Liar! Liar! Parents on fire.
Some adults are so fake, I fear what they’re teaching our kids.
Busy B
I was booked to guard a high-risk 16th birthday in Melbourne’s north.
With 130 guests (and counting), the host mother agreed to one of my prior party safety assessments.
The catch? Her ‘busy schedule’ meant I had to scope the venue alone.
I attended and photographed the site; flagged all present and potential risks (including some big ones) and sent the mother my mitigation suggestions.
She was meant to reply that day but didn’t.
Growing pains
As the party approached, I did multiple follow-ups. At last, the mother sent an SMS – to her husband – because she was still ‘too busy’ to talk.
So, I discussed my security concerns with the host father and reiterated the need for one of them to read, sign and return my written risk assessment report.
I waited some more, but in vain.
With the party now days away, I sent a final message – pleading for a response.
Spider sense
Over the decades, I’ve learnt that not hearing back from parents is normally a warning sign for one or more bad things:
- A child is running the show.
- Guest numbers have exploded beyond the original request for my quotation.
- The host has gone with ‘Dodgey Brothers security’ (much cheaper, as they ignore all rules).
Then I got the text above.
Suspicious mind
At first, I thought: ‘OK, no worries; that’s sad’.
Then suspicion got the better of me.
I contacted the venue two days before the ‘cancelled’ party – just to be sure.
A shaken hall hirer told me that:
- The event was still on.
- He believed my company was still doing security.
- The host parents were broadcasting this ‘fake news’ on social media.
Kids were due to attend this event, confident in their belief that my professional, well-trained, law-abiding firm would be there to keep them safe.
Instead, Dodgey Brothers would be waiting in the wings.
Calling it
Shocked and annoyed, I informed local Police (who were grateful, but justifiably unimpressed). I also told the hall hirer he should double check who’s protecting his assets a week before each event.
My deepest disgust, however, was reserved for the host parents.
They’d concocted a drama to betray me; tarnished my business name and put children’s safety at risk – all for the sake of money.
And, despite all that, they have current supplier contracts with our secondary schools!
We really must wonder what the hell they’re teaching our kids.
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
