There’s one simple trick to figuring out which of these people will make the best party guests. Photo: Rawpixel.
Organising a party is no easy feat.
Up the ante – maybe it’s a hen’s night, milestone birthday or a reunion – and it can become a part-time job.
Most people want to go to a party; few want to do the work of making a party happen, and the load usually falls on the shoulders of one or two people.
Those one or two negotiate everyone’s schedules, likes, dislikes, dietary requirements and opinions.
They’re also likely to foot at least the initial cost of any big spends like group accommodation, and after the party’s over, they will be the ones liable for any damages.
Dear reader, recently this person was me.
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I experienced some anticipatory anguish. The last time I’d hosted a party that big I was in my early 20s.
It was an excellent party. It also resulted in our dining chairs being meticulously taken apart and their pieces neatly stacked in the refrigerator by persons unknown.
The cleanup took days.
Ahead of this latest party, I steeled myself for a Sunday morning spent single-handedly cleaning an Airbnb.
I realised that my holding deposit would likely not be refunded.
I hadn’t reckoned without a dramatic transformation among my peers that took place in the intervening decade.
A good chunk of them became mothers. And mothers (sans children) are the best people to party with.
Not a minute passed without someone ‘just doing a quick tidy’, ‘just popping some glasses away’, ‘just whipping round with the vacuum’.
There were 10 people in that Airbnb, and it was cleaner when we left than when we arrived, with no need to do more than throw our bags in the car on Sunday morning.
Everyone had a great time, staying up into the early hours eating, dancing, talking and having a cheeky wine or two.
This would not have worked if there had been only one or two mothers at the party, stuck on maid duty for everyone else.
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It worked like a well-oiled machine because most of the women were mums, and when the rest of us saw them making an effort, we stepped up and made an effort, too.
I’m converted.
Never again will I host a party with a ratio of less than 60 per cent mums.
Never again will I assume the best party guests are the ones most likely to start dancing or initiate shots (although both are essential).
The best guests are mums.
Life’s too short to spend Sunday morning cleaning up after your messy mates, and motherhood is notoriously lonely.
Befriend more mums. Invite them to parties. You’ll thank me for it.
