To feel its a little insensitive to make children leave the playgroup who are not invited to the party.

[ArseyMum]

I was at playgroup in the village hall with all the usual children, the playgroup runs until 3.15 but today they had a children's party booked to start at 3pm.

The child who's party it was attends the small preschool my children go to. About half the children at play group (8 or so children) were invited to the party others arrived at 3pm.

During the playgroup things for the party were being set up. At 3pm the children not invited to the party had to leave, leaving friends, from preschool, they were playing with who stayed for the party.

AIBU to think this was a little insensitive? I understand that you can't invite everyone but this, however unintentionally, rubbed it in the noses of the children not invited.

And yes, mine were not invited and had to leave.

That is a bit insensitive imo. I can see why the ones who had to go home instead of to the party would feel upset.

I know my DD (2.10) would howl like a banshee if she thought everyone was at a party without her.

I agree with SGM. Weird.

agree with Stewie, who takes the bookings?

Can't see how they managed to book a party for 3pm when playgroup was supposed to be there til 3.15pm, but there you go! Highly insensitive I agree.

yanbu.

Actually I was sitting on the fence a bit. SGM pretty much summed it up!

YANBU. It seems a little bit insensitive.

Yeap - what SGM said - have noticed myself agreeing with her on a couple of threads today.

She's obviously very wise

Glad its not just me who thinks that then. It's always disappointing when your child isn't invited to a party although as I said you can't expect parents to invite everyone. This was very mean though, even if they didn't intend it to be. I would be very embarrassed if I was the parents organising it.

YANBU. IT's ridiculous! They shouldn't have allowed the booking, and moreover the parents shouldn't have booked it - is there nowhere else to hold a child's party if it absolutely had to be 3pm on that day?

I think YABU, they hired a hall. its just a venue. I get the whole classroom /invite thing but this is step too far! what, have party late so as to not offend some preschoolers!!! come on

I think you're being a little unreasonable. Maybe they couldn't book it for 3.15. Some halls are quite booked up on weekday eve with Brownies, Beavers, keep-fit classes etc.

Would you have thought it insensitive if your kids were invited? If not then maybe you're just feeling a little disappointed for your DCs which is understandable but doesn't mean the parents organising the party are meanies.

Stupid to book it before the play group ends

No it's not just that my children had to leave, I have three and it may have been very difficult to just invite one of them so do understand. If they had been invited though I would have felt very uncomfortable watching their friends leaving.

They should not have been able to book it before the playgroup ended, that is shocking management.

YANBU.

Were there 'extra' adults organising the party while playgroup was in full flow? If so, surely that is also a security issue? I am with you in annoyance and disgust.

Do people pay to attend the playgroup? If so, I'd be demanding money back if my kids were asked to leave early because someone else wanted to hold a party that cut into the normal timings.

YANBU, they should have booked for 3:30pm or if they needed the party booking they could have cancelled the playgroup.

That is truely awful. Yes, children have to learn they are not invited to everything,but rubbing children's noses in it like that is terrible.

There is no excuse and the mother is a complete and utter bitch for booking a party at that time without inviting every child at the playgroup. She could have easily had the party at her house or booked a different venue.

You have strong grounds to complain. Its blood inhumane.

How bizarre. Were they not embarrassed about it?

Surely there are other options for a small child's birthday party?

How stupid! Booking it for three is just mad and very upsetting or such little children. Who are too young to understand why they have to leave early while some of their friends get to stay for all the excitement.

Could all have been avoided by booking for 3.30 or a little later.

yanbu
it was very insensitive.