Teen Parties...by request

The first thing I think you need to ask yourself is this. “Did I ask my daughter what she might like to see happen at her party?”

If she’s left all-or part of-the planning up to you then the second thing you need to do is thank God. Because by that age, most teens are making life just a little tough on their parents as they strive for independence!

That said, have you considered a theme party?

My personal favorites would be: the “Let’s Wash the Windows Luau,” “The Grimy Garage Gala,” the “Basement Cleanup Bash,” and the “Get Down and Scrub the Floors Fiesta.“

But then I’m not thirteen. Which is why I think I like them so much. Let the teens with too much energy have all the fun! :o)

So...

A classy, dress to the nine’s tea party might go over well. Have the guests wear their classiest outfits, let the girls have a ball with blush, eyeliner and the works (with parental permission, of course!), and then serve fancy finger foods and a variety of flavored teas.

Of course that would probably been a better idea for Beaver Cleaver’s sister, if he’d had one that is. But today’s young people, the majority of them, aren’t as thrilled by the old fashioned stuff we were over the moon about.

This website, http://www.partypop.com/Forums/General/m14079.htm , has some ideas posted by young teenagers, telling other teens what they’ve done. Including having Mom and Dad foot the bill at a hotel with a pool and hot tub, and doing such fun things as going up to the service desk in the lobby and asking for a tampon.

Have things really changed that much since I was thirteen?!

At that age I’d have gone out and waited in the car for fear of standing too close to my mother when she put a box of tampons on the checkout counter! Even if she had a hundred other items!

Http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/643655/fun_sleepover_party_ideas_for_13yearold.html , has some wonderful ideas for slumber parties, if you have the courage to let six teenage girls awake most of the night. In your house.

One particular idea there would probably appeal to any girl, from five to seventy-five, and that’s to make it a spa party. They suggest going to your local dollar store and purchasing items for facials, manicures, and pedicures. (This would work for a party that didn’t include sleeping bags, too)

Based on what I see in my family (including extended), Miley Ray Cyrus, Zac Efron, Corbin Bleu and The Jonas Brothers are so wildly popular that some parents are tempted to throw a brick through their television screen, drown their stereos and smash computer speakers in an effort to get some relief from having these four people shoved down their throats.

If your daughter is a fan, lucky you, rent Camp Rock, High School Musical, or the first season of Hannah Montana (although I think they only made four episodes and are just rerunning them over and over and over...), order a couple of pizzas, pick up a gallon of ice cream, toppings, potato chips and sodas, and you’re good to go. For an afternoon get together, a sleepover, or whatever. You can hide in your room until it’s over.

You wish!

No, it would be in your best interest to check on them from time to time, making sure you don’t wind up with pepperoni, mozzarella or hot fudge ground into your carpet.

What it all boils down to, though, is this. What does your daughter want? Ask her. Unless she wants to invite girls and boys, and a disco ball, romantic music, candlelight, dancing and spin the bottle games, you’ll probably be able to come to an agreement on something acceptable to you both.

Having been volunteered to be the one-member game committee for my family reunion on a number of times, not even counting other events, I feel safe in making the following suggestions.
If it’s a nice day have it outside. No pool? Set up a sprinkler and they can play tag in the water.
A game everyone had fun with was a relay race of sorts. I’d gone to a second hand clothing store and purchased two sets of huge pants and tops (and washed them, of course!). I divided the group into two teams, placed them about forty feet from a tree.

They had to pull the big clothes on over the top of what they were already wearing, race to the tree, circle it, get back, take the clothes off so the next person could repeat the process, and on and on until one team finished first.

You could go a step further and add a hat, necklace, scarf, gloves... Whatever you want. You’ll get more laughs though if the clothes are ugly and clash as badly as possible.

Just serve them burgers or hot dogs, chips, a veggie tray, maybe potato salad and cookies. Bottles of soda and water and you’re set.

Good luck, Kathryn!