To not enjoy kids birthday parties

[Chachabingz]

Anyone else really not enjoy other children’s birthday parties? My DC are still at the age where the parents are expected to stay.
DH and I take it in turns.
Do most parents felt the same?
DC1 is 4 and we have managed to get out of having anything but family parties so far but when she goes to school in Sept I fully expect to start hosting the dreaded parties. We will get an entertainer/ bouncy castle though.
DC2 is 2 so we are a couple of years off parent free parties!

I don’t understand the parents who enjoy them or use them as a social occasion. It’s a bit sad, really.

I lived for drop and run age!

God no, awful awkward things. Painful in all ways. Good luck, you've got years of them ahead of you.

Ah lots of partying ahead in the primary school years

YANBU - I hate them but I do, of course, go for my son's sake and host parties for him.

I think the main issue for me is that because of my working hours I don't do drop off or pick up, DH does it, and so I don't really know any parents from preschool. This means that I generally and up sat on my own - I've learnt to take a book/mumsnet to pass them time. I am quite shy as well so I am hopeless at making small talk, especially when the other parents all seem to know each other.

I just keep in mind that my son enjoys himself with his friends and that is important to me particularly as he is an only child.

I don’t think anyone actually enjoys them they’re just there for the kids benefit. It’s only a couple of years and then you can get away with drop and run,

Call me sad, but I actually don't mind them - DD in reception and I quite like the other parents in class so it's nice to chat with them ( not often at school) and see the kids interacting and playing together.

I love them . Kids are occupied meaning I can talk with my friends. Slightly awkward if I don’t know people but can either talk or sit on my phone. Great time to check emails, online shop etc. Quite a few of the parents bring magazines or coursework as it is like one big crèche .

I should point out I do also watch my kids as that post sounded as if I completely ignore them!

Depends if you know the other parents going. If no, of course it’s painful, otherwise I enjoy watching my children run around with their friends and chatting to other mums I know.

I have twins in reception in different classes so I have double the amount of them! I hate them and my heart sinks when they come home waving party invitations.

They are so bloody boring. I like the one hour bouncy castle ones. The two hour ones are like a slow death

There’s a group of parents in dd’s class who I swear will stay at their kids’ uni parties!

The glee on their faces as they all pull up their chairs!

I just think is this really the best you can do for social interaction??

I’m polite to other parents but they’re not my friends! And I’d rather have coffee and chats with my actual friends!

I duck in and out as quickly as humanly possible and send DH as often as I can!

I don’t understand the parents who enjoy them or use them as a social occasion. It’s a bit sad, really

Why be so smearing about parents likkkg the comoanynofnother adults?

What??

Hell on Earth

I don’t understand the parents who enjoy them or use them as a social occasion. It’s a bit sad, really.

That's a bit harsh! When DC was in reception/Y1 parties were a good way for us to meet other parents and at most parties there was tea/coffee/cakes/fizz for those who stayed. School pick up/drop off tended to be very much 'drop and go' for us and I was grateful to get a chance to get to know others and chat.

Oh god are there really people who do enjoy them? Hell I sort of assumed we all considered them the 9th circle of hell

Although DS is well trained to slip me a party ring from his plate when he has a spare :-)

The children's parties I like are adult parties too, there's beer, they go on until 11pm...

When DC was in reception/Y1 parties were a good way for us to meet other parents

That’s what I don’t get! I have no interest in meeting other parents, but I appreciate everyone is different!

I’ve gotten to know the parents of my kids’ friends over the years and that’s grand. I can have a quick chat when handing over for play days etc but honestly chit chat with people who happened to have been knocked up at the same time as me, and picked the same school for their kids is my idea of hell!

I have never stayed at a birthday party. DCs were never invited to them until age 3 or 4 and while I made sure the host had my number I never needed to stay. With 5 dc I have had loads of parties over the years and I can't say I have enjoyed any of them really.

@PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks that’s my idea of a good children’s party too... I’m yet to experience this though. The closest I’ve been to a glass of wine was looking out the window wistfully at the pub opposite!!

Your DC go to the wrong school Chacha! 😂

I genuinely enjoy them. Sorry if that makes me sad (don't know why it does). DC's having fun. I get to catch up with the mums. And watch them having fun without me being the person having to be responsible for their fun. Double winner winner.

@PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks we are about to move areas and are currently researching primary schools... If only Ofsted spent some time studying the parents social habits too!

You need to move to my kids schools. My eldest has been invited to one party in 3 years (which was hell but for other reasons) and my youngest went to one last year. And a smattering of parties for out of school friends.