Alone for a one-on-one playdate? No. In a birthday party setting with a number of other classmates? Yes; no problem. Not sure if this was an issue for you but I have heard it mentioned on the DIS before - here we would have absolutely no fear of there being guns in the house or worry that they might be accessible to kids. No backyard pools here to worry about adequate supervision either.
Umm is that really a thing people in Canada think is something us in the States actually worry about for a kids party as a norm? Like a checklist of possible things? Like Hmm gift? check, birthday card? check balloons? check, no unlocked guns???
I'm sorry I'm confused about what you're asking?
It is not that they will get hurt through normal play with other kids, that is a risk no matter where they are with or without other kids. It is that the parents behavior that I was most concerned with.
I specified that Christa hadn't mentioned it. I have seen it mentioned here previously over the years and there have been news reports of tragedies involving kids getting access to improperly stored firearms. I have no clue how much mental energy you all spend on it but yes, gun culture in the US is something we see as a very great difference between Americans and Canadians. Admittedly just my perception, but it seems to be a very polarized issue - people are either very for them or very against them. Is it totally crazy to assume the "against" people would be very concerned about putting their children in an unknown environment with people who might be "for" them. 
That's fine. I'm not criticizing your caution, just curious about it. I presume you also wouldn't think it completely reckless that I would allow my kid to go to a birthday party without me.
Of course there has and it's actually a topic I usually am passionate about (meaning for goodness sake lock up your dang guns), but that is a far cry from thinking before accepting a kid's birthday party or wanting to stay "is ____ birthday party at a house where there's a gun there? would the gun be reachable for kids?"
I think this below statement is why though.Is it totally crazy to assume the "against" people would be very concerned about putting their children in an unknown environment with people who might be "for" them.
Interestingly, Christa hasn't commented one way or the other about whether it was a concern for her.Of course there has and it's actually a topic I usually am passionate about (meaning for goodness sake lock up your dang guns), but that is a far cry from thinking before accepting a kid's birthday party or wanting to stay "is ____ birthday party at a house where there's a gun there? would the gun be reachable for kids?"
I think this below statement is why though.
It's been well established on the DIS this viewpoint between cultures but sometimes I think that's the problem. Guns may be here in the U.S. but sometimes y'all think the most extreme things that are just not part of many of our everyday lives (as in thinking about gun presence for a kid's party).
I actually totally got your pool example
Guns were never a direct concern of mine. But this would fall under the adults/parents behavior.
Yes. Guns and pools.
I won't speak for her but even if her answer was Yes I am worried about that, it appeared what you were getting at with your comment was discussing gun culture between countries.
Of course the ONE person on the DIS has to comment that
It’s very much a concern. Even for people who are “for” them because not every gun owner is a responsible one. And not all kids abide by the rules no matter how well they’ve been taught. If my kid is going to be spending time at your house I’m going to ask the question and if you’re offended by it I have my answer.
As a parent YES you think about those things.Of course there has and it's actually a topic I usually am passionate about (meaning for goodness sake lock up your dang guns), but that is a far cry from thinking before accepting a kid's birthday party or wanting to stay "is ____ birthday party at a house where there's a gun there? would the gun be reachable for kids?"
I think this below statement is why though.
It's been well established on the DIS this viewpoint between cultures but sometimes I think that's the problem. Guns may be here in the U.S. but sometimes y'all think the most extreme things that are just not part of many of our everyday lives (as in thinking about gun presence for a kid's party).
I actually totally got your pool example
That reminds me of a cooler day that happened here in like September. There was a bouncy house in someone's backyard (that faced the street we used to get to our part of the neighborhood) and the kids playing with what I assume is probably a good amount of at least one parent to these kids in attendance and the parents were all huddled outside in medium jackets under the deck, it was clear the parents had at least something to entertain themselves other than looking every now and then towards their kids in the bouncy house.Before COVID, DS10 had his parties at home. Most of the parents attending knew each other because most of his friends go to his school. The parents often stayed, not to keep an eye on their child, but to socialize with their friends. It didn't hurt that they knew we have an outdoor fridge stocked with beer and hard cider for the adults.
I don’t mean this snarky either but you think differently when you have kids. Majority? I don’t know but it’s not uncommon either.Of course the ONE person on the DIS has to comment that
**said in a non-snarky sarcastic way and please know I'm saying this in partial jest, someone says something isn't representative of a majority and then one person immediately responds with "accttuually".
