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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think this mother has been rude and thoughtless (birthday party related)

183 replies

lem73 · 16/07/2015 21:37

Last week we invited a girl from dd's class for tea. Let's call her Amy. She has only just started this term. When we dropped her at home the mother said thanks etc and the little girl whispered something in her ear. So the mum said 'oh yes, would your DD like to come to Amy's birthday next weekend (Sat 18th)'. I said yes that's fine thanks for the invitation, she can come'. The mum said she'd give me a proper invitation at school, she was just a bit disorganized. I couldn't help thinking dd was just an after thought but as it was said in front of dd I had to accept. Anyway she hasn't given me an invitation and I'm sure she's trying to avoid me at school. I didn't really care til dd came out of school and started asking questions about Amy's party on Saturday, as some girls were talking about it. I said I'm sorry we've not been given a proper invitation so it looks like you're not invited after all. She got upset and said 'but her mum told me I was'.
So my question is this: AIBU to think if you tell a 7 year old child to their face that they are invited to a party you don't change your mind and hope they are either forgetful or thick skinned? I agree not everyone needs to be invited but she told dd she was and has apparently changed her mind. In the past my dcs have gone and invited extra kids to parties without asking first and I would never dream of letting a child down, even if it costs extra. It was even her child who did the inviting, it was her.

OP posts:
Mrsfrumble · 16/07/2015 22:25

Could she possibly be so forgetful? Yes, definitely, if she's anything like me! Forgetting to pass on the proper invitation is exactly the sort of thing I'd do, and I'd be mortified to think you were stewing about it or had told your daughter she probably wasn't invited after all. Just call her. It's not sad or desperate.

chrome100 · 16/07/2015 22:29

This is fucking ridiculous (sorry, but it is). Just ask the mum, ffs.

TheHouseOnBellSt · 16/07/2015 22:31

Chrome it's hardly "fucking ridiculous"

not everyone is confident socially and some people second guess themselves in these situations.

wheresthelight · 16/07/2015 22:33

Way too harsh chrome!

ASettlerOfCatan · 16/07/2015 22:39

You heard the mum invite so just grab her tomorrow and say "x is so excited for the party tomorrow but I just realised a paper invite never got to me. Can you confirm time/place please?

justmyview · 16/07/2015 22:39

Amy's Mum warned you that she is disorganised. She may think you know where the party is being held. I would give her the benefit of the doubt

lem73 · 16/07/2015 22:45

It's not about social confidence at all. I just don't know her well enough to judge if she has genuinely forgotten or got put on the spot by her dd. Tbh I don't give a shit how disorganised/busy you are. I feel a lot of people nowadays seem to use excuses not to show basic manners/consideration.
I am extremely forgetful therefore I do things right away so I don't forget.

OP posts:
TheHouseOnBellSt · 16/07/2015 22:47

Lem if it's not about social confidence, then you need to get over yourself, stop assuming and ASK her.

Mrsfrumble · 16/07/2015 22:58

Maybe the mother is just rude and thoughtless, but is it fair to make your daughter miss the party because you won't call her? It does seem a little like you're more interested in keeping the mother in the wrong than you are in getting your daughter to the party.

Cherryblossomsinspring · 16/07/2015 23:03

She has been invited! Please don't let your insecurity rub off on your daughter. Poor child now thinks that she shouldn't necessarily believe she is wanted when invited somewhere. How confusing.

Call and get the details and have a bit more confidence

CrapBag · 16/07/2015 23:04

Just say the invite seems to have gone missing so can she confirm the party details please. She has been invited, you are dithering about and have upset your DD for nothing. What a thing to say to her!

TendonQueen · 16/07/2015 23:06

You said the daughter whispered in her ear. If she hadn't wanted to invite your DD, she could easily have said 'we can't do that, Amy' and you'd have been none the wiser. She chose to invite your DD. Don't over-think this any more and make your DD miss out because of it.

TendonQueen · 16/07/2015 23:09

And as I said before, you don't know that she HASN'T sent an invite but it got lost let school - as happened with my DS. You are assuming the worst of this other parent and you don't need to.

Hexadecimal1 · 16/07/2015 23:11

It does seem a little like you're more interested in keeping the mother in the wrong than you are in getting your daughter to the party.

This ^

Cuppacoffeeinthebigtime · 16/07/2015 23:12

Have you got the mother's number? If so, just send a text. I would just say 'DD is excited about Amy's party but just realised we have not had the invite yet. Is it still ok for dd to come?

grumpasaur · 16/07/2015 23:13

I never comment on these threads.

But seriously- pick up the phone ffs!!! How OLD are you?

Some people are genuinely disorganised- she has admitted it and invited your daughter so grow up and sorted out.

However if you are this high and mighty and difficult about everything- perhaps it's deliberate!!

Confused
lem73 · 16/07/2015 23:14

Anyway while I have agreed to text the mum in the morning, why is the onus on me? She's organising the party and her dd definitely wanted my DD there. Having thought it through it is rude that she didn't follow up her oral invitation with a proper one, especially when she didn't give me the details at the time. If it was someone inviting ME to a party, I certainly wouldn't be chasing her. Conversely, I wouldn't invite someone casually, then forget to follow up with the details. You've convinced me to follow up for dd's sake but I definitely wouldn't do it for myself.

OP posts:
justmyview · 16/07/2015 23:15

Tbh I don't give a shit how disorganised/busy you are. I feel a lot of people nowadays seem to use excuses not to show basic manners/consideration.

Totally agree, but still think it could be an explanation (not an excuse) for lack of paper invitation.

If your hesitation to contact Amy's Mum isn't due to social confidence, then I'm not understanding why you seem reluctant to contact her

Hannahouse · 16/07/2015 23:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

justmyview · 16/07/2015 23:17

Cross post - agree it's frustrating, but hope you sort it out for your DD's sake. would be a shame for her to miss the party because Amy's Mum is flaky

HoldYerWhist · 16/07/2015 23:17

Jesus, you're hard work.

Get over yourself.

AuntyMag10 · 16/07/2015 23:20

You are coming across very self important. Does it matter where the onus lies if it results in getting your dd to the party. Suit yourself, your child will be upset.

lem73 · 16/07/2015 23:22

if you are this high and mighty about everything erm whether this is true or not she wouldn't know! I've hardly spoken to her as she's new to the school. They only joined this term. She doesn't speak to any of the mums in the class actually. If it was someone I'd known for a while, I wouldn't hesitate to check and I have been in that position before.

OP posts:
littlejohnnydory · 16/07/2015 23:26

Tbh, you're not that important. She's invited you to the party, if you want to go then you need to text her. She will have more important things on her radar when organising a party than just you. I don't think she has been rude. She might well text you before the party when she remembers.

Icimoi · 16/07/2015 23:26

It really doesn't matter why the onus is on you. The plain fact of the matter is that you have a child who has been invited to this party and you don't know where and when it is. It just needs to be sorted out.