To be late for birthday party?

[thewhales]

Party for 2 year old is starting at 2pm. DS was late in falling asleep for his nap (typically and despite my best efforts to tire him out). To get there for 2pm, I would have to wake him very shortly and he will only have had 20 mins sleep (he needs his sleep!). If I left him have a more reasonable 45 mins (he normally has near 2 hours) we will be about 30 mins (at best) late for the party. I don't know the mum that well and can't text her to tell her.

AIBU?

[squeakytoy]

Cant you take him there while he is napping in his pushchair?

[thewhales]

Afraid not squeaky. He doesn't nap in his pushchair and he would wake the moment I tried to move him

[Rubysmommy]

As a mom she should understand. I dont think it's unreasonable. It's not like you're not going, you'll just be late.

[Thumbwitch]

How long is the party? If it's 2 hours or more then you could probably get away with being 30mins late especially at age 2.

[Pancakeflipper]

We have just had this discussion in our home cos one of my kids went to a party this weekend and 2 kids turned up over 1 hr late ( to a 2 hr party). The partychild was abit upset and his parents wondering if to cancel their food ( hot meal).

30 mins I feel is the maximum you can be late without informing the host and if possible inform them anyway.

[thewhales]

It is a 2 hour party. I'll maybe text someone else who is going to let them know we will be slightly late!

The birthday boy won't care if DS is late, they barely know each other!

[Annunziata]

I think you'd have to try and let them know somehow- you must have a phone number/ email address?

[thewhales]

I don't have a phone number, I do have an email address, but what good is it emailing at this stage?! They will be busy enough.

[Annunziata]

Well, as someone above said, they might assume you're not coming and not make a meal or whatever for him. Just to try and let them know in some shape or form that you are still coming.

[thewhales]

They are 2 years old at a birthday party between 2 and 4, I can't imagine there will be a hot meal!

I would be totally understanding about it if it were me, but as I say, I don't know this mum v well.

Anyway, we are going to be 30 mins late. I am sure we won't be the only ones. As much as I hate being late for things, turning up with a very tired, grumpy DS wouldn't have been much fun for anyone!

[DameFanny]

I'd rather someone brought a napped and non-screamy child if it was me

[LimeLeafLizard]

As it is nearly 2pm I guess you're on your way by now anyway, but FWIW I do think being deliberately half an hour late and not getting in touch to apologise and explain why is rude. 10- 15 mins late is ok, 30+mins is not unless there is a very good excuse.

Anyway, maybe other mum is more relaxed than me about such things! Hope all the little ones have fun.

[thewhales]

Lime I don't have a phone number for her, so difficult to get in touch. I apologised and explained when I got there. She didn't mind at all, in fact the birthday boy arrived at the same time as us, for the same reasons.

I thought it was a case of weighing things up. Be there on time with a cranky overtired kid, or be 30 mins late with a happy kid.

[PuffPants]

Why did you bother soliciting opinions when you knew what you were going to do and were ok with it?

[thewhales]

I didn't know what I was going to do puffpants, hence asking. Obviously once it got to just before 2pm I knew we would be late, but I had been offered some views before then. Which suggested it was okay.