Or is a birthday list at John Lewis the done thing for a 6 yr old ?

What does the John Lewis mum do when it's other childrens' birthdays?

awful awful awful that she is asking children for money. urgh.

Ds has been invited to some truly fab parties but we just don't compete. we have a family trip to Legoland or somewhere similar. We spend on the family in lunch and tea and a small present each, the same as a party would cost but we all enjoy it much more.
Ds went to a toboganning party, go karting, bingo, disco with 58 children in a hall (nightmare! all the children were terrified and the parents that stayed). Some are great fun but it's all getting out of hand.
DD decided she didn't want a party as she always wants me to stay at other parties and clings to me if it's the whole class.
surely they don't get anything out of these huge parties (apart from crappy presents ).

holy cow

my dd is 7 months ... dreading having to deal with this sort of nonsense

what kind of numsky does that for a kid's birthday ...

Ah, you want those wotsits.

I quite like them. But then I just want to eat the crap food TBH

Re: parents doing a runner, you can't really blame them. By the end of reception year parents have been to so many parties and often seen the same entertainer over and over again. And as for the ones in the soft play areas....

To go to the nearest pub, no doubt! . I feel a bit sad that DD doesn't let me stay anymore, I kind of lurk about for a bit until she goes mummy and looks at me funny as if to say, 'piss off, I'm with my mates now!'

I think most of the food was well and truly trodden into the carpet by the end....

I didn't see the other parents for dust. I think they brought their offspring as far as the door and shooed them in whilst running fast in the opposite direction

Grumpy, I'd have been there to help you out! You wouldn't have got rid of me (especially if there was a sausage roll going spare!)

Unfortunately attending multitude birthday parties was something I never had to deal with. DD1 was invited to so few parties but her best friend was invited to every single one going, which hurt her a great deal, I know. This is why I threw great parties for her, to try to stimulate a bit of out-of-school camaraderie. It didn't have the effect I had hoped.

Incidentally, the first party she had (aged 6) was attended by no less than 35 children at a local leisure centre (I had hired a room). My (teacher) sister had told me I had to invite the whole class as it wouldn't be fair to leave any out. Add to that out of school friends, and we ended up with 35. DH was working abroad, and it was left to me and my mum to run things - not one parent stayed to help. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. (And, I think, that of the conjuror I had booked! poor man.)

you misery guts!!!!! That's how my DH feels (and me too TBH sometimes!!)

While I completely agree that it is appallingly bad manners not to reply to an invitation to a birthday party, I also think (as a stepparent, not a parent) that birthday parties are a big pain for parents. Sometimes several of our weekends in a row are completely ruined by having to ferry children to and from birthday parties, meaning that the rest of us can't do anything. Fortunately we are getting to the end of the birthday party years with my stepsons, but I am sure it will happen in due course with my daughter. Perhaps smaller parties (so children are invited less often) are a bit easier on parents?

oh Grumpy, don't get me started on bad manners from parents!!!! When DD first started school she had her first school friends birthday party at a playcentre. One mother turned up, dropped the child off, left him and got someone else to pick him up 2 hours later. I'd never met the child before, let alone the mother or the random neighbour who was picking him up. He was 4 yrs old. This year is the first year I have left my DD, and that was because she asked me to I was the only parent at most parties, but I always offered to help out)

We too had loads of people not turn up at DD1's birthday. I hired the local swimming pool for an hour on a saturday evening, so we could invite loads. She sent out 32 invitations, and 8 showed up. She was absolutely gutted. Again, her birthday is Nov 28th and seems to interfere with parents' christmas shopping plans. The annoying thing was that she had only received a handful of replies - it's just bad manners IMO

Katwith3kittens, how did you get on?

shocking
how greedy.

We also have people not turn up for dd's birthday - it's at Christmas.

Whilst a JL list seems a bit extreme, most of us mums of 10 yr olds buy vouchers or give money now, as it seems more sensible than giving them something they don't want.

Porcupine, our holidays start in the first week of july, so by the last week in august I think everyone has forgotten about poor DD, and is more concerned with last minute panic buying of the school uniform! The latest trend for the girls in her class is to have a whole load of them go for an pizza at the local italian rest, and for them to act all grown up. One girl had a limo (for her 7th birthday). I just can't go down that road, I won't, it feels so wrong!!!!

ing, ing, ing

we never have peopel not truning up to parties in august
think the mums are pleased to get rid of them tbh.

I am horrified by this...yet another lifestyle trend coming over from the US?
My son is 4 in 6 weeks and when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday he said "a Dennis train please mummy"
(RRP about £10)
What ARE these parents thinking ????????

to OP: i think its pretentious and selfish, JL account for a 6 year old OMG. Its outrageous, what if you are strapped for cash. JL do do some great toys though but the point is that a £4 coulouring set from tesco should be acceptable, i think i would prefer dd to have lots of fun presents to open at the party than one big one, when it sounds like the spoilt little madam will have quite enough big pressies. Of course there is always the possibility that the poor cow is really poor and the parents see this as a way to get a decent pressie. I can also understand not wanting to have loads of tat but shes six, isnt that what they have? Still got boxes of rubbish from DD1

Just picked DD up from school and asked her whether she fancied it, a disco at home and 8 (in total, including her) friends for a sleepover. Her birthday's until August, but because it's the school hols she has to make sure they are all free because of going away and stuff. I can't tell you how many times she's had half of her friends not turn up and she's been gutted! I try to be prepared now! Last year she had it on the last day of term, and that was more successful with people remembering to turn up! She's very excited!!! She's planning it now, I think I might book in to a spa a day or two afterwards tho (and maybe get a cleaning firm in!!!). I get very upset by mess so I will have to chill out, won't I?! Who can help me with party games ideas and things for an 8 yr old?