DD is in primary one. She went to a special nursery several towns away from our home, so therefore didn't know anyone when she began school this summer. More than half of the class came from the local nursery, meaning more than half of the parents already knew each other.
I'm quite a shy person and find it uncomfortable making small talk. So it therefore required a heap of courage for me to go ahead and plan a party for dd's 5th brithday in January.
I like being organised, so I've already booked and paid for: the hall, bouncy castle, cake, invitations, entertainer, food, party bags etc. The only thing left to do is give out invitations!
But i've decided not to do this before the Christmas break as i think they'll get lost, people will forget etc. DD's birthday is on the Monday they start back at school, and her party is booked for the Saturday after this. I had planned on giving out the invitations on the Monday (1st day back at school).
Anyway, everything was fine until yesterday. DD told me that a boy in her class has his birthday on the same day as her, and that he is also having a party.
Today i got dd to point out the boy and i went and spoke to his mum. I was friendly, and introduced myself, and brought up what DD had told me. She confirmed her son's birthday was on the same day. I told her i have a party planned on the Saturday, and asked (apologising for being nosey) if she has anything planned yet, as i hadn't heard.
She said no, not yet, but she probably will have a party. I said jokingly 'Oh, hope it's not the same day as dd's.' She got a bit awkward and explained she works Sundays, and doesn't want to leave anything until the next weekend as that's almost 2 weeks after the actual birthday date.
I told her a bit about the party i had planned, and said i'd be more than happy to do a joint party, if she wanted to go halfs, or whatever she could manage.
She said thanks, but if she was going to do anything, she'd rather her son had his own.
I'm now worried sick that she might organise something for the same day as dd's. This little boy has lots of friends, and his mum is friendly with lots of the mums and dads from school (she's also on the PTA, and volunteers in the classrooms, school trips etc).
My little girl doesn't have many friends. She used to get a taxi to and from her nursery last year, so I've never even met those parents, and dd barely remembers any of the children.
Outside of school, there are no children in the family except my 2yo nephew, and a friend's little 3yo girl.
I'm now tempted to get the invitations handed out tomorrow (beating the other mum to it). But i think this is silly because A) it's far too early; B) Christmas break is near and the party will get forgotten and C) the invitaions will get lost.
I'm not sure what to do. I know this is extremely trivial, but it's had me in tears this morning. As i said before, i'm quite a shy person and it's taken a lot of courage for me to throw a party (not forgetting the fact it's cost a small fortune), and i'm now anxious that no one will turn up and dd will be traumatised.