Birthday party one

[puppysurprise]

So my LO is 4 this month. Party booked and invites all gone out. I've gotten several rsvps saying thanks for invite - - - would love to attend thank you. With the invited child and both parents names! Really?! Both parents? It's a children's party why on earth would both parents attend? It's limited spaces at the venue and I don't know what to do if it's full of mainly adults?

I just don't understand why you'd both want to go is it just me is this really odd? Surely a free Saturday afternoon to sleep / work / watch tv that's not CBeebies is welcome?

It's 15 kids 28 adults right now. Grandparents also invited.

Good point @meganorks (your name is too funny) think I will stretch to a sejection tin of biscuits and some coffee laid on in case they all so turn up so hopefully they'll gravitate to and hang round the coffee corner!

My husband and I have been to most parties together with our DS. You really do need a generous sized venue with small children running around and so far all parents have recogised that and it hasn't been a problem. You either need to change your venue or have a word with the parents because if it's too crowded it will be a bloody nightmare.

My DS is 3 and every party we've been so far both parents have been expected. There have been a couple I've been taken DS to without DH, but only because he had something else he had to do or was away. In those cases I've been definitely in the minority going on my own with DS. With time together as a family precious then it's as much a family outing, rather than just a party for DS to go to and we waste half a day sitting about waiting. If only one parent was expected to go then I'd assume that to be on the invite as may well make a difference if we'd accept or not. TBH when I've been to a party without DH and I don't really know any of the other parents it's pretty dull standing around on your own feeling like such a lemon - I'm not a social butterfly!

I thought it was only the number of children needed not adults?
I have known two parents to accompany a child. It seems pointless to me but maybe they wanted to get to know the other parents.

Its not really family time if the children are busy being involved in the party activities.

The pub and coffee shops and art openings and gigs are for adults to socialise at thanks.

I thought you were that sort of person. Thanks for the clarification. Our opinions will always be different.

User you know nothing about me or what sort of person I am. I know nothing about you. Nor care to.

I know you think the pub and coffee shops and art openings and gigs are for adults to socialise. That's all I need to know to ascertain our opinions on this matter will always be different, thanks.

Pretty sure the fail will scoop this one because it's oh-so-newsworthy.

"MNer posts on AIBU, gets told by majority YABU. Has a strop and starts mummasplaining why SINBU."

Yawn.

Jeffery yep two full reception classes and some family and friends too. I'd forgotten about them. Fuck!

Luckily it's in Aug so i'm hoping quite a lot of people are on holiday since it's the only month we are off. School doesn't finish until 27th (i think) july this year.

Knowing my luck everyone will turn up

Oh god what if they all bring presents! 60 odd presents

If they are existing friends I would expect both to come really. That's how my DD1's big class party went: class friends - just 1 parent; existing friends - both
I'd be happy with coffee and biscuit though!

No I meant like the mum is an friend of mine don't really know her partner. I just was worried about the children being out numbered by the adults more than the adults coming if you see what I mean.

Never thought about it, we hire a hall and get a bouncy castle and appreciate the extra adults.
I even serve tea and biscuits for said adults.
I guess if I had limited space I'd not invite as many kids. I'd not expect 2 parents per child but don't think I'd bat an eyelid if mums and dads came. Part of the party carnage involved imo.

Me and OH went to one with SD the other week but that's because he doesn't drive (it was in the middle of nowhere) and the birthday kid was his best friends kid so bit weird if I just turned up. We stayed for 20 minutes, realised we were in the way and went for a walk instead.

I don't think I saw any other couples there and I think it's a little weird but as someone else said, maybe the main earner of the family doesn't get to see the kids lots during the week? Idk. If you're bothered I think it's perfectly reasonable to contact the two-parent responders and say sorry it's a small venue so only one parent per child, apologies that wasn't made clear. Still plenty of time to make other plans.

For my DD's fourth one asked to bring a sibling (and offered to pay for him since it was at venue that was obviously pay per child). I was fine with it as it would be awkward for sibling to be waiting around and not joining in.

In my DS's class people often say siblings welcome but let us know if it's an entire class party type thing. I don't know anyone who would turn up with a sibling and expect them to be catered for without arranging it in advance.

A few people do just drop off around the 5 year old age but it seems frowned upon around here - it always seems to be the kid who gets dropped off that falls off the bouncy castle and cries for the next hour and a half!

Oh a biscuit, oh nom nom nom! Thank you. Make sure and get plenty of those for your unwanted guests.

Yum yum yum.

I will do. Keep checking the thread user know you can't help yourself.

Of course, hoping for a cup of coffee to wash it down.

Parched.

Don't worry Op, I'd much rather be doing other things then spending 2 hours at a kids party unless I was good friends with the parent/s. I totally understand why you are baffled by it! Generally at all my sons party's it's been one parent.

My husband likes to come to my LO friend's parties along with me. It's a nice way to get to know other families and most I've been to you get a good mum/dad mix. Wouldn't in houses/small venues but soft play or community halls yeah why not?

To be perfectly honest when it's a weekend party then yeah why not that both parents want to attend. You're eating into valuable family time and if the only way is to attend a party so you can all see each other then why not.
As the child gets older they get invited to less parties but from my experience at 3-5 there is a party or three every weekend. So be grateful that your child's friends have parents that actually want to spend time or see their kids enjoying themselves.

The parties we have been to our LO is about to be 4 too both parents go as they are mainly preschool kids and the parents like to chat to each other which is quite nice at pick ups as they feel theyn know someone rather than just the women

When my sons were little, both myself and my partner always went to the parties, unless it was at someone's house - not to eat or drink anything, just to be there so we were both supporting - don't know what the problem is if they're not eating or bothering anyone else

At 4 I'd much rather too many adults than not enough. I taught nursery and reception for long enough!