diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/server/email.ts b/frontend/src/lib/server/email.ts
index b1ea3a8..f91486b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/server/email.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/server/email.ts
@@ -132,7 +132,6 @@ export async function sendMentionEmail(opts: {
 	message: string;
 	dashboardUrl: string;
 }) {
-	if (await isDemoMode()) return;
 	const { to, parentName, authorName, message, dashboardUrl } = opts;
 
 	await resend.emails.send({
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/server/services/chat.ts b/frontend/src/lib/server/services/chat.ts
index f92ffae..e918587 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/server/services/chat.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/server/services/chat.ts
@@ -74,15 +74,21 @@ async function notifyMentionedParents(
 		.collection('fams')
 		.getOne(famId)
 		.catch(() => null);
+	// Don't send emails for the demo family.
+	if (fam?.slug === 'showboaters') return;
 	const dashboardUrl = `${siteUrl}/${fam?.slug || famId}`;
 	for (const parent of mentioned) {
-		await sendMentionEmail({
-			to: parent.email,
-			parentName: parent.name || 'there',
-			authorName: message.authorName || 'Family member',
-			message: content,
-			dashboardUrl
-		});
+		try {
+			await sendMentionEmail({
+				to: parent.email,
+				parentName: parent.name || 'there',
+				authorName: message.authorName || 'Family member',
+				message: content,
+				dashboardUrl
+			});
+		} catch (err) {
+			console.error(`[chat] Failed to send mention email to ${parent.email}:`, err);
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/stores/chat.svelte.ts b/frontend/src/lib/stores/chat.svelte.ts
index 19611f8..c64cd15 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/stores/chat.svelte.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/stores/chat.svelte.ts
@@ -163,22 +163,24 @@ class ChatStore {
 		if (record.authorId !== this.actorId) {
 			if (!this.open) this.unread++;
 			this.playDunk();
-			this.notifyIfMentioned(record);
+			if (this.notifyIfMentioned(record) && this.open) this.unread++;
 		}
 	}
 
 	// Toast the current user when a message @mentions them by name.
-	private notifyIfMentioned(record: ChatMessage) {
+	// Returns true if the user was mentioned.
+	private notifyIfMentioned(record: ChatMessage): boolean {
 		const lower = (record.content || '').toLowerCase();
 		const me = this.members.find((m) => m.id === this.actorId);
-		if (!me || !me.name) return;
-		if (!lower.includes('@' + me.name.toLowerCase())) return;
+		if (!me || !me.name) return false;
+		if (!lower.includes('@' + me.name.toLowerCase())) return false;
 		addAutoDismissNotice({
 			type: 'info',
 			title: 'You were mentioned 👋',
 			message: `${record.authorName || 'Someone'}: ${record.content}`,
 			dismissible: true
 		});
+		return true;
 	}
 
 	private onTyping(action: string, record: TypingRow) {