No laughing matter: Comedian makes parents sign waiver before teens attend party at home
By Merryn Porter |
A?llowing your teenage child to have a party at home can be fraught. Will they try to sneak in alcohol or drugs? Will they smoke or vape? Will they wreck the house?
While we all want to give our kids the best childhood, and many would argue children are safer at home than wandering the streets, it is enough to make you very nervous.
But British-based comedian Katherine Ryan has proved teenage house parties are no laughing matter after reportedly making parents sign a strict waiver before their children can attend her teenage daughter Violet's upcoming Halloween party.
And furthermore, she has hired a security firm to carry out bag checks and physical searches of anyone attending.
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Ryan, 40, who was born in Canada before relocating to London and making a name for herself in the entertainment industry, has told British tabloid Daily Mail about the lengths she is taking to make sure the party goes off without a hitch, and outlined the extensive list of "illegal behaviour" that will be banned.
This is despite her already calling 'bullshit' on the fact it is even a Halloween party.
"I am allowing the Halloween party. It's not on actual Halloween... she just wants to have a party so it's a tenuous link," she said.
"I don't know how you navigate having teenagers and keeping them safe and keeping them respectful, and keeping your property from being vandalised."
She said she told Violet, 14, how many people could come to the party but she sent out invites "to more children than that," so she prepared a document outlining "what the expectations are in my house."
"I just think in this day and age, with liabilities and having all these kids in my house, I want to send a really clear message to them," she said.
"And also, I think it's a good message to the parents to know that if I expect this form signed by a parent with the parent's phone number, then they know that I'm not the kind of mum that allows drinking or vaping or anything else.
"Those parents are going to go 'Oh, if this mum's making me sign this, I feel safe sending my kid there'."
Ryan said she previously struggled to find a venue to host Violet's 13th birthday, with all declining due to fears guests would 'trash' the place.
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She said the 'permission waiver' for the upcoming party starts, "Hello, as we enter the teenage party years, I'm starting to understand why it was so difficult to find a venue that would host Violet's last birthday party.
"The children are very welcome in our home/garden/pool and we do want them to enjoy themselves and be able to gather in a safe environment for a party.
"However... my husband and I feel that it's necessary to collect signed permission waivers from all parents of children attending any party in our home.
"This acknowledges that we will not tolerate any illegal behaviour. At 14 and 15 years old, illegal behaviour includes drinking alcohol, vaping, any sexual activity, assault, vandalism.
"Anyone found to be participating in any illegal behaviour will be asked to leave and parents called.
"By signing this waiver you acknowledge responsibility for your child in our home and further acknowledge that you have spoken to them about having bag searches and guest list checks at the door."
Ryan added that she had hired a private security firm which worked in the entertainment industry "for peace of mind" and encouraged parents to tell their children "to find me in the house, or approach someone from the security team" if they felt unsafe at any time during the party.
She said guests would be welcome to use the home's zipline and small swimming pool "with caution" and while she agreed the document "feels like a lot," she thought it was "best to be clear from the beginning about my expectations for this party" and any future parties.
Ryan said each waiver had the name of the child and their parent, and a place for the parent's phone number and signature.
However, she admitted that while many had been returned with electronic signatures, she could only hope they were signed by a parent and not their child.
With two other young "babies in the house" she admitted she would not be "walking around the garden myself" during the party, and the security firm would be tasked with "doing bag checks and physical searches."
She said while she "hoped to god that this party goes well" she admitted she was "so nervous about it."
