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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Raging at crazy-rude party guest! Talk me down ladies.

282 replies

WoolyMammoth55 · 24/05/2021 20:15

Ok it's long, forgive me - need to unburden!

My DS's 5th birthday was this past weekend. We'd been hoping for a gathering in the garden in nice weather but the forecast was right and it was tipping down so we did a very small indoors thing instead. Shame because his last birthday was in full lockdown so had hoped for a nicer party but hey ho. We knew it was weather dependent so only invited the indoors-scenario people, but were hoping to add on others if it was sunny, and couldn't.

We have smaller kids including a very young baby, so the morning of the party was hectic. Trying to make the place look nice and get presentable while unwrapping presents and wrangling the kids - we could of used help from several nannies and cleaners! Kept on top of the downstairs but upstairs was a disaster zone. But DS had a nice morning, which was obviously the main thing.

DS's best bud has separated parents who are amicable. I am friends with the mum and have had playdates at her house, but only know the dad in passing. He's been to our house a few times but just to collect his son - we've never been invited to his. He didn't make it onto the tiny indoors guest list, but he called me in the morning - I was worried it was to say his DS couldn't come, which would have ruined it for mine! - but instead he was wrangling an invite. In the moment under pressure I said yes, that he could swing by towards the end - sort of thought he wanted to see the kids enjoying themselves or whatever.

So here's the thing: having been a CF and invited himself, does he behave well? HELL NO. Came earlier than I expected and totally empty-handed, not even a card for my son. Then get this - disappeared upstairs with the boys (who I'd told 'no going upstairs', but before he came) and stayed up there for ages, until eventually his ex went upstairs to get them down. No way he didn't get an eye-full of my dirty laundry (literally).

I am so furious and mortified. My unmade bed, my discarded towel, my nightie! I realise in a perfect world it would have been tidy but honestly at one point I didn't think I'd have time to shower...

We have had the situation at other play dates when the kids run off upstairs and I would NEVER follow without asking - what was he thinking?

Since then he's distinguished himself again by being the only guest not to say thanks for a lovely party. Nada from this guy. Unless he was raised by wolves then there's no mitigating circs that I can see and I think I might have to say something if I'm going to have to keep being civil to him.

Am I missing something? Is it not really that bad? And is it pointless saying anything? Urgh just want to throw up thinking about him poking around my bedroom!

OP posts:
SmidgenofaPigeon · 25/05/2021 10:07

Most of the kids parties I’ve been to there’s always been wine/champagne 🤷🏻‍♀️ Usually places like soft-play (enough to drive anyone to drink) gardens or Tarka (which is a weird concept where ex-military blokes lob kids around in a hall and get them to balance on things Confused)

I’m always a bit gutted I can’t have a glass or two (nanny on duty)

Starlight39 · 25/05/2021 10:17

I think it's just weird he rang and invited himself in the first place! Does he often insert himself into child events that his ex wife is handling (presumably on her time?). With my ex, if there's a party on his time, I just let him know and ask if he'd like DS to go or if he has plans. If it's on my time I just deal with it and stay or not depending on the party. Especially in someone's house, unless they live in a huge place, the last thing needed is extra adults blocking up the place. And yes, the going upstairs was strange too but maybe he felt like he had to justify being there by supervising his DS.

Bluntness100 · 25/05/2021 10:22

Or may be he knew what his ex was like and went for the kids sake. Because no one was looking after those children.

EmeraldShamrock · 25/05/2021 10:27

It isn't great the DC upstairs at 5 especially if it was a trip hazard.
Why didn't you shout out to them when they first went up? They knew upstairs was off limits.
Why was DS bringing DC into your bedroom?

SmidgenofaPigeon · 25/05/2021 10:31

Are people really shocked at five years olds upstairs unsupervised though? In their own rooms? What do you think happens at night? Do you sit and watch them incase they wake up and move around in their rooms Confused

They’re not babies, they’re pretty much in control of their limbs at that point...of course they don’t need supervision every time they’re out of your line of sight playing indoors!

Chamomileteaplease · 25/05/2021 10:39

Yes @ starlight39 - that aspect has been overlooked.
How many people reading this thread has, when their child has been at the separated parent's house, phoned up the parent of their child's five year old friend and asked to come to their party? When the other parent is already taking them.

I bet the answer is zero. Weird man.

NinaMimi · 25/05/2021 10:42

If I was supervising kids in a house I might not think much about going upstairs with them if one was going to his room to get or play with toys etc but I would realise that if they walked into the main bedroom and there was lots of laundry there and it was messy that it wouldn’t be a room the host would want people to go into and would steer them out of.

I think people are forgetting when hosting you don’t have your eyes on everyone. You’re spending time with other guests or checking food and drink supplies are ok etc. So can’t see what everyone is up to.

