DS won't let us leave him at a party!

[Numberfour]

DS is 6yrs 6 months and gets invited fairly often to parties. He won't go unless DH or I stay with him. DH hates going to these parties, so I land up doing it and I am getting a little tired of hanging around kids' parties!!!

So, WWYD: say you have to go alone if you want to go or should I keep on staying with him because I know that eventually he will want to go without either of us!

I have lots of things I want to and need to do at home without having DS!!

So: should I stay when DS goes to parties or should I leave him and tell him to get on with it the way all the other kids do? He has no special needs.

I would speak to him and find out why he is worried. Then explain why you can't attend the parties and if he wants to go he will go alone or he will miss out on all the fun.

I'd leave him
tell him he can't go if he won't be left

I would (nicely) tell him he has a choice to go alone or not go

Surely it gets irritating for the hosts to have parents hanging around as well, however nice they are?

Thanks! I had not thought about how annoying it would be to have someone hanging around! It is stressful enough running a kid's party without having onlookers.

I have talked to him and said that when he gets invited to the next party, he can either stay at home or go by himself and have fun! He says he wants to have fun .

In my experience, I have never known parents running a children's party to be irritated by parents staying, quite the opposite to be honest and have been very grateful for the extra pair of hands.

My son, who is now almost 18, was just like your son. Happy to go to parties but not happy about me leaving him there. I am sure you have lots of things to do and I wouldn't say I have all the answers but the time you spend going to parties with your children is very small and the years fly by so quickly. My son is hoping to go to university in the autumn and then he will be a five hour drive from home. I guess what I am trying to say is enjoy the time you spend with your kids but please don't think I am in any way judging you as I have no idea what other demands you have on your time.

I agree with compo. Tell him he can't go if he won't be left without you or or your DH.

Friend stayed with her DS at parties & playdates until he was 8yo. Just a very shy kid and that's what he needed. I think it's a bit harsh to MAKE him choose. Maybe make him choose about some of the parties if you find there's a party every weekend, but don't make him choose about every party.

I wouldn't really trust mine to be left at that age, tbh. My boys were way too boisterous.