To not make a 160 mile round trip to go to a kids birthday party

[VoluptuaGoodshag]

I know I'm not but why am I still feeling guilty? It starts at 10 in the morning so we'd have to leave at 8am to make sure we are there in time taking in the rush hour traffic (though it should be quieter in the hols), the journey will take about 1 hour 40 mins each way.

But it's where we used to live and it would mean the kids get to see their old pals and I could catch up with some old neighbours.

On the other hand it might make the kids throw a wobbly and want to move back.

Also, I'll have already done the trip three times in the last week for unavoidable stuff including the evening before.

bump

Don't think of it as a kids' birthday party - think of it as a reunion of lots of old friends.

I wouldn't do it for a child, but would do if it had wider appeal and for a general day out.

I suppose I could stay with a very close pal in the street I used to stay in but her kids aren't invited to the party. Also, I need to be back in the city centre for an appointment at 5pm the previous evening so it would mean leaving here about 3pm and taking the kids with me which would be a hassle for the appointment and then going round to said friend later.

We moved away about six weeks ago and the kids do still keep talking about their old pals (they are aged 4+5). I am quite friendly with the mother of the child who is having the party and she has already said that she understands if we can't make it but she didn't want my DD to feel excluded which is nice. But I'm sure we can meet up at some other time. Even if the party was at noon I'd probably make the effort but the kids (and me) are enjoying nice long lies at the moment, as we've all had the cold/lurgy.

To be honest, I was glad to move away from the place as I never really liked it but the neighbours and people were friendly. Part of it is the psychological thing of dragging myself back to the neighbourhood I'm not keen on.