Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
patienceisvirtuous · 17/07/2015 22:26

Appalling behaviour from Amy and her mum. I'd let her know.

lem73 · 17/07/2015 22:38

Pictish yes I think she may be trying to drive a wedge. Perhaps she's a bit envious because she hasn't got close friends.
Dojo you have expressed exactly how I feel. I remember moving schools when my older dcs were young and it took a year for anyone to ask ds1 to tea or a birthday because the mums were quite cliquey. I would have been pleased that someone showed a bit of interest. I certainly wouldn't have started alienating potential friends before I'd finished one full term! Ah well. At least they are in different classes next year.

OP posts:
Tequilashotsfor1 · 17/07/2015 22:41

tendon I just don't understand why grown adults whip them self up in to a frenzy over a child's birthday party. Also I can go on any thread I like as its a public forum.

DoJo · 17/07/2015 23:50

Tequilashotsfor1

But surely you can understand why a grown adult could be upset that their child has been excluded by both a child and an adult when they have done nothing but be friendly to both? It's not that the OP's child simply wasn't invited to a party, but that a parent has knowingly colluded in a child's attempt to exclude someone who has been nothing but pleasant to them.

If this were a case of an adult behaving like this, I think the responses would still be the same - deliberate unkindness is always going to elicit emotional responses from those involved and those who empathise, no matter who the victim or perpetrator.

MythicalKings · 18/07/2015 05:08

I don't think it's down to Amy. I think Amy's mum didn't want her there because she already had everything for the party (gifts for party bags and so on) and didn't want an extra guest.

giraffesCantPluckTheirEyebrows · 18/07/2015 05:39

Lucky escape

Baffledmumtoday · 18/07/2015 06:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lem73 · 18/07/2015 09:29

In this case, being excluded wasn't the problem. It was being uninvited because the child changed her mind about having someone.

OP posts:
Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 18/07/2015 11:14

I agree disgusting behaviour from the mother. I would not allow my dd to go back on her word about a party invite. That's beyond rat.
I would say you can't let ....... Down they'll be looking forward to your party. What a terrible way to let her dd treat her Friend's. Okay to some it might only be a party but to you and your dd. it is a big deal.
As you say Thank God they are in different classes next year.
I'd just do something nice with her today op

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 18/07/2015 12:30

So they will all be in different classes next year? But still, how mean.

I would be tempted to keep summer play dates to girls which will be in your DDs class next year.

Baffledmumtoday · 18/07/2015 13:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

grumpasaur · 18/07/2015 16:55

Aww lem now I am sorry for my post! They don't sound like a nice family. Your poor dd!!

lem73 · 18/07/2015 18:08

Tbh I have to thank all the people who gave me a hard time. They convinced me to ask the mum directly and I found out what was really going on. Now I know this is a 'friend' we should give a wide berth too.

OP posts:
fastdaytears · 18/07/2015 18:13

You've saved your DD a whole lot of tears in the future. It's sad for Amy too that her mum's not willing to show her how other people should be treated.

Pepperpot99 · 18/07/2015 18:19

I find parties a real minefield. My dds are 14 and 11 and it's still a 'mare Shock.
The mother was a real cow, OP. Some mums really are cows, sadly.

gonegrey56 · 18/07/2015 18:24

You sound so nice OP. Hugs to your dd, and give Amy and her mother a very wide berth . Their loss in the future !
I have been there, this will pass and all will be well .

AuntyBatshit · 18/07/2015 18:43

OP, yadnbu

Tequila...really?? The title says birthday party! Why read it then? Constructive advice...mint. Reading something just to bitch about it, well, I hope you feel better.

paddymcgintysmum · 18/07/2015 18:53

"Tequilashotsfor1 Fri 17-Jul-15 22:41:30
I just don't understand why grown adults whip them self up in to a frenzy over a child's birthday party." (Snipped)

It's not about a party. It's about how to treat others.
I think it's very important that young children learn social manners from us at an early age.
It just happens to be a child's birthday party. Not likely to be Ladies Day at Ascot or a best friends wedding. Seven year old children attend parties!

diddl · 18/07/2015 19:02

I can understand the mum being anxious since "Amy" has been bullied in the past.

Unfortunately, she's in danger of allowing her daughter to become a bully.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 18/07/2015 19:14

I don't believe for one minute Amy has been bullied. Amy is the bully. Ditto Amy's Mother.

Weebirdie · 18/07/2015 19:31

but I wonder if 'bullied' really means Amy caused trouble at her old school and was fallen out with as a result.

Absolutely!

MiscellaneousAssortment · 18/07/2015 20:27

Well, I struggle to believe that a mother whose child has been bullied so severely that they changed schools, would be so blind to her own child excluding others.

I agree with the others thinking that this child was the bully, having learnt her own unpleasant behaviour from her parents.

Poor dd

lem73 · 18/07/2015 21:17

I was talking to a neighbour today and told her the story. She said Amy's big sister, who also moved schools, has become friends with her DD. Her dd doesn't have any girl friends and was really happy about this. She invited Amy's sister for a sleepover a few weeks ago and was really excited because it was her first ever sleepover. The day before, the sister turned round and said I'm not coming, is don't want to be your friend any more. My neighbour texted the mum and she 'oh she's had friendship issues before and she's rejecting your DD before she rejects her.' The sleepover eventually went ahead but I am left thinking Amy's mum isn't helping her daughters learn how to cope socially.

OP posts:
Hellionsitem2 · 18/07/2015 22:32

The mother definitely seems a big part of the problem.

CrapBag · 18/07/2015 22:35

Amy's mum is an idiot and quite probably creating these fucking dramas amongst the kids. Kids fall out and make up all the time. I bet the mum is behind all of this.

At least your DD, and you, know to just steer clear of them.

Swipe left for the next trending thread