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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Not Inviting my best friends to my daughters party

116 replies

GirlsAndPenguins · 12/02/2023 07:52

Hi, ok so…
I feel bad that I’ve upset my best friends for not inviting them to my DDs birthday party. They don’t have children and I’ve only invited her friends from nursery or friends of mine that have children that she hangs around with (play dates etc).
I stupidly chose a tiny venue so there is a huge lack of space. I’m pretty sure I can’t even comfortably fit everyone I have invited!
We went small for 2 reasons:

  1. last year we invited loads that didn’t turn up
  2. I’m 39 weeks pregnant and conscious that I may not make it to the party so didn’t want to spend a bomb and have to cancel at last minute. I haven’t even invited any family! I don’t want to upset them as they have been amazing friends and are great with DD. But I had to draw the line somewhere. AIBU to just invite people with children?
OP posts:
MolkosTeenageAngst · 12/02/2023 09:07

How involved are your friends in your DD’s life? I am single and childless (not strictly by choice) and I adore the children of my close friends and family and I make the effort to spend time with them, I regularly offer to babysit or take them out for a bit to give parents a break, I ask after the children and always remember Christmas and birthdays and ensure I put thought into the children’s gifts. I genuinely enjoy spending time with my friend’s children and would feel really sad if I was excluded from big events like birthdays just because I don’t have my own kids. That said, I have other childless friends who aren’t really interested in kids and, although perfectly nice with the kids when they see them, who don’t put in the same effort or would prefer to meet up without the children present so appreciate not all friends are actively involved when others have kids. Whether you’re being unreasonable probably depends somewhat on the kind of friends you have excluded and the relationship they have with your DD.

Mardyface · 12/02/2023 09:09

Did you explain it was in a soft play? If you did and they're still kicking off about but coming they have either never been to a soft play or there is literally something wrong with them.

Calphurnia88 · 12/02/2023 09:13

MolkosTeenageAngst · 12/02/2023 09:07

How involved are your friends in your DD’s life? I am single and childless (not strictly by choice) and I adore the children of my close friends and family and I make the effort to spend time with them, I regularly offer to babysit or take them out for a bit to give parents a break, I ask after the children and always remember Christmas and birthdays and ensure I put thought into the children’s gifts. I genuinely enjoy spending time with my friend’s children and would feel really sad if I was excluded from big events like birthdays just because I don’t have my own kids. That said, I have other childless friends who aren’t really interested in kids and, although perfectly nice with the kids when they see them, who don’t put in the same effort or would prefer to meet up without the children present so appreciate not all friends are actively involved when others have kids. Whether you’re being unreasonable probably depends somewhat on the kind of friends you have excluded and the relationship they have with your DD.

Agree totally.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 12/02/2023 09:18

It also depends on why your friend is childless. She may really be struggling with infertility or the fact that's she's not even in a position to try for a baby. To be given 'you don't have children' as a reason is really awful. I'm not surprised she's upset.

WandaWonder · 12/02/2023 09:23

To me there is a family/friend adults use a kids party as an excuse to have a party party

Then a party for actual kids

The op's party to me was the latter, no it had nothing to do with infertility or anything else it was a party specifically for children

ZekeZeke · 12/02/2023 09:28

GirlsAndPenguins · 12/02/2023 08:21

DD is turning 3 so adults will be staying.

Hmmm it's really an adults party so.

Adults are staying!
Assume grandparents are coming?

Soozikinzii · 12/02/2023 09:31

It all sounds a bit childish . What sort of party did they think it was ? Drinks and nibbles ! With loads of kids you're responsible for ? How silly of them .

TiaraBoo · 12/02/2023 09:34

Soft play is NOT an adults party!

1st birthday - more about the parents celebrating they’ve reached a year
2nd birthday - probably similar
3rd birthday - usual for child to now have their own friends and it’s their party

I mean, when does it stop - why do adults believe they should be invited to a child’s party. Especially when the host is about to give birth.

BadNomad · 12/02/2023 09:38

I'm sure they didn't expect to be allowed to play in the ball pit. 🙄I'm guessing they just would have liked to be welcome to celebrating with the child they care about. But they're now realising they are tier-two friends. Not included in child-related things.

BadNomad · 12/02/2023 09:40

TiaraBoo · 12/02/2023 09:34

Soft play is NOT an adults party!

