When I offered, in a moment of uncharacteristic largesse, to
organise a sleepover for our daughter Jamie’s 12th birthday, it didn’t seem like
a very onerous task. I thought I’d just need to rustle up a few pizzas, buy a
gallon or two of ice cream and a few DVDs and it should all take care of itself,
right?
Wrong, as those of you with teenagers and teenagers-to-be will
already know. It’s no good expecting them to be happy with a copy of Cinderella
and someone making animals out of balloons: Everything has to be meticulously
arranged in advance so that a menu, movie list and timetable can be produced
and distributed amongst friends and acquaintances (even those who are not
invited!).
Most importantly, all activities and any adults involved must
be thoroughly vetted to ensure an adequate level of social credibility and
‘coolness’.
Fortunately, despite my own inadequacies in these areas, the
good people of the Skills Exchange came together once more to pluck me from the
shortlist of ‘Bad Parent of the Year’.
The fabulous Sophia Cann came over to give the girls a nail
painting and and make-up session, which was a massive hit judging by the level
of shrieking and and subsequent gloopy stains on the rug. And Paul Carroll
brought his portable studio and took loads of brilliant pictures, allowing the
girls to fully indulge their catwalk fantasies.
Sophia and Paul were both great sports, and gave their time
and expertise generously.
Jamie and her friends had a brilliant time, and a couple of us
even managed an hour or two of sleep.
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