to suggest my mum stops coming to my children's birthday parties?

[onthepier]

I have school age children, so over the years have hosted quite a few birthday parties, some at home, some at soft play centres, etc.

My mum loves the children to bits, and is fine with them most of the time. At parties however, she makes comments to the parents who stay about the behaviour of my children's friends, + comments that she would have organised it differently/better than me. None of them are bad kids, just typically over-excited at parties.

All the parties have been a success, well worth the money and preparation. However, if my mum visits us on a birthday she keeps on about the "mess", you can't avoid presents + gift wrap on the floor, surely, + comments all the time how it was never like this in her day, (at school fetes, sports days, everything!)

She's had her turn in bringing us up, why can't she just enjoy her grandchildren + let me enjoy special days with my children, too?

[Mojomummy]

Don't invite her.

I don;t invite my mum, although she is lovely, she has quite a 'big' personality so tends to act like she's the important one.

To get round it this year, you could have a family afternoon & then have the parties without her.

[madmuggle]

Forget to tell her where it is. Or lie and send her somewhere else entirely. She'll get the hint

Alternatively, just tell her that she's not invited, and explain that it's a kids party, and that family can see them at a different time