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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:
Bakeoffcake · 16/07/2015 23:29

Maybe the Mum has 101 things going on in her life and she's forgotten to write out the invite. People do make mistakes occasionally, we're all human.

Just text her "Hi, you mentioned Amy's party on Saturday. Is it still ok for dd to come? If so could you let me have the details please?"

Graciescotland · 16/07/2015 23:31

I once invited an entire class to a party with two days to go because yes I am that disorganised. She's probably dodging you as she has forgotten to write out invitation or she has written out invitation but forgot to bring with her. Call, confirm the details she'll just be grateful that there's one less thing to do.

Mrsfrumble · 16/07/2015 23:36

Saying you wouldn't bother if it was you seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face! Would you seriously miss out on a social function to make a point about who's responsibility it is to convey the details? If you didn't want to go in the first place, fair enough, but missing something you've been looking forward as a moral stance on social etiquette seems perverse.

People are scatterbrained. It may be thoughtless and annoying, but it's fact of life, and thanks to all the many means of communication that modern technology has gifted us with, chasing up a birthday party invitation is hardly an onerous task.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 17/07/2015 00:18

No YNBU. You don't have a child exicited about party and then just let them down. Is she warped of something.
I agree about ringing her for the details or seeking her out on the play ground. Be polite but put her on the spot.
You can't go round breaking promises to anyone. Let alone 7 year old children

arethereanyleftatall · 17/07/2015 00:45

That was unkind of you to upset your dd, just to prove a point that another adult wasn't conforming to your rules.
My response to my dd in the same situation would have been 'oh well remembered, her mum hasn't given me the details yet. I'll text her later.'

BabyGanoush · 17/07/2015 07:07

Just check, you can ask in a none-ballsy way.

That's what I would do

manchestermummy · 17/07/2015 07:13

Just ask!

I had similar a while back. Verbal invitation, and no actual invitation followed. I texted the mum and said I'd mislaid it and could she confirm the time. The mum in question is a little disorganised, that's all.

Hellionsitem2 · 17/07/2015 07:17

She has invited your child and I would count a verbal invite as solid as a written invite. She hasn't retracted the invite, that's
in your head!

LindyHemming · 17/07/2015 07:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

londonrach · 17/07/2015 07:18

Why not ask her next time you see her or phone her. She verbally asked and told you she very disorganised. Just confirm the details!

Hellionsitem2 · 17/07/2015 07:20

Get her number off someone. Just text her 'hi x, thanks for inviting x to the party. Is there anything particular they need to wear?' Or ask some other mundane question about times or location

CrockedPot · 17/07/2015 07:21

I agree with you that she would have followed the verbal invite up with a text telling you details but I would definitely assume your dd is invited and make the call yourself.

neepsandtatties · 17/07/2015 07:32

Text her!!

I like Bakeoffcake's text the best ""Hi, you mentioned Amy's party on Saturday. Is it still ok for dd to come? If so could you let me have the details please?""

I can easily imagine that either Amy has lost the invitation, your DD has lost the invitation, the invitation is in her tray at school or, most likely of all, the disorganised Mum forgot about sending the paper invite, having mentally filed away your daughter as already having been invited.

Or she's a cow, but in which case, you have zero to lose by sending Bakeoffcake's text above.

Please update!

Spartans · 17/07/2015 07:36

The onus is on you because your child is upset and you are pissed off. And your child is upset because you have made assumptions.

What if you call and its turns out her dd has the invitation in her bag? Or your dd has been given it and lost it?

Rather than getting so worked up, do something to resolve it.

Almahart · 17/07/2015 07:41

I agree, you need to think about what your daughter is taking from this. You doing her a disservice here.

lem73 · 17/07/2015 07:48

DD has just told me that Amy told her yesterday she isn't invited any more. She's changed her mind and doesn't want her there. I have just texted the mum so I'll see what's going on.

OP posts:
Almahart · 17/07/2015 07:54

That is shitty of her, hope it works out for your dd

IssyStark · 17/07/2015 07:58

Well I hope other mum tells Amy that you can't uninvite people and your dd gets to go.

Baffledmumtoday · 17/07/2015 08:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LindyHemming · 17/07/2015 08:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chipshopninja · 17/07/2015 08:25

Have you had a reply to the text OP?

Feeling really sorry for your daughter Sad

lem73 · 17/07/2015 08:33

No reply. It is still early though. Hope I'm wrong but it doesn't look good. Off to work now!

OP posts:
Hellionsitem2 · 17/07/2015 08:44

What did you text?

Can you organise a play date or treat for DD if she she's uninvited. It would also be a good opportunity to acknowledge that some people behave badly sometimes and that it's better to play with children who are nice.

User100 · 17/07/2015 08:44

Will you bump into mum on school run today? Just ask then (ideally before picking kids up).

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 17/07/2015 08:46

Oh no..you got mildly overstressed about it..better give you a rude obnoxious flaming and criticise your parenting style.

Or not, because I'm not a dick Wink.

Hope you resolve this soon.