Should it cost me to attend a child's birthday party?

[sleepyfarm]

NC.

I don't know if I'm being unreasonable or not to think this mum is a CF.

DC was invited to a classmates 5th birthday party at a jump trampoline place. WhatsApp message to whole class inviting and giving time location etc. Another message received a few days before party saying 'if you have the socks already bring them if not you can purchase them there'. As I've been to one of these parties before I know the socks are usually included in the party but I didn't think too much about it.

Turns out she has paid entry for all of the attendees (30+) but not for the socks or entry fee for parents. So she hasn't booked it as a party. When another parent enquired about food she said that we would all be going to McDonald's around the corner after the jumping. I'm going to presume she is paying for the meals but who knows.

So when I attend I will have to buy the socks, pay entry, and no doubt spend a fortune on drinks as she hasn't got any jugs put on like they do for parties. Then have to traipse round to McDonald's after.

Am I being unreasonable to think that she is being cheap, and rude? She hasn't made this clear to other parents that this will be happening. It will cost each parent at least £10, some more as there are siblings invited.

My DH doesn't think it's a big deal which is why I'm asking here. I just feel it's a big no no to do this. FWIW she is not struggling for money in the slightest.

Soooooo what happened

So the fee you have to pay is £3. It's not that big a deal.

I wonder how the party went...

@PattiPrice

Again her choice to have that number. If she can’t afford it, have a smaller number.

She can afford to have that number- all the kids entry is being paid for- what she cant afford is to pay for every adult as well.

We did this for DD's birthday. She had 12 friends and we bought the party package which includes entry, socks, party room after with squash and pizza. Parents don't have to pay to watch. We bought all the parents a coffee from the cafe and there was loads of pizza left so they ate that too. It's an unusual choice for a whole class party

Sounds mad to invite 30 - why not invite 10 children and have a proper party?

YUBVU, it’s very nice of her to invite the whole class and this will cost a lot. The socks can be kept and a lot will already have them so no big deal for parents to buy. Your child can take water, how do you know she is not taking some herself. macDonalds afterwards sounds nicer than the food you often get in those places. You sound like a miserable ungrateful cow. How much would the full party price cost for 30 ffs.

I’d be annoyed but equally, if I was concerned I’d ask in the group, what’s included and what isn’t.
It saves embarrassment for all.

Got to say I got a deal for my son's party on Groupon.
It was just for entry but I made sure I had a good supply of socks, would not have dreamed of asking parents to pay anything.
We always buy a beverage for the parents that stay .
I also bought the food separately and jugs of juice but saved about £20 in the end!

What was the outcome ???

Am I the only one on here that thinks 30 5 year olds trampolining will need a lot of supervision? There's no way I would leave my DC in that mayhem. But maybe if you've been to one of these places recently you know better than me. I think I would have invited far fewer and booked a party. Or had a simpler party for the whole class somewhere else and left the trampolines until they are a bit older.

So this woman is paying for the entry for all the kids and, you presume, all the food at maccies after and you're pissed cause you have to pay for socks, pay for yourself and pay for drinks! How entitled are you? Dont wanna pay then dont go.

I admire her ruddy countenance-that is,I like her bloody cheek!

As a parent I’d only expect entry for the child to be paid for.

I think the mum is trying to be incredibly fair and is very generous inviting THE WHOLE CLASS - you will come to understand as DC moves up thru the years that selective party invites can cause a lot of upset between the class friends. She deserves a medal to take on 30 children and “do the right thing” It’s very few parents who would actually invite the whole class. You don’t know that she won’t buy a jug of juice on the day, she more than likely will. Why on earth would you question somebody for trying to save a few pounds at a party which clearly will cost her a fortune. She will be paying for McDonalds too. Just because she didn’t book “the party package” does not in ANY way make it less of a party. I think you are being very unreasonable indeed and I feel rather sorry for her to think that some of the parents might be questioning her good intentions.

You are getting a party and probably a meal!!! For goodness sake YABU - if you don't want to pay to go and watch, sit somewhere else and wait or don't send your child. I think she is being incredibly generous, whether she can afford it or not!!

I’ve just taken my lot to the new one at lakeside and have visited 3 different companies that have trampoline parks in the past and have never had to pay entry for adults unless actually jumping? I would have thought paying entry for 30+ kids she would have been better off paying for a party but I guess that’s irrelevant! I took drinks and snacks with me and personally I’d be fine with “traipsing” to McDonald’s after although good luck all getting seated 😬

She is a cf. Why is she inviting over 30 children? It's ridiculous. Around here (south east) it costs around £18 per head basic. Also, why do you have to go in? Can't you wait in the car and collect your child after the jumping?

to point out the obvious they won’t have space for all the adults. Sounds to me like it’s a drop off party or you spectate. We’ve been to loads and parents have never paid to jump. Or jumped.

@Pliudev you’ve never been to a jump park? They take 60 kids in most places.

Every new post quickens the pace of my little heart in the hope it is from OP with a solid gold update. :'(

Weve had parties there and attended them and socks are included in the entry. parents don't pay if not jumping, party or not. Shes forked out a lot and I'm sure the kids will love Maccy ds or anything. All sounds gd to me to accommodate 30+ kids. Think how much it is still costing!

Maybe she didn't book the party package because the child opted for McDonald's so she didn't want to pay for an all inclusive package she doesn't need? She's been upfront about costs and invited the entire class, that's not cheap.
Also, I got fed up of paying for parties where you pay per head and parents rsvp to say their child is attending then are a no show on the day, I imagine that would be a nightmare with 30 children.

Just because she didn’t book “the party package” does not in ANY way make it less of a party

Well it does really, it’s just 30 kids jumping, not an actual party

Op possibly isn’t coming back because party mum coughed up the readies for Maccy d’s and she feels embarrassed for wingeing about a fiver.