... to expect a reply to party invitations ?

[girnythecat]

My DS has just had his fourth birthday and we invited sixteen of his friends from nursery, all chosen by him. I was shocked that a few famillies did not even reply despite a gentle reminder a week before the party. My DS was not fussed about who came other than his few special mates but I needed approximate numbers for the softplay. The majority of parents replied with loads of time but others didn't even respond. I had my e-mail address and mobile number on the invitation. AIBU to expect other parents to model good manners for their children ?

Yanbu to wish that people would reply to invitations, but the sad fact is that some don't have the manners. Their own parents were probably just the same when they were kids. Even worse are the ones who don't reply and then just turn up anyway; or those who wait to see if the weather is nice enough to go to the seaside or somewhere instead.

The best thing is really to have a party where the numbers who turn up are not important, where you won't lose any money. I understand how frustrating it is, a lot of mums have simply stopped having parties and just invite a few children on a picnic or a special friend to a farm or a children's show instead.

YANBU. It was very rude. Did the parents who didn't respond turn up on the day with their children??

I had this happen to us, some parents you think would reply couldn't even be bothered to text a yes or no.

One parent who had her daughter invited first to my little boys birthday party for his 4th - didn't bother to reply or even mention anything in Nursery/School and when we invited her the following year to his 5th birthday party - again didn't bother to reply or show up and didn't even bother to say sorry for not coming. Completely blanked the invitation !!

Some parents do not have any manners!!

yanbu - people should reply.

Just to add I got a phone call from a parent complaning I'd not replied to a party & also that we'd not bothered to go to it. The invitation had been given the day I'd had given birth & as I'd been in hospital for a week afterwards the grandparents & dh hadn't looked through her school bag & dd had forgotten about her invite. So I explained that I was very sorry for this but I just hadn't known & with the circumstances I'd not been my usual self. This other parent was really rude & complaining.

Just to add I gave birth 2wks early - so whilst everything was sorted out. Party invites was one thing I'd not accounted for.

I do remember thought that a friend of mine was a bit worried that her 5 yr old didn't seem to be getting invited to any parties at school. Then she discovered a stash of invitations hidden in the little girl's schoolbag. She was just a bit shy at the time and didn't want to go. My friend was mortified though at how many parents must have thought her very rude for not responding.

YANBU but unfortunately I don't think is is at all uncommon. When DD had parties most people replied but there were always a small number of ill-mannered people who simply didn't bother.

Mostly when they didn't bother to reply they didn't turn up either but there was one little girl whose parents never did RSVP but who would usually come anyway. Ironically the first time she had a party the parents had the nerve to put "RSVP by " on the invitation!

I have seen several threads like this on Mumsnet so I think it is a very common problem