Page 4 | Invited the wrong child by mistake

Oopsididitnotagain · 2026-07-01T14:46:32+00:00

What to do-if anything? Dd is having a party at a play place, ten children including herself, allowed. It was hard for her to narrow down her invites as she likes so many in the class and also has family friends to include. I asked the class representative to please send me a list of the children & parents names & numbers. I made a group invite and sent via WhatsApp. One mum has replied to say her child can come-a boy Dd likes, but isn’t particularly close to, all the other children are girls, aside from one family friend, another boy. It was obviously a mixed up number, I thought I was sending the invite to one of her best friends. Dd is disappointed and I think the mum was a little surprised too 🫣 Would you do anything?

Busybeemumm · 01/07/2026 21:26

How close are you to the boys parents and how easy going are they. If close maybe just explain that you were given the wrong number by mistake. They might even be relieved 😅

If you think they will tell other people their son was invited and be all drama about it then just pay for one more child and let them know he will be the only boy.

Busybeemumm · 01/07/2026 21:23

Theworldsgonemadagain · 01/07/2026 20:18

Agree with PP why not hand out invites? Kids know they don't all get invited to things especially by 8years old. Most children enjoy writing party invites it's part of the buildup. They can just hand them out quietly or put them in the kids trays and most of the time the other kids don't even know or care about the party. I don't know anyone that does party invites by watsapp it's not very personal and what do you do with the parents who aren't in watsapp groups? I personally don't know anyone who's in a parent watsapp group (I can't think of anything worse).

All birthday invites for school parties are done on Whatsapp for every birthday party from school. Most however send the invite along with a short message, eg Claire would love to invite Sarah to her birthday party. Hope she can make it. This makes it a little more personal. Everyone has a phone and is on Whatsapp.

Thisisthecorrectresponse · 01/07/2026 21:18

Could you give mum a get out? "Just to let you know, only girls have now said they're coming so X will be the only boy. Its going to be a very girly themed party too. With this in mind, we're not offended if you think he'd rather not come but wanted to let you know...". If she takes the hint, great. If not, you're going to have to find the cash for one more kid.

diddl · 01/07/2026 21:14

So have you even got the number for the girl your daughter wants to invite?

Notrainingbutpouring · 01/07/2026 21:04

Mumtobabyhavoc · 01/07/2026 20:43

Clearly, it's needed. 🙄

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Absolutely - this mistake is on you. Reduce the expenditure on something else, party bags, cake etc. very little sympathy, you can’t know these people that well if you don’t even have their numbers and you decided to invite nearly half the class with an arbitrary number of attendees in your head so just change it and add an extra person in. Really think people should invite a small group or the whole class.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 01/07/2026 20:43

Thatsquark · 01/07/2026 20:13

I will pay extra if needed,

so pay it

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Clearly, it's needed. 🙄

Morethanafeelingdoodoodoo · 01/07/2026 20:42

Just pay for 1 extra. You can’t leave her friend out because of your mistake.

Original poster

Oopsididitnotagain · 01/07/2026 20:38

Theworldsgonemadagain · 01/07/2026 20:18

Agree with PP why not hand out invites? Kids know they don't all get invited to things especially by 8years old. Most children enjoy writing party invites it's part of the buildup. They can just hand them out quietly or put them in the kids trays and most of the time the other kids don't even know or care about the party. I don't know anyone that does party invites by watsapp it's not very personal and what do you do with the parents who aren't in watsapp groups? I personally don't know anyone who's in a parent watsapp group (I can't think of anything worse).

Everyone I know is in a parent’s WhatsApp group

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BobbysDazzler · 01/07/2026 20:37

VIII · 01/07/2026 18:35

If you spent £80 per head on a children's party. I suspect you're actually considerably better off than most, including the OP. That's a bonkers amount of money!

I think you're right not to uninvite him OP and I'm sure he will have a great time even if he's only one of two boys. Most children of that age really don't care who they are with at places like soft plays.

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Sadly not rich 😂

Year before there was no party due to me having major surgery, so promised a big party year after, and it was a very limited number of friends. I couldn't have been adding any extra people on after the guestlist was decided for sure!

