AIBU to accept a birthday party invite to a child’s party we don’t know?

[Obeseandashamed]

My son has started a new pre-school today and this morning we received a birthday party invite for a party taking place next weekend. The invite was sent via the school comms so I assume to the entire class. We don’t know the child but it would be nice for my son and I to meet the children in his new class and the parents too. AIBU to accept the invite because we don’t yet know them? I feel like I may be intruding as some of the children will have attended pre-school last year and know each other but then I also think if they have made the effort to invite us then we should go and it may be rude if we don’t? Of course it goes without saying we would take a card & gift.

How will you get to know them if you don't go to the party?

Does your child want to go? If so, I wouldn’t give it a second thought. We moved countries in the middle of a school year when DS was seven, and went to a classmate’s party the very first weekend. It was a nice chance to meet some of the other parents, and for me to get some idea of who was who in the class, so I could enter into DS’s accounts of them.

Go! A great chance to suss out all the parent clichés in their natural environment all together. Working out which ones are likely friends and which you may want to avoid at all costs!

It's not rude to accept an invitation.

It's also not rude to politely decline an invitation.

Both are fine.

(It is rude to say you'll come and not turn up or to turn up without RSVPing so don't do either of those and you'll be fine).

The host also knows that they haven't met you or your DC yet, that's the whole point of inviting the group.

Of course you accept. It's pretty normal to not know the children or parents at this age isn't it?

I really can't understand your dilemma. They have extended an invitation; maybe they don't know anyone?

Please reply, I'm sure they will be delighted.

I did the same when my daughter was 3, nobody answered even when I followed up a few days later. It was horrible. Then the day before three parents contacted me to accept but by that stage I'd made other plans. Then the day of it when I was at the cinema with one other friend I received a barrage of angry messages from a fourth parent who had arrived at our house without RSVPing.

Thanks for the reassurance. I suppose my own anxieties about feeling like a token friend (a can of worms so won’t go in to it) are playing on my mind. My instinct was to RSVP and attend but as I was typing the message, I had second thoughts and began doubting my decision so posted for opinions. My child will definitely want to go. He is very sociable and excited to make new friends at his new pre-school. He waved us off at the door without a second glance towards us this morning! I will RSVP and attend 😊

If you can go, go, what a lovely invitation.

Go! I made a lovely friend myself at nursery party.

My son is starting reception this week so i expect the same will happen eventually, in that any party he gets invited to will be a kid i don’t know. I plan to accept any invitation.

I’m glad I messaged and RSVP’d. The mum seems really nice and welcoming. She has shared a wealth of information including the link to the various parent WhatsApp groups etc. Thank you for giving me the nudge/validation I needed 😊

That's the best way to meet people :-)
My daughter invited all 25 children to her 4th birthday and that was the first time we'd met most of them. Luckily she was more focussed for future years lol.

I don’t see how you would be intruding if your DC was invited. I would cease this opportunity as it would be a great way to meet the parents and children.