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Original poster

Would you welcome an invite for a kids' party on the last day of term?

49 replies

MollyBloomYes · 11/11/2021 01:35

DS2 has a shitty Christmas birthday. My stupid shitty Christmas birthday is a week later (and his original due date) so you'd think I would have planned better but well, first night away from DS1, couple of drinks and a subsequent laissez faire attitude to an irregular postnatal cycle makes fools of us all....

Anyway. There's no point in inviting his friends to a party on his actual birthday because I can guarantee there'll be low take up. But he's turning 6, it's his first 'proper' year of school without bubbles etc and he's desperate for a party having had his birthday trip cancelled at 24 hours notice last year and also having been invited to a couple this term.

He wants to go to a local trampoline park where it'll be a (literal) drop and go type thing although parents can stay and apparently free teas and coffees are provided as part of the party package. If I were to book it for the afternoon they break up from school (their school finishes at 1pm on the last day of term for Christmas) do you think people would be up for it? Surely nobody would be that keen to be getting Christmas underway that they need to be going straight into their plans the afternoon the schools break up?

Possibly the kids would be absolutely wired from probably parties at school and then a further party at the trampoline place but then they'd all sleep well I imagine? Just trying to canvas opinions, I don't really celebrate my birthday anymore because nobody ever bothered to turn up for it and I already feel a bit panicky and stressed at the thought of lovely little DS becoming as bitter as me at the tender age of 6! Or, worse, his sad little face at his friends not turning up as promised Sad

So, thoughts? I've floated the idea of him having a 'bonus' birthday and doing it in January but he is a STICKLER for the rules and apparently this will not do. An earlier weekend is out too thanks to a couple of family events, a grandparent who works on Saturdays and EOW contact with their dad. So it needs to be an afternoon during the week annoyingly

OP posts:
LoveGrooveDanceParty · 11/11/2021 01:41

I wouldn’t have an issue with it at all.

Lockdownbear · 11/11/2021 01:43

Similar boat - and I don't know.

If its mainly school friends you could float the idea amongst the other mums either in person or via WhatsApp/FB group.

Although even if you got half the class that's still a reasonable number for a party.

Blondie1984 · 11/11/2021 01:44

I think it sounds like a great way to start the Xmas holidays

Kanaloa · 11/11/2021 01:44

I’m not sure just because it’s the last day of term but still a school day - I would be able to bring my kids but my sil for example her kids are picked right up by a childminder because she’s still working in the day on half days. If we’re working mil often picks up my kids.

So I don’t have an issue with it but I would think there might be a lower uptake than you’d get on a Saturday morning because of logistics and people possibly working.

TheTeenageYears · 11/11/2021 01:55

Would there be any way for you and maybe a couple of family or friends to transport everyone from school to the trampoline park? That way parents don't need to arrive until the end of the party so less likely to conflict with plans for any siblings. If it's a whole class that might be a bit tricky but could be doable with 10/15 children.

Lockdownbear · 11/11/2021 02:04

I wouldn't suggest the idea of collecting that many kids and taking them to a party. Its sounds fine until you think it through.
No the logistics of bags, other stuff that needs to come home, getting them changed out school clothes, car seats, the who's who no doubt kids will have gifts to bring. No don't go there!

Doofas · 11/11/2021 02:14

My son would love that extra time with his friends before the holidays. I'd be more than happy for him to go.

We did birthday party last day of summer term, but it was just a few friends playing at our house so I was able to pick them all up from school.

MrsAvocet · 11/11/2021 02:23

I think it depends to a degree on what happens on the last day at school. My gut reaction is "good grief, no" but that's because I am thinking of the last day of term when my children were little. It was always a Christingle service in the village Church on the last afternoon, all the Christmas cards were given out from the school post box and most of the kids took in sweets etc for each other. So I would have taken the afternoon off to go to Christingle and be coming out of school with a pair of totally hyped up kids, carrier bags full of cards and sweets, PE kits, the lost jumpers that had all turned up when lockers got tidied for the end of term, plus the term's artwork, whilst trying not to take anybody's eyes out with the cocktail sticks in the oranges. The last week of term at our village school was always very full on with something on every day - the play, Christmas lunch, carol singing, school party etc. Seriously, all I wanted to do was go home and put my feet up once we got to the last day.
That said, I would almost certainly have accepted your invitation if one of my boys had been invited, but inwardly I would have been groaning. However if your school's last week isn't quite as nuts as ours used to be it might be less of an issue. I'd try to have a word with a few of his friend's Mums and see how they feel.

TulipCat · 11/11/2021 03:21

My DS's birthday is in the summer holidays. When he was primary school age, we always had his party a weekend or two before the end of term and found that worked much better for people. You are going to come up against this issue every year and I think you are better off getting them used to the idea that their school party won't be on their actual birthday. It will save you years of hassle and heartache.

PennyWus · 11/11/2021 03:46

My dd and I would love that idea. All our school Christmas events are earlier that week or week before, and with me working and school breaking up early, the idea I just have to ferry them to a party and run away again... fabulous.

