Argh children's party

[scorpiogirly]

My daughter will be 4 in July and we have organised a party for her on the 9th July, booked a hall and entertainer for 2 hours.

It was a nightmare finding a hall and an entertainer at what appears to be very short notice in the party world.

I picked my daughter up from nursery yesterday and she had been goben am invited to a party for one of her friends which is on the same day.

My first reaction was to panic. I have tried to rearrange the hall but the only date they have available is the 9th. No other halls available as I scoured the area at the time.

There is no overlap, friends party is 11-1 and my daughter's party is 2-4 with plenty of time to get between venues.

I was worried that parents would either go to one or the other. Is it usual that they go to both in this situation?

Mine too!

We’d go to both too. My DC love parties.

We had a similar situation recently where I’d procrastinated sending out party invites for my youngest and waited till 2.5 weeks before the date 🤦🏼‍♀️ Unfortunately 4 of the little friends had just been invited to another little boy’s party at the exact same time. It was fine, as we still have 20 other friends coming, but next year I’m sending invites at least 2 months in advance 😂

I would go ahead with your DDs party. When mine were that age is was parties most weekends and wasn't unusual to have two in one day. Kids love parties. I know I enjoyed them as it kept my dc entertained for a few hours.

We've done that a few times, just get your invite out asap and apologise it's the same day, explain you've tried to reschedule but can't. Most people won't mind.

I'd also say you'll be providing a few glasses of fizz as it's an afternoon do and you appreciate they've had a busy day!

I would have picked one to go to (whoever DC was closest to or if not particularly close to either, which party sounds better or was at the more convenient time) at that age. Both parties would be too much for the DCs and I wouldn't want so much of my day taken up. 5yo DD2 recently attended a 3hr hall party; by the end the kids were exhausted and playing up, and the adult conversation had run dry. I can't imagine what the DCs would be like after 4hrs, even with a 1hr interval in the middle.
Does it have to be a big hall party OP? How about picking 5 friends for a softplay party (or similar). If you get it sorted quickly and send personal invites via PM, there is a good chance the friend's parents won't have RSVPed yet. You'd stand a good chance of poaching them if they are not the kind to attend both.

We had a couple of parties in the same day; the second one my DS vomited all over the table. Might be worth looking for something else

We’ve been to 2 parties on one day loads of times. Don’t worry about it OP. I would get your invites out ASAP though!

Most will go to both don't sweat it! We've had lots of 5th birthday parties recently.

When my child was that age, she would consider that to be the best day ever 😂 She loved parties and even it seemed like a lot in one day, sometimes there might not be another party in 2 months so it’s fine imo

It would have been far too much for my DD at that age but she was a quiet little thing. (Though to be honest I think 2 hours is too long for that age anyway.)

I’d have no problem taking my kids to both!

My DS is in reception and we've done 2 parties in one day. It was fine.

Best day ever for my kids!!

I'd do both. Can you approach the other parent and do a joint whole class party? But God knows how they'll react.

I’d go to both, wouldn’t give it a second thought tbh 🤷🏻‍♀️

I've got a four year old and would take him to both.

Children's party's are my idea of hell I couldn't cope with 2 in one day and waste a day off work. I image most will feel the same.

I wouldn't ask for a joint party as others are suggesting. You can't do that once invites have been sent!

I would do both as I'd feel too guilty going to one and not the other!