DC1 turns 6 the week before my due date with DC4. I am trying to organise a party for him as I think its important his birthday isn't 'overshadowed' by the arrival of new sibling etc but I'm mindful of the fact that either I will have a newborn, be very uncomfortable at 39 weeks PG or possibly not even be there at all!
with that in mind I want to keep it small enough that in the 'worst case scenario' that I'm in labour and not there that my DM and DF can manage the party alone (they are mid 50s, good health and have the DC regularly if that's relevant).
So I've found a great kids entertainer who will come to the house to run the party - my logic being if you have it at home rather than a hall parents will be expecting to drop and run rather than hang around with siblings like they tend to do at the village hall. therefore I have to limit the party to 12 people.
once you count my own 3DC that gives DC1 9 friends to invite. I asked him who he wanted and his first list was 7 and there are a couple of others who I expect he'll want to add.
now to the point - I will not be able to invite my closest 4 mum friends and their DC (1 DC each, all DC1's age and have known since they were all tiny babies). they have been invited to every birthday party so far (big soft play types) but although we see them regularly DC1 has not mentioned inviting them. (so as not to drip feed, 2 of the friends I see every couple of weeks, the other 2 every few months)
so AIBU in these circumstances to keep his party 'school friends only'? My plan would then to be to invite these 4 friends over for 'tea and cake' later in the day. and do you think I should message the 4 mums and explain what is happening and why? I think 2 of them at least will be surprised not to be invited otherwise.