Party on Mothering Sunday

[Sparklycurtainpole]

Close to us is a kids' play centre which throws great parties. You have to book almost a year in advance to get a slot though as it's so popular.
A family member who is notoriously disorganised told me the other week that she had yet to organise her DS birthday party and had no idea what to do.
Anyway, yesterday we got an invite to the party and it's on Mothering Sunday 11-1 at the play centre.
I asked family member if she had realised the date and she said she'd phoned on the off chance and the centre told her they had space that day because it was mothers' day.
AIBU to think this is a bit 'off'?
Not only will the mums of the attending kids not get family time but the timing of the party is likely to prevent quite a lot of people celebrating with or visiting their own mums.
We feel as if we have to go as it's a very close family member and my kids would be really sad not to join the birthday boy to celebrate his birthday (and DP and I obviously) . However my DP works away (often over weekends) and I was really looking forward to spending a special day with just him and our kids together and then visiting our own respective mums.
Any opinions? I know it means some mums might love their OH to take the kids instead and give them a break but what about lone parents or like me, parents whose partners are usually away?
Am i being a bit of a birthday grump or is this totally fine?
Oh, and DS birthday is not til almost five weeks after the party date!

My son was invited to a party on Mother's Day last year, the party boy's mum didn't realise the date when she booked, it was an early party (9-11) so it did leave the rest of the day to do "mothers day" stuff, but I don't think we did in the end. There were quite a few mums there and the party mum gave us mums or the child if they attended with Dad a small posy of daffodils to give to Mum, which I thought was a nice touch.

It wouldn't bother me. Have lunch and family time after.

How's it disorganised to have sent an invitation out nearly 4 weeks before the party?In my little world that's staggeringly organised. Luckily my dc are past the soft play party years one is even old enough to buy me alcohol for MD, hurrah but back in the day we'd happily have gone.

We've going to a party on Mothers Day 11-1. It's great: both kids invited so 2 free hours entertainment for them and they get a hot lunch. Don't see the issue.

Don't see the issue, and agree invitation a month before seems very organised.

If you don't like the person and don't want to go, then don't go

How many mothers actually spend all day in the presence of their children on Mothering Sunday anyway?

Reassuring to see the replies on this thread! I booked DS1's party at softplay (same time, 11-1) and have only just realised it's on Mother's Day . Almost everyone is coming thankfully, hopefully they won't cancel because it's Mother's Day.

My son was invited to a party on Mother's Day last year, the party boy's mum didn't realise the date when she booked, it was an early party (9-11)

Yeah, its not the date that is the problem with that party. 9am on a sunday? No thank you!

We're having my son's first birthday party that day. His actual birthday is the 28th though and his grandparents are over visiting though so it did actually suit us...

we've often dodged booking parties on Mothering Sunday as we wondered if it might mean a low turn out.

That being said, I'd be perfectly happy to go to a party on that day myself, as I don't need to go visiting. I get taken out for lunch if we've no other plans, but I don't get frantic over it if there's something else on.

Thanks again for all the replies.
I think I'm a bit put out as time for us as a five at the weekend is rarer than hen's teeth and so we'd already planned lots to do, catching up with both grannies and so already had a busy day. I'm now in a position where I feel like I'll be pleasing no one whatever I do. If the kids miss the party then they'll be upset and if we rush through it all with both grannies (different locations and quite a bit of travelling but doable easily without the party) then our nice plans with them gets cut short.
I'm not fussed about Mother's Day for me; not much chance of 'fuss' with three tinies but I was really looking forward to a day just the five of us.
I know it's only a couple of hours but it's put us in a right awkward corner where I either disappoint one or more of the grannies, change long standing bookings and rush around all day to go or disappoint the kids and the birthday boy.
If it had been a 'normal' sunday id have really enjoyed it.
I am the birthday grump it seems 😉😄

So it's not the fact it coincides with Mother's Day then? It's that it clashes with plan you already have in place... In that case you need to decide what is more important & go with that. Not really party hosts fault, just one of those things

I am obviously out of sync with mumsnet on this one, as most people I know (friends,family, colleagues etc) do celebrate Mothers Day in someway usually with a meal or a visit to relatives. We always meet up with my mum and siblings for lunch or tea and try to see DH mum too. I wouldn't have a problem with a party invite that day and if the times suited us then we would go. Although i would drop and leave and probably wouldnt go to one of a young child where I was expected to stay but I try to avoid staying at any parties anyway not just on mothers day.

I would be declining. I love mothering Sunday, it's a very rare treat for us to do something together as a family plus I visit my own mother in the afternoon.

Family comes first, so sadly for the birthday child it would be a no from us.

Stop - you have plans, nice plans. Decline the party! Do your dcs even know about it yet? Just decline then perhaps arrange to take the birthday child with your dcs to soft play or something the weekend before, say to your dcs "we're not going to X's party as we're busy that day but we'll go with them to Y the week before for a birthday treat, that'll be fun!" Job done.

It's ok to put your family first. You had plans, I bet the 2 grandmas will enjoy it. The dcs will learn that sometimes it's not all about them.

Oh bythepath - here too, all the pubs and restaurants in our town are heaving with big family lunches, most people who aren't eating out are having family lunches with grandparents. And children will be expected to join those lunches, so being fed at a party at 12ish would still ruin family lunch if moved to 1:30.

Go or don't go, its up to you. But stop blaming other people if you choose to change your plans to attend this party. It is not the other parties responsibility to arrange their plans to suit you, and you are being nasty about your family member.

I've inadvertently booked dd's party for mothers day this year. (not yours - different times)
I tried to change it but there wasn't another suitable date available so I gave dd the option of going ahead but some of friends might not make it or doing something different on a different day & she chose to keep it there.
To add insult to injury England are playing at 5pm the same day (mid party) & she came home from school yesterday with an invite for a party the same day but in the morning.
Just say no if it's not convenient because you already have plans??? I am expecting a lot of no's and also some potential no shows on the day but as long as dd enjoys it it'll be fine.

I agree with you OP.

Our Mothering Sunday actually has nowt to do with the American Mothers Day so I don't see it as a Hallmark holiday. It was traditionally a day where those who worked in service had a chance to go home and see their mothers, having worked all of Christmas.

I wouldn't organise anything else on Mothers Day as I like to devote this day to making my Mum feel special and I too would be peeved

What algebraic said. The cards and chocolates part of it may have been invented by the Hallmark industry: what the OP is talking about, the day as a day when you take time out to spend time with your family (and if religiously inclined, visiting your mother church), is the part that is actually traditional.