Advice: set up a "Molly's Son Party" WhatsApp group for the kids' parents if you know their mobile numbers. If not try and find out their phone numbers at the school run, just say you are sorting out a bday party and can you share contact details. You can sort out logistics, get RSVPs etc, check they all signed the Trampoline Park Waiver. It has become so routine with my DD's class now that party whatsapp groups start with a "Save the Date/time" message and then all the details are wrapped up before the paper invites are sent out! It stops party clashes at a busy time of year and disappointment when close friends can't make the date, especially as parties get smaller as the kids get older. People can also then see who else is going and organise lift-shares to and from the party. Also you can get a sense of parents who will dump and run- say you have 6 to 12 kids going including your own, you will want at least one other adult so someone is on hand to supervise trips to the loo, cut cake and put it in the party bags etc. So hopefully your partner and at least one of the mums/dads will stay and help.

TasteTheMeatNotTheHeat · 11/11/2021 04:24

I would be fine with it, although my first thought is that there might be some kids going away for Christmas whose parents are planning to head off straight away.

I would just go for it tbh. It sounds like there is no other day that works for your own family and you will always have some kids decline an invite. As long as at least a handful turn up it will be good fun for him.

Mumdiva99 · 11/11/2021 04:29

My son is also an Xmas birthday.....I found delaying the party to mid Jan worked well.
Alternatively- ask his 2 or 3 best friends parents if their kids can come.....offer lifts to those kids- then you know his besties will be there. And then go ahead organising it.

WildExcuses · 11/11/2021 04:33

Finishing school early and going to a trampoline party... sounds perfect to me!

Anotherhill · 11/11/2021 04:36

I would have been fine with it but some people may be concerned re Covid risk if they’re seeing grandparents at Christmas, and others may have transport issues. Apart from that I would have loved the timing.

TooLongSinceITravelled · 11/11/2021 06:28

What date do yours finish? Mine finish at midday on the 24th so I'm afraid it would be a no from me. We need to use the time to travel to the IL's.
I think I would try to convince him that January will be better, more people are likely to be around etc. and, if his birthday is actually the last day of term, ask one friend over for the afternoon and cake.

FawnFrenchieMum · 11/11/2021 06:36

It would be fine for me. If school finished early a few mums used to organise meeting at soft play or similar when the kids were younger as like an end of term celebration.

Thecatisboss · 11/11/2021 06:41

I'm very similar to you as I have a December birthday and DD is a week later just before Christmas. Her birthday parties have always been quite well attended as parents seem to like the chance to do some extra shopping/wrapping although there are always some people who can't come.

Lulu1919 · 11/11/2021 06:45

@TooLongSinceITravelled

What date do yours finish? Mine finish at midday on the 24th so I'm afraid it would be a no from me. We need to use the time to travel to the IL's. I think I would try to convince him that January will be better, more people are likely to be around etc. and, if his birthday is actually the last day of term, ask one friend over for the afternoon and cake.
Wow that's late.....where in the world are you ?
HelloDulling · 11/11/2021 06:47

There is no day of the year when everyone will be able to attend.

I would book it, and invite parents to stay (and pay for any siblings) for tea and a mince pie.

Driposaurus · 11/11/2021 06:49

Assuming it’s not Christmas Eve or whatever, I’d definitely be up for letting my year 1 aged kid go then…

Findahouse21 · 11/11/2021 06:56

I wouldn't have an issue with the concept of a party on the last afternoon of term but might be a logistical problem as I would be at work and scrabbling around for help to get dd collected anyway. The WhatsApp group would help me because it's always a bit tricky trying to find out who has been invited that dd would be okay to go with without upsetting anyone who hasn't been invited

MinnieJackson · 11/11/2021 06:59

@TooLongSinceITravelled wow the 24th! Mine finish on the 17th and I'm already dreading the hysterical excitement/ tears while I try and keep them busy for the week before the big day 😂 if I could get my kids there I would accept, but it might be tricky with finding childcare for siblings etc

Blogdog · 11/11/2021 06:59

I have two December birthdays - one in mid December and one between Christmas and New Year. We’ve always had a full cohort at the mid-December parties as most parents are happy to deposit their kids for a few hours and get on with some Christmas prep in peace.

We usually have the late December birthday in January. A party on the day schools break up wouldn’t work for us as a lot of families in the school usually leave town for Christmas that day.

Another parent used schedule parties for the day the school broke up for midterm in October and it was a complete PITA trying to rearrange plans and childcare around it.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 11/11/2021 07:00

Won't a lot of parents be working? I'm working until the 23rd so I wouldn't be able to take DS to a party.

Angel2702 · 11/11/2021 07:05

My son’s birthday is Boxing Day. We found parties in the run up to Christmas had too many no shows due to the business and people either forgetting, having other plans or the high level of sickness. I know a lot of people also travel on that last day for Christmas, particularly those who go abroad to be with family.

We found the first Saturday they came back from Christmas holidays was the best time as people didn’t have anything else on in January and it was nicer to have something that was just his birthday and not shoehorned around Christmas plans.