Alright, so I was a little frustrated during last night’s blog. Here’s the explanation.First let me tell you where we went because that’s kind of my job here. My friends and I took our five kids all 6 years and under to a Bounce U. The bouncers and slides were clean, the room was a perfect size that your children never got too far away from you, and the pizza was delivered from Papa John’s. As an institution it was clean, fun and safe.
My issue began after pizza when the big kids arrived in our play room.
The rules state that the workers at Bounce U are not babysitters and adults are told to stay on the premises. (Some don’t.) The rules state that parents should watch their children at all times. (Some didn’t.) And there are a variety of other safety rules pertaining to using mats on the slides, occupancy of bouncers, and waiting your turn so that you don’t land on the exiting child below. (Kids don’t read signs.)
This is where things went downhill for me. With absent parents and kids running around like crazy, the teenagers in charge are forced to police the 12-year-olds while trying to keep a chipper disposition. (I think it’s in the job description.) But the teenagers aren’t as good at acting like authority figures as they are at smiling and playing with the younger kids. So, you know me, I had to step in once in a while.
The big kids were cutting in line in front of my kids, running up the slide and jumping off things they shouldn’t, one slammed into my son’s back while he was getting off the bottom of the big slide, etc. etc.
The good news is that my kids loved Bounce U and want to go back. And the better news is that they have Preschool Playdates for 6 and unders during some weekdays.
So we’ll be back soon, Bounce U. But not at night.