I had people at my house and found out later that some kids had been in my room likely with an adult as a kid had drawn on a notepad. It’s not a nice surprise so I do feel for you when you found out.

I do think it’s unreasonable to expect a present though. If it was a last minute invite he knows his ex wife has bought a present and card. And for me I haven’t been to kids parties in a while so wouldn’t know if it’d be appropriate to bring a gift of wine.

Definately · 25/05/2021 10:44

You wanted him to bring a bottle of wine and say thank you for letting him bring his kid to a 5 year olds birthday party Confused

ChicFennel · 25/05/2021 10:50

@EmeraldShamrock

It isn't great the DC upstairs at 5 especially if it was a trip hazard. Why didn't you shout out to them when they first went up? They knew upstairs was off limits. Why was DS bringing DC into your bedroom?
huh?! Confused

A 5 year old already goes to Primary school, they are not toddlers!
Why on earth shouldn't they go "upstairs"? Surely the kids bedroom and playroom is exactly where they go for a playdate? Without the parents hovering around?

ProbablyBeingDaft · 25/05/2021 11:10

And that's without just wondering why he was upstairs alone with the children. Better to be on the safe side sad

WTAF are you implying? Confused that he was a paedo who saw an opportunity?!

This place is absolutely unhinged

Penistoe · 25/05/2021 15:07

You already sounded nuts then you ended an update with ‘rant over’.

pissface · 25/05/2021 15:10

Nah I would be pissed off too, why did he need to come to a kids birthday party if it wasn't his own? Why did he go upstairs, he shouldn't have supervised his kid, he should have told them to come downstairs. Probably wouldn't have cared about the present and card but it sounds odd.

Quirrelsotherface · 25/05/2021 15:14

Never would I expect a present from both mum and dad separated or not, or anyone to bring wine to a kids birthday party. I wouldn't have liked him going upstairs but I would have gone upstairs (baby attached to boob if necessary) and said breezily 'right, everyone downstairs please!'

YABU

moynomore · 25/05/2021 15:15

Why didn't you tell everyone to stay downstairs? He sounds odd for wanting to come to the party and I would have just said no, no room. But, you sound odd for letting them all be upstairs, for expecting another card from him and "raging" at not getting a thank you.

Giantrooster · 25/05/2021 15:17

I would have gone upstairs (baby attached to boob if necessary) and said breezily 'right, everyone downstairs please!'

But that's such a boring normal and level-headed reaction Grin.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 25/05/2021 15:38

Was his ex put out that he was there?

DespairingHomeowner · 25/05/2021 15:43

NRFT, but for this reason, I have a lock (with a key) on my bedroom door.

It is mainly so workmen cannot get in there for a nose but I would also lock the room if I was having a party. You may find this v useful as your children get older & have potentially nosey friends round

DameEdnasNeighbourhoodWatch · 25/05/2021 16:17

I understand how you feel, I would be horrified at a male stranger in my personal space when I wasn't expecting it!! I am uncomfortable even with tradesmen being in my bedroom and that is my issue, and I prepare for it and deal with it.

Surely any adult would think I shouldn't be in another adults bedroom playing with toys on their unmade bed ?!!!

I would feel the same as you, and annoyed at myself for agreeing he could even come over !!!

TheKeatingFive · 25/05/2021 16:33

Him going upstairs is a bit weird, yes. So YANBU about that.

Expecting a card/present/bottle of wine from him is bizarre though. Birthday presents are from child guests (nominally) to birthday child. Why you’d be expecting anything different is beyond me.

Dannyandsandy · 25/05/2021 17:18

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion the irony of your comment... smh Biscuit

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 25/05/2021 17:31

@Dannyandsandy, do you know what irony means? Which part of my post was ironic? You want to be rude, then expect someone to be rude back.

Hertsgirl10 · 25/05/2021 17:37

You sound embarrassed for the house being a state. Just forget it it’s done, honestly doubt he would have been having a good nosey in your room lol

Frazzledstar1 · 25/05/2021 17:39

He shouldn’t have gone upstairs really, bit weird, but other than that I couldn’t bring myself to get worked up about the experience.

Librariesmakeshhhhappen · 25/05/2021 17:41

@Dannyandsandy

What was ironic about what Iminaglasscaseofemotion posted to you? That's such an odd descriptor for you to use.

And talking about, "all that's going on in the world and you're getting about this"... what? This is an online forum for nonsense. As all online forums are. It's here to be a distraction from the real world. It's for entertainment and it's where people can come to have a moan about the stupid things, as well serious talk. Maybe you're just not cut out for fun, frivolous forum talk.

ittakes2 · 25/05/2021 17:47

I do what you do - messy upstairs and neat downstairs for guests but others are tidy all over. I would have followed him up immediately and ejected him from upstairs.