AIBU to think that people should bloody well rsvp their child's party invite??

[blueskycp]

12 invites given out at nursery a month ago. 4 replies. Is this normal? Can people just not be arsed to send a text or leave a message? I'm new to this game

who are all these kids who leave party invitations languishing in their bookbags? if dd1 spies the merest glimpse of something that might be a party invitation, she's instantly waving it under my nose, wanting to know if she can go.

Yup you have touched a raw nerve. Sometimes when life is about to overwhelm you completely and someone gets arsey because you forgot to reply to a text it can feel like the final straw. Just saying there are lots of reasons for someone to not reply and it is not always rudeness or laziness.

Thing is I'm a drop and run mum in the mornings, I don't have the time to stand and chat as I'm rushing to work. I don't see mums in the afternoon as he's in the afterschool club. I make myself avaialble for RSVP's via text, landline or email - surely they're accessible enough for people? A dad even tracked me down on FB (had no common friends, was a bit odd) to say his LO was coming.

A text message takes 2 seconds, hardly a big ask.

I can often be found catching up with texts on the loo!!

@ takingiteasy's DH

Oh FGS, blackberryset, precious much? I work full time, I'm a single parent, I commute 4 hours a day. And yet, even I manage to reply to party invitations. It's called prioritising. It's not that hard

Gosh aren't you the empathetic one PattiMayor.

I don't take or pick her up from nursery as I'm work so I can't chase them up.

Blackberry - yes there are many times when I can't reply to texts right away but can't say I've forgotten to send it. We're talking about an invitation. People should reply when they can - end of.

Blackberry, do you know the OP.?
Why take It as an attack on you?
We are all busy people.

And after 8 yrs of 2 lots of birthday parties, people who don't RSVP still grate.

I probably am a bit keen when replying. Maybe I should play it cooler... leave people hanging a bit, make them sweat!

And the OP wasn't being arsey either. Just asking a question.

Bluesky an Lecce I also don't do drop-offs or pick-ups. What is so difficult about chasing non-responders up using the same method as you sent out the invites in the first place?

We always kept parties quite small and would generally deliver children home afterwards so the RSVP was also how we got the 'delivery' address. If you want your child back then you have to tell us where you want it dropped off!

Obviously this is when children are in the latter years of primary and parties are a bit smaller but dropping the guests back was normal when we lived in the Netherlands and meant that the guest could be sure of getting shot of the guests!

Blackberry - you sound like you're having a rough time of it. We've all been there - hope you're OK.

sorry that's host could be sure of getting shot of the guests

Point taken librarian but now I'll have to frickin write a note for each one. Would've been a lot bloody easier if people had just replied!

If they are all at nursery, can you not just ask the nursery staff to remind them? Give them a list of who hasn't replied and ask them to check with the parents when they are picked up. That's what I used to do when mine were at nursery and I used to get a list back at the end of the day with most of the replies sorted.

I am currently arranging party for DS 5th birthday. So far about 1/2 have replied (invited whole class) and I have put RSVP date on invite.

I really do not see how difficult it is to send an RSVP and think Blackberry is being a bit off by saying how busy her life is. If you want your child to go to the pary send the RSVP - if you don't , then don't - quite simple.

I won't be making up any spare party bags and kids love party bags!!

I'll probably send the invites out with enough time to chase people up for numbers, maybe not give out the address on the initial invite and people have to RSVP for the address of the party?

Lexie - sounds like a sure fire way of losing friends for your DS. Taking revenge for the sins of the parents out on their innocent offspring is never a good idea. Good luck!

My friends and I have discussed this RSVP issue, in passing. We agreed that we only respond if we aren't coming and if we don't hear, we assume people are coming. I also do whole class parties, cos I hate to leave any kids out. I've had the whole class show up before, which was expensive, but DD1 loved it. If you invited them, assume they're coming. In my experience, they usually do. ( And cater accordingly)

And my DD would leave an invite in her book bag ( and has more than once)

Haven't read all the thread but YADNBU, it is bloody rude not to reply.

Auntmargaret I am stunned that you don't reply us you're going, that's even worse as you're expecting people to cater for you and you haven't even had the manners to acknowledge their invitation!!!

TheBlackberrySet - regardless of how hard a time you're having at the moment, I think you were pissing rude to the OP. Really no fucking need for the snidey 'precious first born' remarks.

I've just had dc1's 8th party, which was small, and yet again I had to chase people to see whether they were coming.