Child’s party on Mother’s Day

[Keeley14]

I finally called the soft play to book a birthday party and agreed to Sunday the 15th, so relieved they still had an opening close to the actually birthday.

And now I realise it’s Mother’s Day! Bit of a panic now … I should try to reschedule right?

I just scheduled it yesterday, no invites have gone out yet.

YABU - no you’re fine, leave it
YANBU - you should try to reschedule

Even when we don't go out for MD, I get lunch cooked for me. No way would I want to schlep out to a party afterwards! Or in fact during, as we eat later than 1pm on a Sunday.

I would change it. As I think a lot of people will decline.

I’ve left a message asking to reschedule - I’m most worried people won’t be able to come.

We’re still newish to town, but it seems like many people have lots of family members nearby and the comments about booked lunches and seeing parents / in-laws that afternoon rings true for this community, even if not for me.

Why?

‘Most people’ do have plans of some kind on Mother’s Day, either as a mum themselves or to celebrate their own mum.

The day wouldn't bother me but 2pm is bang on the time we'd be going out for lunch so that would annoy me

Round our way if you wanted lunch out somewhere nice you would have had to book it some time ago. In my case DH and I would generally be wanting to see one or both of our own mothers if possible. Either us visiting them or them us. As they live a fair way away, that’s most of the day taken up. We wouldn’t be available for a child’s party in the middle of it.

I’d be totally fine with it at any stage in my children’s lives and I’m surprised anyone wouldn’t.

It’s not like you booked it on Christmas Day!

Definitely reschedule.

Because it’s only Mumsnet where people treat entire days as completely sacrosanct and a modicum of flexibility cannot be exercised
Honestly some women and their need to be ‘spoiled’ including having entire days revolving around them with not even a two hour break to take the kids to something nice baffles me

Maybe instead/aswell of a party bag you could give each child a small bunch of dafs for the “Mum” figure in their life. I know not every child has a Mum so maybe you could word it for the care giver or someone who looks after them :)

I would usually plan to see my mum on mother's day, as well as doing something with my DC. Or we'd be away for the weekend visiting MIL. So we probably wouldn't be able to attend, unless it was a very best friend.

If there is another date available I'd re-schedule. Or maybe just move the party a bit later - say 4pm - if you can. Even if you keep the same date and time, some people will come and your DC will have a lovely time!

It's not that the "whole day is sacrosanct", though. It's that OP has booked a party bang in the middle of Sunday lunch time, if you take into consideration the time taken to get to the party. And it's not just about the little kids, you know. Mothers (anf fathers) have mothes too...

If my kid was invited I’d sent my DP with her to the party and enjoy a lovely peaceful afternoon by myself. But Mother’s Day for me is just a day I have to remember to send flowers to the grannies. If you can reschedule I would as lots will be doing family meals. Even rescheduling to 10 or 11 might be better than 2?

Yes, re-schedule. I don’t necessarily ‘do’ something all day on Mother’s Day, but one thing I wouldn’t want to do is go to a bloody soft play party. 😂 Sorry!

Personally I would still take a child to a birthday party on Mother's Day because I feel it's a lot of fuss about nothing. Plenty of time to celebrate and be kind to your relatives any day of the year. But some people do regard it as an unmissable event, so you'll probably have a smaller (tell the DC more 'select'!) group.

2pm is right in the middle of the day so will preclude visiting grandmothers etc. I would rearrange (it’s why they still had a vacancy). If late in the day or 10am perhaps but I know we at least would have always gone to family an hour away after church so would decline. In fact purely based on how full our church is with visiting grandkids I’d say many families are busy all day

Hard agree. It is not only about the mothers of the 4 year olds - what if they have plans with their own mothers or MILs?

I would be fine with a party on Mother’s Day.

Don’t be ridiculous, if someone’s booked lunch for 1pm how can they ‘be flexible’ and make it to a party for 2?

The other issue is that OP has left it quite late organising this party. Even for a ‘normal’ weekend I’d expect many people would already have plans at this stage.

Given the 2pm stat I would reschedule, we’re taking Mums/Grandmas out for lunch on Mother’s Day for a 12.30 booking.
I wouldn’t mind a party if it was later on in the day but now our Mums are older we try and do something with them

Do people already have plans for it? It's more than two weeks away

Anyone who generally likes to go out for lunch on Mother's Day will absolutely 'already have plans', yes. For restaurants, Mother's Day is generally the busiest Sunday of the year for lunch and afternoon tea, so people have booked tables ages ago.

My own mother lives over 200 miles away so if I want to see her on Mother's Day I certainly have to plan ahead. It's a weekend trip.

I don’t celebrate it, so would be fine with it but I do know many do. Don’t worry though, it may help reduce numbers (and costs)!

The only way I’d RSVP yes is if my husband agreed to bring kids

I have actually experienced this as a guest! It was a friend who booked without realising. There were not many children there, but the ones who did come had a good time. I would say it’ll be a split like everyone else has said - some people will be off seeing family and others won’t. Maybe ask any key friends and then see who else comes.

I don’t get the whole Mother’s Day thing really. You get a card and a cup of tea in bed if you’re lucky, then crack on with your normal Sunday whether that’s a kids party, football match, whatever. Maybe pop round to see your own mum for an hour. No big deal.