1st birthday - more about the parents celebrating they’ve reached a year
2nd birthday - probably similar
3rd birthday - usual for child to now have their own friends and it’s their party

I mean, when does it stop - why do adults believe they should be invited to a child’s party. Especially when the host is about to give birth.

Because they actually care about the child and have a relationship with her. Unlike Nancy-from-nursery and her mother.

Snugglemonkey · 12/02/2023 09:44

Anoisagusaris · 12/02/2023 08:49

Anyone I know has a kids party and a family celebration separately. Grandparents and family don’t come to the parties for school friends. Ever.

This is what we do. An afternoon tea type thing for family, a hideous softplay/inflatable headache inducing thing for a squillion children.

NotTooParticular · 12/02/2023 09:46

You invite the children not the adults Grin

As she hasn't got a child you can't invite her (invisible) child. Batty.

Salacia · 12/02/2023 09:50

I don’t think the people on here mocking the uninvited friends for being put out or calling them/the OP immature are especially helpful or necessary.

In my experience there are two types of kids parties.
a) very much for the kids and their friends - tends to be when the children are a little older and have active friendships under their own steam. Often activities/at venues that are very obviously ‘kids party’ eg soft play, carting etc. The party is the activity so to speak and the adults are there as chaperones not guests.
b) parties which are equally for the adults/the parents wider social network. Often when the child is too young to have any active friendships and the child guests are therefore the offspring of family and friends. Tend to be less obvious ‘kids party’ eg in a church hall, home etc. Whilst there is obviously a focus/activities for the children you’ve also got adults catching up over a glass of wine/coffee etc rather than being there purely in a capacity to stop child a ramming child b with a go cart. The adults are there as chaperones and guests.

The venue you’ve picked puts it more in the type a category for me but if you’ve always had type b parties then I can see why friends might be upset if it’s not been explained that this year is different. Once friends start having children it is understandably harder to get the group together/see everyone - how many posts do we see on here of women who feel their friends have ditched them since having kids (or since being the one who’s had a baby). It’s a difficult stage to negotiate in life (especially once you throw in people having fertility issues etc) and not to sound twee a bit of kindness and not assuming the worst of intentions goes both ways. I can see why they’re upset if they think you’re having party type b but have only invited people with children, especially if they if they have made an effort to be involved in your and your children’s life. Especially if they hear about it second hand (eg two of your friends with children mentioning that they’ll see each other on Saturday at DC’s party).

You’re completely entitled to have the party you want and given your circumstances I think you’ve made a very sensible choice but I think something has gone amiss in communication which is why your friends without children are upset.

I’d message them something along the lines of ‘sorry if you’re a bit upset re DD’s party. With it being so close to my due date we’ve decided to do something small and simple this year rather than our usual party (just in case we need to cancel!) so are going to go to soft play instead. Unfortunately this means that grandparents, family and friends aren’t able to come. I really value your friendship and support and hope you understand - would be lovely to catch up soon/see you at so and sos/blah blah’.

If they’re still upset after an explanation then they’re tipping into unreasonable territory but I think it’s worth making sure everyone’s on the same page. Hope the party goes well and best of luck with the rest of the pregnancy!

Menopausingperi · 12/02/2023 09:51

I never invite my friends - or even family - to my children’s birthday parties. Kids’ parties are for the children’s friends, not mine!

I think that’s totally normal. I don’t get invited to random kids’ parties, my kids get invited and I go along with them if I have to!

Lavenderflower · 12/02/2023 09:54

I think this fine but it is important to communicate and word things properly so it doesn't come across as you are excluding childless friends.

TiaraBoo · 12/02/2023 10:04

Would you expect to be invited to their party every year? Even though you are not the party child’s friend but the parents friend? Even when grandparents aren’t invited?

Gilm0reGirl · 12/02/2023 10:04

We were one of the last in our circle of friends to have children, so we were invited to some parties and not others. We had a long often upsetting road ttc. My DH and I would never ever be so selfish as to think our ability to have children and how we felt about that be put ahead of a child being able to invite their friends to their birthday party.

The very thought of one of our friends telling their dd or ds “I’m sorry we don’t have enough room for your some of your friends because we have to invite mummy and daddy’s friends so we don’t upset them” is mortifying. And it’s no better if the child is younger and it’s not explained to them, they still miss out in order for me, a grown up with enough self awareness to know my feelings are not their responsibility, to be put first.

