Dont be surprised if they ring you soon, next weekend probably wanting some more 'free child care'

We had a few like that, with 3 boys the sleepover kids/parents have come in all variations. one family rang up for years!! wanting us to have X for the weekend, telling them NO never worked they would just ring up again the next week, happened with another kid in high school too, everytime the parents wanted to go out on the piss, they ring all the kids mates trying to get a sleepover

We always dropped the kids off, knew most of the parents well, however still got caught out, one mum offering teens a 'smoke' in highschool, another mum oblivious to son having a nice sideline in weed dealing, primary school horror sleepovers were someone dropping and running leaving us with a kid who should have been in hospital, however most of the hundreds of sleepovers went just fine, although one funny one was one boy coming back asking questions why the kids mum was so vocal when in her bedroom - sex noises Loads of parents continue to smoke round the kids too, ciggies mainly but I guess its their house so you get their rules

Ones I would watch out for are the families car/driving habits and surf rules, one family took our 7 year old out the back for a surf and both kids ended up in a rip.

I don't mistrust anyone. I don't know them, so how could I mistrust them? Do you mistrust everyone other than your best friends?

No,just I got the impression(as of course you don't know me or my friends or even where I lived in Australia when my kids were on sleep overs)that you might have assumed I let my daughters sleep over where-ever they wanted.We lived in a very small community,and trust me,if anything would of happened to any of the kids at any sleepover,someone would of known about it.In this town we knew who was having an affair,who was smoking pot,and what the neighbours had for tea that night!

But how would you know if someone abused a child? It's not like they advertise that sort of thing. And it isn't something that most children run home to tell mummy about.

It's much more likely that you would not know about it.

So you are only sure that it has not happened, not that it WILL not happen.

No offence but if that were the case, everyone would know about every occurrence of abuse happening because kiddie fiddlers are usually well known, often well respected members of the community. Unfortunately the one thing that these bastards can generally rely on is the ability to get away with it.

First impressions aren't always that accurate, not long after we arrived here my daughter asked if she could stay over at a friends house, around the corner from where we lived (she was 13 at the time) We'd already met her mum, (they had stayed for tea at each others prior to). Her house was presentable, clean, lived in as is any home, i umm'ed and ahh'ed a bit as you do, after some pressure i said yes, i'd called my daughter early in the evening and all was well, they had movies to watch, we're havign pizza ect ect.
The next morning my daughter arrived home at 10am (initially she said she'd be home around lunch time) as soon as she arrived home (alone) i knew something wasn't right. Turned out the older brother and his girlfriend had arrived, Mum, son and girlfriend had then got out the wacky backy and got stoned, without a care in the world. My daughter said she felt VERY uncomfortable, when i asked why on earth she hadn't called or sent a text so i could collect her, she said she didn't like to let her friend down. They'd spent the night in the bedroom. this was "normal" life for the friend. i felt really guilty that i'd allowed her to stay out. Needless to say she hasn't slept anywhere unless we know the parents very well.

These days if you have a gang of about 20-30 teenagers, then the police start to break it up. I do feel sorry for today's youngsters - much of what we got up to as kids is now simply not tolerated, and many kids get criminalized for mere exuberance.

What a horrible time for your daughter. Sadly these things can happen. I remember staying over with a friend when I was about 11. My parents knew the parents really well and I had stayed before. This time, there was an Uncle there who I didn't know. The adults all had a drink or 10 and this uncle tried to touch me inappropriately as the parents were too drunk to notice. It was about 11pm but I remember running home and banging on my front door scared half to death. There is no way my parents could have known this would happen as I had been well cared for before.

I don't let my daughter stay anywhere until I have known the family for a very long time.

No offence my my daughters are old enough to look after themselves,both in early 20's!

Well ok but as the three best mates of mine were single mothers,with no sons,I "assumed"they were trustworthy.I was abused myself as a child,so know the risks,and also that obviously it could be someone(and usually is)that close to you!I'm not that naive,and don't appreciate being patronised!

I wasn't being patronising, I just didn't understand your reasoning.

Not trying to be patronising at all, but do you honestly think only males are abusers?

And by the way, does your keyboard not have a space bar? Your posts are very difficult to read without spaces or capitals.

You know what?I've pretty much had enough of this forum.Just about every time I post something,someone is nit picking it.I joined this forum to hopefully talk to some "friendly"people,but nope don't think this forum is for me anymore.Adios everybody.

I'm sorry but I don't get this. There is possibly one post amongst 44 that could be considered nit picking, the rest are simply discussion/chat/querying. And you only concentrate on the one. People asking you your opinion and your reasons for something is hardly nitpicking. Discussion is just that, people will agree and they'll disagree, it's life both real and virtual. However you've probably gone now so won't see this. Have a happy life.