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[katsiss]

Your child is getting to that age where they want to start having sleepover's with friends of parents whom you've never met. Of course you want to check out the house/family first. Family seems fine, you've talk to them a couple of times at school/sporting events but when it comes to going to their house....are there any indicators which would

Comments

[lutine]

Indoor smoking would be a big No. Cleanliness... possibly. I don't mind disheveled, but filth would be a No. If there's religious crap on every surface, I'd have some drawbacks depending on my interaction with them in person.

[katsiss]

This kinda relates to why I asked. My daughter wants a classmate to stay over but we have a giant MISFITS poster in our living-room with Rev 13:18 on it which may make us look like devil worshipers or what have you. What about this type of religious regalia?

[lutine]

I'd be cool with that, so long as you're cool with my shelves of books on serial murder. ;)

Don't worry, they're up high.

[katsiss]

We also have old horror movie posters on the walls, with nakedness (along with graffiti art) and a bookshelf full of horror books/serial killer biographies. We've had one dad come over and was relieved with the MISFITS poster and graffiti art (turns out he was a graffiti writer too). I'm just worried about other parents who aren't so hip. Haha.

[merlyn4401]

Maybe if there were guns or illegal drugs lying around. Honestly, my oldest is 12 and my middle is 9 and they have both spent the night in houses I have never stepped foot in. I've stood on the porch and talked (and I know the parents), but not entered the house. So far, no horror stories. I just make sure to tell them they can call me to come home if they feel uncomfortable for any reason.

[venatorrooc]

I agree with this, as long as there aren't any guns or drugs easily available (I don't oppose a family having guns in the house, just don't have them sitting on the dining room table haha) in the house then I'd prolly be alright with it. As a kid, I spent sleepovers in houses, double-wides, and trailers (some that weren't the cleanest even) and it was all good. My parents did meet and talk to the parents though.

[jadeejf]

Not unless there are, like, hypodermics lying on the ktichen table or something...

Honestly, I'm most likely to just use my intuition - if I don't feel right about my kid staying with them, they don't. I don't even need to see inside their house to know whether I trust them or not.

[amyura]

I like this answer best.

Our house is small and cluttered, but we do keep it clean.

[unconformed]

I wouldn't need to go inside their house. My kids have demonstrated great character judgment and aren't afraid to call me if something funky is going on.
Smoking indoors is incredibly uncommon these days, but if my kid came home smelling like cigarettes, they wouldn't be going back. When my daughter (third child, almost 3, asthmatic) is older, I'll probably mention that she is asthmatic and can't be around smoke.

[northernwalker]

It depends on how the house feels to me- if I'm uncomfortable, no. It's pretty subjective for the most part, though.