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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Parents avoiding my son’s birthday party

29 replies

Imamomofone · 08/05/2026 11:10

there was a parents in my son’s class group who didn’t come to my son’s birthday party last year . We are very nice to them , have helped each other few times , and have always treated their son nicely . I missed his son’s last part because of timing misunderstanding but did deliver his gift thinking the little one will be happy . My son plays with their son too . This year , they are again avoiding to come to my son’s birthday party. They went to all other birthday parties . This has made me think whether they are deliberating avoiding us based on our social class / financial status ? We are renting in a rich area where they own a house , and most of the other parents do but I can’t come up with any reason in my mind other than thin as to why they will avoid my son’s party ?

OP posts:
redskyAtNigh · 08/05/2026 11:23

You use the word "avoid" - is there a reason you can think of that they are "avoiding" rather than simply not able to come?

My son's best friend didn't come to his birthday party for two years' running. In the third year DS only wanted to go to an activity with a couple of friends, so I went to speak to his parents to discuss dates. They asked if it could be a week or so earlier as my son's birthday was the same day as best friend's grandmother, and they always had an extended family get together in the nearest weekend.
So they weren't "avoiding" the parties, they simply had an annual event at the same time.

HoppingPavlova · 08/05/2026 11:20

They may well be busy. People have busy lives.

PollyBell · 08/05/2026 11:20

Parents have more things on in life that taking their kids to endless kids parties

AmberSpy · 08/05/2026 11:17

Kindly, I think you are way over thinking this. People lead very busy lives, maybe your son's party is just genuinely not at a good time for them. Especially at this time of the year when the weather is nice, people have so many invitations and things to get to.

Try not to take it personally, it's a kid's party, not worth stressing over.

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