. And you can make up several different flavors so that there will be something that everyone likes! Also, it can be made ahead, so you don’t have to be stuck cooking in the a.m. when you’re super tired. ;)</p>
<p>This party is in like 3 days!! Time to cook??? I am still trying to figure out where to put all the stuff I have to put away. Can I order a few dozen biscotti from you,’ rurah?? Ship it overnight express…please. I LOVE biscotti- especially chocolate hazelnut (probaly not lowfat, though)</p>
<p>They will stay up for hours, maybe all night…
what I usually do for a crowd in the basement:</p>
<p>Paper plates, napkins, cups
popcorn, pretzels, chips
doritos + beef dip
pasta w/garlic bread
cookies, brownies, ice-cream sundae station (they say I’m too nice)
bowls of candy,sour worms,
lots of Bounty and Resolve carpet cleaner</p>
<p>mkm-
No tatoos? You thought of everything! That wouldnt have occurred to me on a cruise. I learned the “no buying bottles of water or Sprite and refilling them with vodka” rule.</p>
<p>chocoholic-
Can I come to your house?? :D</p>