School mum ignored play date invitation

I’d imagine she read it got distracted and forgot to reply.

She almost certainly just read it and forgot to reply. I actually did similar at the start of the summer holidays and accidentally archived a WhatsApp message I meant to respond to and then completely forgot about it. It happens 🤷‍♀️

She most probably forgot. I do get overwhelmed sometimes with texts and occasionally I have forgotten to respond.

Also you never know what is going on in peoples lives. I don’t take these things personally.

Sorry, she missed one message?

everyone has done this at some point in their lives. You are overthinking it

Lord, just follow up, but probably after school starts because it’s the bank holiday and lots of people are busy.

I’ve spent the summer holidays trying to hold life together, and make sure the kids are okay, while trying to sleep every afternoon because I’m going through cancer treatment. If you message me and I’m half asleep, there’s a good chance I may open it, but I won’t absorb what’s being said and I will not remember to message you back.

You never know what’s going on with her. She may be ill like me. She may be a carer with children to drag around while she looks after a frail parent. She may have lost a parent or had a miscarriage or simply been on holiday with limited signal. Give her some grace. You are basically offering free childcare. Most people don’t turn that down because they don’t like the other parent (unless you’re a crackhead and a safeguarding concern).

I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill. Perhaps if she had ignored 3 or 4 messages your concern would be warranted, but 1 can easily be explained by just being busy or distracted. Many parents spend the summer break juggling childcare, going abroad or away on holiday, worrying about finances etc. so organising play dates is not the top of the priority list.

You are overthinking it. If you don't want to re-message in case she sees the one she forgot about and is embarrassed, have a couple of boys over at the same time, or arrange to go to the park/swimming or something and start a group chat. I think with a fairly solid group of friends, it's normal to have a group chat for all the parents, so maybe start that. You don't have to start with invites, if you struggle with them, maybe just "is anyone else going to football camp next week..." or "this fun event is on at the park at the weekend, taking DS if any of your DSs want to join us?"

You are projecting adult nonsense onto a much more straightforward kids friendship, kids would just ask and accept a no, then be fine asking again. People forget more often when it's at one remove, they don't just answer straight away because they have to ask DS, check what DH has planned as he has the kids that day, might be going away etc. then it falls into the cracks. Totally normal and not remotely personal.

I wouldn’t overthink this: she most likely meant to reply, got distracted by a busy life, and then forgot, it happens to me quite often that I think I have replied, when I actually haven’t lol! Luckily my friends are similar and thus understanding.
Just do a short follow up, along the lines of, “hey, hope you’re well, just wondered if it was possible to fit in that play date?”
If no reply is forthcoming thereafter, I would leave it, but still not worry about why it might be the case, but consign her to the somewhat rude aisle..

Some people forget. It is probably no big deal.

What about the other boy with whom your son is besties with?

Just ask again

Why didn't you follow up as she probably just read it and forgot to reply?

I start assuming she doesn’t like me or doesn’t want our children to be friends

the poor woman hasn’t responded to one message sent a month ago at the start of the summer holidays!!

1 poxy message and you have extrapolated this

has it occurred to you she read, meant to respond later and forgot?

It's summer holidays. Lots of people have enough going on with family. She probably just forgot. Nothing stopping you inviting him again in a month or so.