My eldest daughter had her birthday party yesterday afternoon.
Everything going smoothly. Out of all invites only 4 did not come. 3 never replied at all. 1 replied saying they were coming but did not turn up. That's fine as there has been a lot of illness at her school the last couple of weeks including chicken pox, slap cheek etc.
Anyway one mum came with her 2 invited children. Then said she had her friend's child with her as well ,hoped I did not mind.
Thought that's fine. There were parents there who had siblings with them so no different really.
UNTIL!
Came back out from the kitchen into the hall (at community centre) to find this mother had actually gone and left- leaving the child who I did not know, my child did not know. No contact numbers. I did not even know the child's name!
Obviously I asked her name and treated her like the rest but she was very quiet and I had to console her a couple of times as she got upset.
Is this normal? First party I have ever done and though I expected some of the parents to leave the invited children I never dreamt I would be left with a child that we did not even have a name for!
I am more puzzled than annoyed. Just was added stress dealing with her while trying to calm 25 other children, sort the food etc.
So AIBU to be slightly shocked that this happened?
They were mainly 5,6 and 7 year olds. Child in question was about 7.