Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

to be rather miffed about ds1's birthday party...

12 replies

MerryMarigold · 17/11/2011 17:18

...because 4 of his school friends are leaving 30 mins early to go to a regular sport's activity that they have on a Sat. Or should I just get over it? OK, I know I will but needed to moan a bit and see what others think of this.

Have spent a lot of time preparing this party, planning games/ schedule etc. I now have to rearrange it as half of them won't be there at the end when we were going to have the most fun bit (bashing a pinata). Also just worried ds1 may feel a bit 'unspecial' (hope he doesn't notice too much). Luckily there's a couple more from school and from outside school so there will be some kids left, but it will just about halve the numbers. The activity they're leaving for is not a competitive sport (ie. they won't be letting down a team) and they are also very young so missing this is more about missing a regular activity than any kind of repercussions.

SO, is it on or not on? (1 of the parents told me she was taking her ds and friend. The other parent asked if ok and I had to say 'yes' as the other kids were already going early).

OP posts:

Geordieminx · 17/11/2011 17:22

I'm sure by the time the last half hour comes you will be begging them to go home!

I am also sure your ds will have a lovely party no matter what.

Try not to stress too much

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 17/11/2011 17:24

Oh it's irrtating isn't it? Some parents won't miss ONE activity once they've paid....I had this problem once and I just said "Oh fine." and let them miss out....the parents weren't happy when they tried to round up teir reluctant DC JUST as it was time to do games.

LadyMontdore · 17/11/2011 17:24

Umm, if it is a regular thing and for half the guests could you not have the party a bit earlier?

thisisyesterday · 17/11/2011 17:25

aww that's a bit sad!
if ds was invited to a party that clashed with swimming or something then he'd just miss the swimming that week! a party is more important, esp if it's a good friend

it's their loss, and hopefully the ones left will still have a great time

soandsosmummy · 17/11/2011 17:35

Get used to it I'm afraid. We had people turning up a bit late and leaving a bit early at DD's party on Saturday but what mattered was they all seemed to enjoy it :)

spiderpig8 · 17/11/2011 17:38

i got a bit annoyed with a friend for arranging her DDs birthday party to clash with a saturday sports activity which they all do and love.I felt it a bit rude to leave early so declined.Shame though!

mumofthreekids · 17/11/2011 17:45

The thing is that my kids are invited to so many bday parties, as it's common to invite the whole class. They have swimming on Sat, and we do miss it in favour of a party but it does get a bit annoying when there seems to be a party nearly every weekend!

hellhasnofury · 17/11/2011 17:50

I guess it depends. My kids were both competitive swimmers. When they joined club they signed an agreement that stated they would be available for competition, most events are on Saturday night so sometimes we had to either not go to a party or leave early. If the guests are just going to training though I'd have spoken to the coach and either missed warm up or missed the whole session.

ruddynorah · 17/11/2011 17:53

What sport is it that isn't competitive? They have a show coming up, or an exam maybe.

Original poster

MerryMarigold · 17/11/2011 18:14

It's gym for 4-6 yr olds - not v competitive. No show or anything mentioned, so I doubt it.

Round here whole classes not invited so last 'school' party was a while ago and was one of families who go to this activity so scheduled out of the slot. (Tho 3 of these kids did miss it for one of their own parties back in Sept).

LadyMontdore, others were invited so couldn't really change it for everyone else as well. Plus it finishes at 1pm (I have younger kids who get a bit tired later in the pm) so couldn't be earlier really!! I actually thought the activity was a bit later hence also making it early, but it is v early in the afternoon (I assume 1pm).

I will get over it and no doubt will be begging them to go home. geordie . Just thought it's not something I would do, and felt a bit hurt. But it's not a big deal in the big scheme of life and yes, I am sure he will have a great time.

OP posts:

CardyMow · 17/11/2011 18:21

Nope, I get pissed off by this too. I can't afford to invite huge numbers of dc to parties, and when 3-4 of them turn up late or leave early, it can really be noticeable. Why can't they either miss the activity for once, as they have been specifically invited to a party, or just turn down the party invite.

You wouldn't accept an invite to a Dinner Party, then say - oh, but I have to leave half an hour early to make my regular session on the squash court, would you? How is this any different?

Bloody rude IMO, you wouldn't do this as an adult, accept an invitation to something if you were unable to be there for the whole thing, so why do some parents think it's OK to let their dc do this? Surely if you had a prior commitment that you just couldn't miss, then you would turn DOWN the invitation?

Original poster

MerryMarigold · 17/11/2011 18:41

Thanks Hunty. Makes me feel a bit less U!

OP posts:

Flip