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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

ANOTHER kids party invite ….

96 replies

Brighton5555 · 10/03/2022 15:39

So… experienced mum and dads how many is too many ? My child has just received another which means 5 in the next 4 weeks and 2 of them happen to be on the same day ( morning and Evening ) 🥱🥱😧

I’ve been to 3 already so far this year… I personally find them boring and some have been set far away or at 9am on a weekend and we have had parties at the same venues over and Over …

I finally declined one for first time last month but now we have another 5…

Did you attend every party ? Is it expected too? Did you let your child decide whether to go or did you ever say no.

OP posts:
Marmite27 · 10/03/2022 15:40

As they’ve missed so many through Covid we’ve tried to go to as many as possible, only declining where there’s a clash.

Ilostit · 10/03/2022 15:41

It stops after a bit - maybe reception up to year 2. Enjoy it!

Ponoka7 · 10/03/2022 15:41

I'd let the child decide. Unless it was really encroaching on doing other good stuff, like trips to the zoo etc.

TeenPlusCat · 10/03/2022 15:43

It doesn't matter if you find them boring, they are for your DC not for you.
However if it is too much then start declining the ones from children your own child never mentions.

BrutusMcDogface · 10/03/2022 15:44

Dear god. Be grateful you have a popular child who is being invited to loads of parties! I understand they can be mind-numbing, but it’s not about us, is it? If your child is in reception there will be many as lots of people have whole class parties at this age. It will tail off.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 10/03/2022 15:45

We go if we are around, I see them as free entertainment for my kids

underneaththeash · 10/03/2022 15:45

If they worked for us as a family (or it was a close friend) we accepted otherwise declined. You can say no. Or you can start to lift share with another parent or two.

Original poster
Brighton5555 · 10/03/2022 15:46

My child isn’t in reception and it’s not about being ungrateful. I’m at a school where it’s the done thing at the moment to hold whole class parties I assume that’s why they are getting so many invites …

OP posts:
00100001 · 10/03/2022 15:47

Pfffft mine never went to all of them. We often conveniently had other things booked in.

WorraLiberty · 10/03/2022 15:48

If it got too much (and it did at times) we declined the whole class parties, on the basis that the birthday child won't be actual friends with everyone going anyway.

Close friends we'd make a special effort to attend.

ethelredonagoodday · 10/03/2022 15:49

We didn't accept them all, we had other stuff to do as well!

Dinoteeth · 10/03/2022 15:49

See it as a chance to meet the other kids parents. I go to as many as I can, kind of good to see kids having parties again.

They do become less as kids get bigger but DS attended one recently all the kids seem to have grown so much in the last two years.

Funkyslippers · 10/03/2022 15:50

You don't have to accept them all, of course not. It's a good way to chat to other parents if you want or even better, drop and go!

arethereanyleftatall · 10/03/2022 15:51

I think my dc went to every single one! It's free childcare, and they have a blast, absolute win win. Drop, do something you like, pick up, everyone's happy.

girlmom21 · 10/03/2022 15:51

Did you let your child decide whether to go

Surely the child should always get to decide as long as it's logistically possible for you to attend?

BrutusMcDogface · 10/03/2022 15:53

This is true; the kid always decides if they want to go. I wouldn’t be able to say no if they were desperate to go. Everyone talking about it at school etc etc

00100001 · 10/03/2022 15:53

@girlmom21

Did you let your child decide whether to go

Surely the child should always get to decide as long as it's logistically possible for you to attend?

Well yes. Except my lad never had a choice if we were already doing something else. Which was sometimes only because party was happening... Some kids were little horrors to my boy and he wasn't going to be part of their party.
PatchworkElmer · 10/03/2022 15:55

We go to all of them, unless we have a clash.

FantasticFebruary · 10/03/2022 15:57

What Yr is your child in?

If it's logistically possible to go, then I'd ask the child. Lots of things in life aren't much fun for the parents, but that's life when you choose to have children, it's on you to facilitate their friendships/social life. Unless you let them take the car 🤣

Catflapkitkat · 10/03/2022 16:03

I loved children's parties at that age, chance for a chat with other parents. Kids have a fun activity that usually tires them out, they are fed and watered. All for the price of a card and a present. Brilliant.

Calmdown14 · 10/03/2022 16:03

Yes it's mental this year. I think everyone is having big parties because they haven't been able to.

I'm going to decline two. I don't know who the kids are, never seen the parents due to staggered nursery drop off and they won't be going to the same school.
Buying gifts for all of these gets expensive and 12-2 knackers my day

Whatsonmymindgrapes · 10/03/2022 16:04

I love it it’s a free activity for your child!

Also 3 this year is not that many.

Hillarious · 10/03/2022 16:09

Just wait until your child ISN'T invited to a party!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/03/2022 16:09

I generally make sure they can go if at all possible. It’s lovely for the kids and this phase doesn’t last long - once they’re 8/9 (or even younger I guess) it whittles down as they start having smaller dos with just close friends.

I’d let them enjoy it whilst they’re so young.

Kids have missed a lot during covid. My ds (just 8) missed a couple of prime party years due to this, and I feel sad for him as compared to his big sister.

Original poster
Brighton5555 · 10/03/2022 16:12

3 this year, one declined , 5 coming up so since Jan-March it’s 9 …. Seems excessive .

My kid isn’t at a age to drop off so it requires me being there.

OP posts: