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I think I'm over sensitive! Am I?

9 replies

slightlychristmasycrumpled · 28/12/2008 18:56

DH thinks I'm over sensitive and I suspect he's probably right. DS2(5) went to a friends birthday party yesterday and he has a total balloon phobia. We walked in and there were balloons everywhere, all over the floor. As the children were waiting for the party to begin properly a couple of them popped. DS2 was totally terrified, clung to me for dear life and asked to go home.

The mum of the child whose party it was asked me what the matter was and I explained it was his balloon phobia, (he is also moderately deaf which doesn't help) she said 'well he will have to get used to balloons at parties'

She is right, of course she is, but I am upset as this is my best friend. A mum who knows of his phobia, and I truly thought she would move the balloons away from being stood on.

I feel that DS2 was viewed as a pain in the arse because he wouldn't join in. This is one of the few times I will ever moan about other people, but hey I've had a gin and tonic!

Sometimes I find it more difficult to deal with other people's reactions to him rather than DS2 himself.

Thanks for reading.

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TotalChaos · 28/12/2008 19:09

I don't think you are being oversensitive, given it's such a good friend who would know you and your boy well - it's not like it's a school mum with a whole class party that you don't know from adam.

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sweetgrapes · 28/12/2008 19:16

No, you're not over sensitive.

I come from over the fence.

Dd loves popping balloons and there are invariably a few little ones who get scared and burst into tears. I need to keep her under control and sometimes have left parties as she gets so upset when she can't play with the balloons. (For her playing is popping.)

It's a bit of both. Balloons will pop - but if someone doesn't like it, then try to keep it comfortable for them too.

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slightlychristmasycrumpled · 28/12/2008 19:22

thank you for the replies.

I think it wasn't so much that the balloons were there but more the slightly disaproving looks and that head shaking at me because he wouldn't join in that have upset me.

If it hadn't have been this particular persons party I would have politely apologised, explained and taken him home.

Oh well, he enjoyed the party bag.

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Tclanger · 28/12/2008 19:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

glitteryb6 · 28/12/2008 20:30

totally understand, ds has a totally hysterically reaction to anyone singing happy birthday and to cakes with candles, every time another kid at nursery has a birthday hes inconsolable, i always want to tell them to just take him out the room but i think they would feel hes missing out

didnt want to take him to the last birthday party invite but i got those "dont be stupid looks" i just dont see the point of making him join in something he doesnt like, but on the other hand maybe he'll get used to it eventually, he's 4.7

its also great fun when its his own birthday, we usually stick to the stevie wonder version but cant do the blowing out the candles thing.

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RaggedRobin · 28/12/2008 20:57

really sympathise. had to leave a birthday party today as ds went into meltdown. it was all very upsetting as it's the first one we've attempted outwith friends and family. nobody's fault, just wasn't the right thing for ds.

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coppertop · 28/12/2008 21:04

You told her he had a phobia and she said he'd just have to get used to it???!!

I can understand why she wanted the balloons in the first place but it sounds as though she has all the sensitivity of a brick with her comment.

Presumably she takes her own advice and isn't scared of anything at all.

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Tclanger · 28/12/2008 21:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sarah573 · 28/12/2008 22:41

No you're not being over sensitive, and it would have been considerate of her to have moved the balloons. However in your friends defence, organising and hosting kids birthday parties is pretty stressfull (i'd rather stick pins in my eyes personally) and she probably wasn't thinking as rationally as she might normally have been!

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