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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Children weddings birthdays... Am I being precious?

175 replies

Mapley · 28/03/2011 18:14

We've been invited to close friend's (of my dp's) wedding on ds's second birthday and it's a no children invite. We rang the groom to say that we're sorry, we wouldn't be able to come as we wanted to spend ds's birthday with him, and he said to bring him then, we want you there.

I felt uncomfortable with this as I don't want other folk who have had to leave their kids at home to feel put out. And I don't want him to spend his birthday somewhere innaptopriate. I'd rather celebrate it with him. But equally I do not want to upset my friends.

The wedding's couple of hours away, but not impossible to go along in the evening. So we thought about it and said we'd just come along in the evening. Since then though the bride to be has texted my dp to say that her dp is upset and can we reconsider? She wants us to do something with our dp in the morning and come along for the meal at 4pm.

So now my dp wants me to spend the morning with my ds, drop him off at babysitter's after lunch and go to the meal onwards. He says he thinks I'm being selfish, that ds won't care about his birthday and that our friends will only get married once. The thought of leaving my boy without us in his birthday makes me sad, I don't want to do it. But dp says that I'm thinking about myself rather than our friends or him, and he personally wants to do both and go for half the day.

I feel really sad now. I don't want to upset dp, or our friends, but am I being precious by not wanting to be apart from ds on his birthday. I've offered a compromise that dp should go on his own if that's what he wants to do, but he's still fed up. I was trying to think positive, and even though dp wouldn't be there I was thinking of doing a birthday tea for ds with friends, but dp says he wouldn't want me to do that without him there.

Not sure what to do now!

OP posts:
lifechanger · 28/03/2011 18:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pjmama · 28/03/2011 18:19

I understand why you feel this way, but your DP is right that your DS is only 2 and couldn't care less! If they are close friends, then in your shoes I think I'd go to the wedding and then celebrate DS birthday another day. If others are peeved about you being allowed to take him along when they're not, then that's not really your problem. Your friends clearly want you to be there to share their wedding day with them and it's their call.

ChaosTrulyReigns · 28/03/2011 18:19

Could you "move" ds's birthday events to the next/previous day?

Enjoy as much time as possible with him on the day, but go and enjoy the wedding.

I'm sure your DS will enjoy your time in the morning with him and then probably have asmashing time with Grandparents? later that day, and then an enjoyable day when you have a birthday tea for him.

He's also too young to realise that it all should ideally happen on his birthday.

Smile

You sound lovely btw, caring for all these other people's feelings. He's very lucky to have such a compassionate mom.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 28/03/2011 18:20

You might feel a bit sad, but your DS won't know any different. If he was 3 or older, then maybe, tbh I'd do to your friend's wedding for the evening at least. Ease the guilt by making a lovely cake for him or something Grin

Mapley · 28/03/2011 18:20

I know the difference though. It feels An important day to me. Is that weird?

OP posts:
Lavitabellissima · 28/03/2011 18:20

I think this is actually a really tough choice and understand where you are coming from. I bet there is a real split vote on this.

Is the wedding on a Saturday? if so could you not Do what your DP had suggested and then have another celebration and party on the Sunday?

worraliberty · 28/03/2011 18:21

You're child is turning 2, he's really never going to remember his birthday Smile

Surely you can spend the day before or the day after with your child and take all the necessary photos etc?

pjmama · 28/03/2011 18:21

No of course it's not weird, but bearing in mind your DS will still have a lovely birthday anyway is it worth upsetting good friends over? If you've already decided that it is, then you don't need anyone else's advice.

Shakirasma · 28/03/2011 18:21

Every single one of my kids birthdays are precious to me. They are a real celebration and I can remember every one. We make more of a fuss about birthdays than Christmas because it is their special day.

Your friends may only get married once but your son will only have his second birthday once.

It's up to you whether it matters that he won't remember it, but for me personally, nothing would prevent me celebrating my childrens birthdays with them. Childhood is so short and precious.

JarethTheGoblinKing · 28/03/2011 18:22

If his Birthday was on a Wednesday or something, would you celebrate it then or would you have a party at the weekend?

I do know what you mean, and I'm not 100% sure what I would do.

moomiemoo · 28/03/2011 18:22

What lifechanger said. He won't know the difference and it sounds like they are good friends who have thought about your DS and you and not just their big day.

Lavitabellissima · 28/03/2011 18:22

I know someone who missed their best friends wedding because it was abroad and she would of missed her son's first day at school.

BellsaRinging · 28/03/2011 18:22

Agree-move the birthday. FOrtunately he is too young to know the difference, and you can make a fuss of him the next day/day before, without being stressed and having to run here and there on the actual day.

elphabadefiesgravity · 28/03/2011 18:24

We have to miss enough of our childre's birthdays due to work so for me it would be a definate no, sorry it is ds's birthday we can't come.

squeakytoy · 28/03/2011 18:24

Are any of your friends who would be invited to the birthday tea going to be at the wedding?

What about grandparents? would they be able to have him from mid afternoon onwards?

babyapplejack · 28/03/2011 18:25

I think I would move the birthday.

When children are at school, they have parties on days which aren't their birthday - usually the nearest Saturday or Sunday.

lifechanger · 28/03/2011 18:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyThumb · 28/03/2011 18:26

Unless your child knows the date, you should go to the wedding and have his birthday the next day.

Danthe4th · 28/03/2011 18:31

If you really are feeling as though you want to spend the day with ds why not all go to the wedding, hire a room for the day(if its a hotel) and take a nanny with you, or get one locally. Your ds can spend the day closeby, you can visit inbetween wedding/meal and evening do.

ChippingInMistressSteamMop · 28/03/2011 18:32

OP - you are allowed to feel like it's An Important Day - it is. You can celebrate it another day, but that day is his birthday. I can see why you want to be with him.

I think, to keep the peace, I'd probably have a party the day before and then spend the day with DS and go to the wedding for 4pm (with a bit of a heavy heart). Can you parents have him? Then it will feel like he's still doing something nice on his birthday (even though it will just be dinner & bed by the time you leave!).

The thing I think people are missing is that you know what day it is and you care.... you want to spend his birthday with him.

Mapley · 28/03/2011 18:32

It does feel an important day for me. I really don't want to be with my ds on his birthday. I celebrate birthdays in the day, to me that's the point of birthdays. I'm a bit fed up that I'm selfish for wanting to spend my sins birthday with him. Yes, he wouldn't know the difference, but I always would.

Yes I know my son would be fine if we left him( with grandparents he loves) and had a party the next day. But I wouldn't. I'd hate it. But then I don't want to upset anyone either.

OP posts:
macdoodle · 28/03/2011 18:34

I think you're quite mad and completely precious. He's 2 he will have no.idea. are you planningon being with him on every birthday taking him out of school dear god.

Mapley · 28/03/2011 18:34

I really DO want to be with my ds rather!

Typo doh

OP posts:
SanctiMoanyArse · 28/03/2011 18:35

I wouldn;t move the birthday myself (sorry to be opposite to everyone else) and the reason is years ago I was sent away on a training course for a job on ds1's 3rd birthday. We had it the day before, he didn;t lose out, but iv;e always regretted it. When I took the job I stipulated I was happy to travel any time except the boy's birthdays but had been sick, missed previous session and needed to do course to practice.

There's no tangible opr sensible reason gor it but he's no 11, growing up and I regret missing that day.

I;d send your Dp to the meal and join him for evening do later, when ds asleep; a middle road.

minipie · 28/03/2011 18:42

I think you should both do something fun with your DS in the morning/lunchtime and then head to the wedding for 4pm.

He gets to have a lovely birthday with both of you, for most of the day (given he'll be in bed by 7-8 anyway) AND you and your DP get to go to the wedding.

If it were the whole day I might think differently, but we're really only talking about the late afternoon and evening.

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