How long can I get away with staying at this party?

[Heartshapedpotato]

Dd has a soft play type birthday party today at 4.30 (am abroad and quite normal to have at that time to 8 pm 😩)
All parents stay and this girl is a good friend of DD’s so I have to take her, but I’m so tired today, it’s rainy and cold and the last thing I want to do on a Friday night is stand in a soft play place making small talk. How long would you stay? I’m guessing the cake won’t come until fairly late if the party ends at 8. Dd is usually up to bed at 7 🙈
Is it mean to turn up a little late, say 5.15 ish (normal to be late where we are and not considered rude at all) and then leave an hour later, hopefully cake etc will be done by then. This meaning I can get home for 7 and get Dd in bed? Or is this rude?

@baileybrosbuildingandloan Im sure we’ve all felt like that, no? Point is I sometimes cba to do things but I always do, for her

Can you not drop and run and collect her at 8? At that age, I would have left mine at parties. And as a host, I prefer when parents drop and run

4.30-8 seems crazy long for a party for children of that age. Surely they will all be exhausted in soft play after an hour or so. I'd be heading home by 7 tbh.

At that age, why do you need to stick around for the entire time?!!! I would hate that too

6 years old and go to bed at 7!? On a Friday too.

I must be on another planet from most of MN, I’d not even agree to go to a kids party that lasted nearly 4 hours and ended at 8pm! I have a migraine just thinking about it. But my kids are autistic and anything slightly out of routine would mean utter hell, so maybe my perspective is skewed. Plus sweets and cake for dinner? They wouldn’t sleep for a week… sorry not helpful I’m just a bit wide eyed here 🤣

Take a book or some headphones and hide in a corner, let DD know where to find you and do a walk around occasionally to make sure she's OK?

This! Let your daughter live a little. One late bedtime won't do her any harm.