To throw my toys out the pram and not go now?

[sparklestar]

I am a little scared to be posting on this page but here goes as I would really like to hear some other opinions!....

A family member is having a celebration party in the summer and we have been invited with our 3 children.
The party is over 300 miles away.
We said that we would go but have now been told that the party starts at 3 until late but all children are to leave before 8pm, after that its adults only.
All our family will be there so there is no-one to look after the children after 8 that wouldn't be at the party and also there is no-one that my children know well enough for me to leave them with - because of the distance, we don't see family/friends there very often. (DC's are 7, 5 and

My policy for such events is the same as ImagineJL

But if there's a choice between a family holiday and the party, then the holiday would probably win.

I think YANBU.

I have been on the receiving end of this before, either from people who don't have children, or ones who do and for whom 7pm bedtime routine is sacrosanct My children have never had early bedtimes and therefore even when tiny were quite able to stay out late at parties, indeed their behaviour was often better than it was during a normal daytime.

I also hate the idea of having to take the children back, and one or other parent sit in a hotel room with them, but I suppose I view a family occasion as one at which children are welcome from the start to the finish...