Friend having a sprinkler party-while we're on water restriction-would you object?

[Narnia]

Only on really bad years have we had a water ban. I personally don't water the lawn. I actually chose not to weed the lawn because if you have weeds your lawn stays green longer. I haven't even had a sprinkler going this year and my lawn is still green. We use a local splash pad so no need for baby pools here.

 

[mamaLori05]

We don't really have watering bans where I live either. Maybe for a few weeks if it's really dry, but then it's just everyother day depending on if the last digit of your address is even or odd. Maybe your town has something like that also? This year we are actually having the opposite problem. We are still recovering from all the flooding we had in the beginning of the summer.

Anyway, maybe my opinion is just based on the fact that I'm not used to a watering ban, but I probably wouldn't say anything to her expecially if you are worried about it ruining a friendship. I'd say if you don't agree with it then just don't go (there is always an excuse with kids). I could see how she may be offended and if you aren't looking to cause any problems, then you may want to avoid saying anything. Quite honestly, maybe that mommy brain took over and she was thinking about how much fun it would be to have the kids over and ways to entertain them and totally forgot about the waterban. Just not totally sure if it's worth possibly getting into an argument over or causing hurt feelings over. That's just my opinion though, so please...no flames!!!!!!!

 

[AndyLL]

Our City (Castle Rock) has always had restrictions for as long as I remember even before our state was in a drought.

Our restrictions, while they look a lot like the ones you listed, always had an excpetion for kids playing in sprinklers.

 

[The Moonk's Mom]

I would check on the well thing...we had city water at our old house, but we also had a well just for the lawn. It came that way...rather nice actually...but we got reported too...and it was water from our well. Just a misunderstanding.

 

[disneyandme]

So, OP, have you decided what to do?

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Last year we had a drought and had water restrictions. (Of course, this year we've had floods!) Anyway, my older two kids would have been upset if they went to a party like this. They knew about the restrictions since we weren't watering. I would have had a hard time going to a party like this if it contradicted what I was telling my kids at home.

 

[disneyandme]

bump!

 

[lecach]

OP with an update:

So I asked her "arent you worried about your neighbors turning you in for using sprinklers?". She said "nope - they were washing their car yesterday, so I know they wont say anything". I said "you're braver than me - mine would turn me in". And that was that.

She doesnt have a well.

She knows she's braking a rule.

She doesnt care.

 

[zigfam4]

How ironic - I live on the IA / IL border where we just had the 500 year Flood a month ago. I drove by someone's yard the other day and they were WATERING it! I'm thinking to myself - what a waste! The grass doesn't even need watering!

Taking our first WDW FAMILY vac in April, 2009

Me, DH, DD (5), DD (3 1/2)

 

[maxiesmom]

OP with an update:

So I asked her "arent you worried about your neighbors turning you in for using sprinklers?". She said "nope - they were washing their car yesterday, so I know they wont say anything". I said "you're braver than me - mine would turn me in". And that was that.

She doesnt have a well.

She knows she's braking a rule.

She doesnt care.

I would turn her in, but it really bothers me when people think they are above the rules. Drought is serious! When whole citys have their water supply hanging on by a thread and people are still so self centered they wash their cars and have sprinkler parties, it is just sickening! Sorry to pile on your friend, but think what would your family do without drinking water?

I would definately not go to her party.

 

[KK'sMommy]

I think I would be tempted to make an anonymous call too. I think it is wrong for her to break the rules, when this is a serious issue. I would NOT go to her party, as I would not want to partake in breaking the rules that everyone should be living by.

 

[iheartdisney]

Wow, obviously nobody on this thread lives in a glass house!
If you want to take a stand on principle, don't go.

 

[SLDL]

OP with an update:

So I asked her "arent you worried about your neighbors turning you in for using sprinklers?". She said "nope - they were washing their car yesterday, so I know they wont say anything". I said "you're braver than me - mine would turn me in". And that was that.

She doesnt have a well.

She knows she's braking a rule.

She doesnt care.

Interesting. My family owns a well drilling business that works in Durham & all around. Since you know she doesn't have a well & should be abiding by all the water restrictions, I wouldn't go & I'd tell her if she wants to continue to ignore the rules set forth by the city/county that she should consider drilling a well. Until then, she should follow the same rules as everyone else.

 

[thegrimdwarf]

OP with an update:

So I asked her "arent you worried about your neighbors turning you in for using sprinklers?". She said "nope - they were washing their car yesterday, so I know they wont say anything". I said "you're braver than me - mine would turn me in". And that was that.

She doesnt have a well.

She knows she's braking a rule.

She doesnt care.

Well, that stinks. What are you going to do?

 

[Aliceacc]

As the mom of 3, I have a problem with the old "do as I say, not as I do" approach to parenting.

I think I would make alternate plans for my kids for that day so they were unable to attend the party. Build a bear, amusement park-- some way they could have fun without breaking the law.

In our neighborhood, people who live in "Levit" (as in Bill Levit) houses support the local town pool through their taxes. People who don't live in Levits don't support the pool and don't have access. The problem is that, with the exception of about 2 blocks worth of houses, EVERYONE in my kids' school lives in a Levit. And you guessed it: we're on one of those two blocks.

Lots of my neighbors get around it-- they "find" pool passes or have friends lose one and replace it. But that's not the type of parents we choose to be. We have a backyard pool and the kids are free to invite any and all friends. But I refuse to teach my kids that it's OK to break the rules that they don't like or that aren't convenient to them.

OP-- good luck with this.

 

[Karlzmom]

She is breaking the restriction, but before she gets blasted for being unethical, is it *possible* that she is not watering on Saturday and will use the water on Sunday.

 

[lecach]

We're not going to the playdate. Mainly due to the water restrictions.

I won't say that we're perfect or follow every single rule. The water one is pretty serious. When our town got down to less than a month of water it was pretty scary.

 

[Aliceacc]

I applaud your decision.

 

[MissyDVC]

As the mom of 3, I have a problem with the old "do as I say, not as I do" approach to parenting.

I think I would make alternate plans for my kids for that day so they were unable to attend the party. Build a bear, amusement park-- some way they could have fun without breaking the law.

In our neighborhood, people who live in "Levit" (as in Bill Levit) houses support the local town pool through their taxes. People who don't live in Levits don't support the pool and don't have access. The problem is that, with the exception of about 2 blocks worth of houses, EVERYONE in my kids' school lives in a Levit. And you guessed it: we're on one of those two blocks.

Lots of my neighbors get around it-- they "find" pool passes or have friends lose one and replace it. But that's not the type of parents we choose to be. We have a backyard pool and the kids are free to invite any and all friends. But I refuse to teach my kids that it's OK to break the rules that they don't like or that aren't convenient to them.

OP-- good luck with this.

I agree I would never say that we are perfect but we do try our very best and this one would bother me.

Aliceacc: Hi from right up the road in East Meadow

 

[MissyDVC]

We're not going to the playdate. Mainly due to the water restrictions.

I won't say that we're perfect or follow every single rule. The water one is pretty serious. When our town got down to less than a month of water it was pretty scary.

Good for you You are not judging, just doing what you are most comfortable with for your family