To only invite a few friends to my son’s bday party

[Willyoujust]

My son has chosen an activity to do for his birthday where the maximum of guests they can accommodate is 8. I agreed to this in the summer as I thought he was at an age where there would be less children being invited to birthday parties.

Since returning to school in September he has been invited to a few parties and there are still 15/20 children there. It would mean that he wouldn’t be able to invite everyone that has previously invited him to their parties (in previous academic years).

I really don’t want to offend any children or parents by missing some children off the invite list (which we may have previously invited).

YABU - Find another activity that can accommodate the whole group.

YANBU - Stick to the activity planned and invite his close friends only. It needs to happen eventually.

Do the activity you planned. As they get older they know there are less parties or smaller groups. It will be fine

Do whichever option your son wants.

Parents whose kid isn’t invited won’t have the slightest awareness of it - there are too many birthdays happening all the bleeding time to keep track of whose is when, unless they’re very close friends. In which case, they’re probably in the 8 invited.

Stick to the planned activity, most parents will probably be relieved that someone is finally doing a smaller group.

Do what you have planned and dont contribute to obsession the whole world needs to be invited or the parents will be offended and will obess over it, break the cycle please!

Only on MN do people insist on only going to parties if you are going to invite the child back to your own. I don't think there is anything wrong with what you are planning. We have always done a small party, some kids have invited mine back to theirs while others haven't (and I know they have had parties as seen photos on Facebook).

Okay thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I will take your advice and stick to what my son really wants!