To not forget a kids party

112 replies

Comeonicandoit · 22/02/2025 22:02

My kid had her birthday party this afternoon. It was at a place where you are charged per child, and you confirm two weeks before how many will attend.
We had 17 kids confirm (more than we’d have guessed!!), but four didn’t turn up today. That includes two siblings so three families. They absolutely know where the venue is as we have been there before for other parties. I checked the invite and and info was accurate, and I definitely didn’t receive any apologies. I paid £16 per child so I lost out on £64. This isn’t spare change to me 😔. Plus There was food wasted and extra party bags brought home, and I can’t help but feel very disappointed. Mostly, and because I’m an anxious sort, I’m
now so anxious about what will be said at the school gates. Will they ignore me? Will they even realise if they forgot?!

YABU - get over it
YANBU - that’s rubbish

OP posts:

REDB99 · 22/02/2025 22:37

It can be easy to forget depending on how long ago the invites got sent out. I always send a text a few days before to check people are still coming. I also book places with 10 child minimum as a charge, you then just pay for any extras who come. So if at least 10 come you’re not loosing money. Or book something with a flat fee regardless of how many turn up.

WateryBottle · 22/02/2025 22:35

yanbu. That’s really shit. Absent there being some unexpected emergency (unlikely for 3 families), they are incredibly rude. I don’t buy this “oh but people have busy lives” - fuck that. It isn’t hard to put it in your phone diary. If you aren’t capable of remembering birthday parties then don’t RSVP yes to them.

Ohplesandbanonos · 22/02/2025 22:33

For future - I always make a reason to text 2 or 3 days before the party - 'just checking no allergies/all still coming/please make sure you register your car's number plate' etc.

We've been lucky, the 2 or 3 who've had something come up let us know at that point and we have been able to invite family friends or neighbours to come make up the party.

mnahmnah · 22/02/2025 22:31

It’s only happened to us once, with one family, but I was furious. Like you it was a pay per child at £18, plus gift bag. It was just the total disregard for manners and wasting our money. Never got any apologies and next time I saw them they were chatty and friendly. I can only assume they totally forgot about it! I don’t bother with them any more.

MumChp · 22/02/2025 22:18

Get used to it. Happens every time.

Bushmillsbabe · 22/02/2025 22:16

Pretty typical, am guessing your child is in reception/year 1? There were several whole class parties during reception and there were a few children whose parents either didn't show without cancelling or cancelled on day with a half arsed excuse on more than one occasion, or turned up with several poirly behaved older siblings. Now in year 2, these children are now not getting invited, and the same children are at most parties which is sad for those missing out.

EmberAsh · 22/02/2025 22:09

Did you send any kind of reminder to the parents yesterday. It's half term and there's a lot going on so a party could be forgotten unless prompted.

WineIsMyMainVice · 22/02/2025 22:09

YANBU
Thats quite a few! I’d be really pissed off too as that’s such a waste of your money!

changednameagain1234 · 22/02/2025 22:08

I once took my daughter to a soft play party when she was younger, not one other child apart from the birthday boy turned up.

my heart broke for him and his parents, so pleased we went though!!

BooomShakeTheRoom · 22/02/2025 22:05

yanbu to feel upset about it. But everyone has busy lives and it’s so easy to forget. I think you’ll be best just to let it go.

Runningoutofthyme · 22/02/2025 22:05

But if they’d come you would have covered the cost?

but it’s pretty poor behaviour from the parents

Loveduppenguin · 22/02/2025 22:05

I once forgot a party and didn’t realise until a week later, I text to apologise. It happens @Comeonicandoit

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