To cancel the party?

[FudgeBiscuits]

Kind of a WWYD, kind of a WIBU.

My DD turns 4 in little over a week and I've had a party booked at a local play centre since November (for the day before her birthday). No deposit has been but down. But it's all sorted and people have RSPV'd for the party.

She's been really well behaved and over the last week she's been asking to go horse riding for her birthday.

Originally she wanted a party with her 10 or so of her nursery friends (that's when I booked the party).

I've asked her if she wants to have a party too, she says no, just horse riding.

She also wants to go to the play centre the day of her birthday with her 2 best friends.

WIBU to cancel the party? And just take her horse riding and just organise her friends to meet us at the play centre for the party?

Good God! You're letting a 3 year old dictate this? Incredibly rude to cancel a party people have rsvp'd for just to go and do something else! Rude rude rude.

Don't take your dd riding op. Horses won't like you.

Why can't a horse ride be her birthday present ?

Personally I think she is too young for riding lessons.

Best not cancel party, but do take her for a riding lesson as she might find a lovely life waiting for her.

I wouldn't let an under 4 do anything other than walk and slim ponies. Mine have pottered around before then, start on lead rein at 4 including a bit of trotting then start properly at 6

I don't think the OP was claiming that her DD was any more precious than any other child! However knowing she has experienced miscarriage, infertility and IVF made me see her and this whole party malarkey in a new light. Being a parent when you never thought you'd have that opportunity can make you worry about lots of decisions that other parents might not. It's why the rate of PND in IVF mums is higher than average. You don't feel you can ever complain, feel low or in this case, say no.

Really????

I'd challenge that with my ability to worry about anything.

OP does form for a robust posting style, not that I advanced searched or anything.

have form, I meant.

Is anyone else picturing the OP and her DD as Verucca Salt and her horrible dad from Charlie and the Chocolate factory....?

Ugh how rude and an awful example to set

Erm..she's 3 for fuck's sake.

I really don't know why everyone's being so sensitive about this. I wouldn't be bothered if someone cancelled a children's party 2 weeks in advance whatever the reason. However I would think it's unfair to cancel only to take her and her 2 best friends anyway. I think you should just have the party and then go horse riding on her birthday.

Thank you @MrsVioletBottom

That's exactly my issue with it what. The play centre would still be happening, just scaled down to two best friends which is awful for the rest. Seems more like not wanting to pay for the larger party AND the horse riding to me, the child is not that averse to going to the play centre is she?

Yes all this slagging off a 3/4 year old and the kind of child she is/will be and then being affronted when her mother gives it right back, laughable. This is one of the most unpleasant threads I have ever read on here.

For clarity my comment that OP's daughter is only 3 relates to people commenting that she's hideously spoiled. She's tiny, and fickle, like most 3 year olds I know!

OP you are right to be going ahead with the party after all. But tbh I was genuinely shocked that you had even considered cancelling when invitations had been sent and rsvps recieved.
To cancel would have been extremely rude and poor form. You would have had some very pissed off parents and even if they didn't have the nerve to say so to your face they will for sure have been talking about you behind your back to other parents and invites for your dd to attend other kids parties, play dates etc will have dried up.
This will be a good lesson to your dd, that commitments that are made need to be honoured and she can't always get exactly what she wants. I'm sure on the day she will have a really good time and there will be plenty of other opportunities for horse riding.

MsGame I agree. 4 year olds change their minds from one day to the next, and most of them can't remember what they had for lunch that day. They certainly can't be expected to understand the concept of party planning, honouring social commitments, etc.

Blimey, at that age I tried to buy an ice cream using sweet wrappers as "money."

Glad you've apparently seen sense and aren't cancelling a party that a bunch ofn4 year olds are looking forward to...
Still- having RDFT... have this OP

If it was booked and organized and invites sent out, why did you only invite ten when minimum numbers is 20?

Good call Tudor! I'd like to hear the answer to that.

Piglet

If you read the whole thing I said one of the packages you can get is a minimum of 20 kids.

The one I booked is min of 10 kids.

Roughly 200 posts slating myself or calling my daughter. Disgraceful. Then when I give some back, I'm called aggressive and rude.

The majority (not all) of these posters have been aggressive and rude.

If you post suggesting you're going to do something rude and selfish, you'll get told you're being rude and selfish - shrug

Yes all this slagging off a 3/4 year old and the kind of child she is/will be and then being affronted when her mother gives it right back, laughable. This is one of the most unpleasant threads I have ever read on here.

This!