Because that is what would have had to happen to always accommodate us, either the birthday girl/boy would have had less of their own friends there or the parents would have had to have bigger venues with more cost involved, just so my feelings weren’t hurt.

A child is not responsible for my feelings. This is not an adults party regardless if adults have to stay, it’s not a social get together and children are just there, it is a child’s party and they don’t have to miss out so I’m kept happy.

CopperMaran · 12/02/2023 10:05

BadNomad · 12/02/2023 09:40

Because they actually care about the child and have a relationship with her. Unlike Nancy-from-nursery and her mother.

But the op has invited them and now they won’t go so it’s more about FOMO that actually wanting to be there I would have thought.
Op - the way I understand it you didn’t think to invite them because it’s a small party (in no small part because you are 39 weeks pregnant) and your child’s parties are starting to become more about them and their friends rather than you and your friends and their children’s. You didn’t think invite your close friend without children who was probably a must invite guest at previous parties becusss those parties were family and friend celebrations with you and your child. It didn’t occur go you that this would bother your friend. It did bother them and as soon as you realised you apologised and said of course you must come. They’re sulking because they feel this makes them somehow second tier friends and now won’t come. I can understand why they’re upset (I remember feeling upset at my child not being invited to a uni friend’s child’s birthday party even though we lived hours away!) but that’s their issue to manage not yours. You’re not responsible for their upset. You’ve not deliberately excluded them. You’ve responded to the fact they feel excluded kindly and you’ve got more than enough going on with your own life. I hope your child has a fabulous party.

TiaraBoo · 12/02/2023 10:06

Sorry that question was to @BadNomad

(pressing reply was clearly too advanced for my phone!)

CopperMaran · 12/02/2023 10:07

Gilm0reGirl · 12/02/2023 10:04

We were one of the last in our circle of friends to have children, so we were invited to some parties and not others. We had a long often upsetting road ttc. My DH and I would never ever be so selfish as to think our ability to have children and how we felt about that be put ahead of a child being able to invite their friends to their birthday party.

The very thought of one of our friends telling their dd or ds “I’m sorry we don’t have enough room for your some of your friends because we have to invite mummy and daddy’s friends so we don’t upset them” is mortifying. And it’s no better if the child is younger and it’s not explained to them, they still miss out in order for me, a grown up with enough self awareness to know my feelings are not their responsibility, to be put first.

Because that is what would have had to happen to always accommodate us, either the birthday girl/boy would have had less of their own friends there or the parents would have had to have bigger venues with more cost involved, just so my feelings weren’t hurt.

A child is not responsible for my feelings. This is not an adults party regardless if adults have to stay, it’s not a social get together and children are just there, it is a child’s party and they don’t have to miss out so I’m kept happy.

Totally agree.

Hbh17 · 12/02/2023 10:09

My best friends' children are now in their 20s and 30s (4 of them). I am still close to them, & their parents. I think I only went to 1 or 2 of their parties in total, & that was only to be an extra pair of hands. One of the many joys of being childfree is that you don't have to go to kids' parties! No adult would expect or want to go, so relax.

BannMan · 12/02/2023 10:15

No I promise, she’s real 😂.
I think it’s because there are people within our mutual friendship circle that have been invited with their children.

That's not strictly true. You have invited the children, not the parent. The parent happens to be accompanying their young child to a children's party. You need to reframe how you speak about it.

Soakitup37 · 12/02/2023 10:18

Can’t you explain with an apology that you didn’t think she would want to attend under the circumstances, but obviously you’d love her to be there and she’s welcome? Seems pretty straightforward fix to me…

turrrniiipz · 12/02/2023 10:19

A big party with a bar, buffet, loads of people of varying ages, I'd say everyone should be included.

A little venue dressed for kids with kids party food, kids party games etc, I wouldn't include adults that don't have children that are invited.

Before I had kids I wouldn't have wanted to sit in the local church hall with kids hurtling around screaming. But I would happily have gone to a party in function room in a pub or a bar, where adults can have a glass of wine and something to eat too.

honeylulu · 12/02/2023 10:23

We always had an "after party" with tea/ cake or sometimes wine/bbq for godparents etc who didn't have young children and therefore hadn't come to the soft play stuff. It was a nice way for us to relax after the high energy kids party! Though as you're 39 weeks pregnant I can see why you don’t want to do anything extra this year.