IchiNiSanShiGo · 01/07/2026 20:34

Theworldsgonemadagain · 01/07/2026 20:18

Agree with PP why not hand out invites? Kids know they don't all get invited to things especially by 8years old. Most children enjoy writing party invites it's part of the buildup. They can just hand them out quietly or put them in the kids trays and most of the time the other kids don't even know or care about the party. I don't know anyone that does party invites by watsapp it's not very personal and what do you do with the parents who aren't in watsapp groups? I personally don't know anyone who's in a parent watsapp group (I can't think of anything worse).

Because the invites have already gone out via WhatsApp. Sending them this way means not having to spend money on paper / card invites, not having to supervise your primary aged child writing every single one of them to make sure they write your phone number correctly, and not having to spend a lot of time when you’re busy working child caring mental loading writing stupid bloody cards to people you don’t know just to appear “personal”.

AndyBurnhamIsATwerp · 01/07/2026 20:23

At Least two of them probably won’t even turn up on the day so you’d probably be safe to just invite her.

Theworldsgonemadagain · 01/07/2026 20:18

Agree with PP why not hand out invites? Kids know they don't all get invited to things especially by 8years old. Most children enjoy writing party invites it's part of the buildup. They can just hand them out quietly or put them in the kids trays and most of the time the other kids don't even know or care about the party. I don't know anyone that does party invites by watsapp it's not very personal and what do you do with the parents who aren't in watsapp groups? I personally don't know anyone who's in a parent watsapp group (I can't think of anything worse).

Newusernameforthiss · 01/07/2026 20:17

In my twenties I went on a date with the wrong guy cause I had two Nathans in my phone and I texted the wrong one. I just got on with it and I'm afraid you'll have to, too (sorry Nathan)

Tryagain26 · 01/07/2026 20:15

Stompythedinosaur · 01/07/2026 17:04

I agree to let the mum know about the mix up without uninviting to see if they withdraw. If they don't, and everyone else can come, I'd see if I could borrow the money to invite one extra.

But then she will probably think it means you don't really want him to attend and feel obliged to withdraw although he has already said he wants to go.
I don't see why it matters that there will only be two boys at the party. They can all still play together.
I think the best friend should also be invited though. One extra child can't cost that much. Surely OP could cut back on something else.

Original poster

Oopsididitnotagain · 01/07/2026 20:13

Thatsquark · 01/07/2026 20:12

The op is saying the cost of one extra child is too expensive

it’s soft play.

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It includes all the food, entertainment etc. I will of course pay if it comes to it, but this is a special party we’ve saved up for, it’s been a stretch as it is.

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Thatsquark · 01/07/2026 20:13

Oopsididitnotagain · 01/07/2026 20:11

Thank you x

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I will pay extra if needed,

so pay it

Thatsquark · 01/07/2026 20:12

ManchesterGirl2 · 01/07/2026 20:07

She's not obliged to answer, and the cost per head isn't really what matters, it depends what she's able to afford.

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The op is saying the cost of one extra child is too expensive

it’s soft play.

Original poster

Oopsididitnotagain · 01/07/2026 20:11

ManchesterGirl2 · 01/07/2026 20:07

She's not obliged to answer, and the cost per head isn't really what matters, it depends what she's able to afford.

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Thank you x

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bugalugs45 · 01/07/2026 20:07

Thatsquark · 01/07/2026 20:03

Cost per head? (You won’t answer! )

Exactly this , so many people have asked already 🙄

ManchesterGirl2 · 01/07/2026 20:07

Thatsquark · 01/07/2026 20:03

Cost per head? (You won’t answer! )

She's not obliged to answer, and the cost per head isn't really what matters, it depends what she's able to afford.

Tryagain26 · 01/07/2026 20:06

You can't uninvite him that's cruel. But I think you should invite the child you were intending to invite too. Can you increase the number?

Thatsquark · 01/07/2026 20:03

Cost per head? (You won’t answer! )

Original poster

Oopsididitnotagain · 01/07/2026 20:03

Watchoutfortheslowaraf · 01/07/2026 19:57

Won’t she notice herself that her son is the only boy? Because in the WhatsApp you’ll have loads of replies like ‘Kate/chloe/hannah would love to come’ and she’ll see none of them are boys

3 have replied so far, two said girls names, tje other mum said ‘We will be there, thank you’

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Original poster

Oopsididitnotagain · 01/07/2026 20:02

operationplaytime · 01/07/2026 19:55

Is that a typo - 17?! 🤣

8 ❤️

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Candleabra · 01/07/2026 20:01

Oopsididitnotagain · 01/07/2026 19:41

Turning 17

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Good one