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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to cancel weekend plans with friends etc so we can go away and enjoy the sunshine...?

92 replies

wonderingwondering · 20/05/2010 20:00

That's it really. Got a couple of birthday parties for children (we know the parents) and had invited some work colleagues over for dinner. But I'd really rather give my tent an airing while the sun is out!

Is it really bad to cancel and (as I'm going to cancel, just want to know how guilty I should feel) should I lie about the reason why (sick child? work commitments...?)? Or just be honest?

OP posts:
BAFE · 20/05/2010 20:02

please don't cancel. For all you know, those people you have invited to dinner may have been invited away for the nice week-end too, but didn't want to let you down. (sad)

Slippingthroughmyfingers · 20/05/2010 20:04

It is the height of ignorance and bad manners.

Original poster
wonderingwondering · 20/05/2010 20:05

oh dear [guilt]

OP posts:
Jajas · 20/05/2010 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
wonderingwondering · 20/05/2010 20:06

Cancelling the dinner? Or the kid's parties? Surely OK to ditch the kid's parties....?

OP posts:
mangoandlime · 20/05/2010 20:08

YABU.

Summer isn't just this weekend, you know.

said · 20/05/2010 20:08

No, you can't cancel the kids parties. What if everyone did that??

TheBolter · 20/05/2010 20:10

Not good form I'm afraid. Very flaky.

Why not go camping another weekend?

Jajas · 20/05/2010 20:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
wonderingwondering · 20/05/2010 20:12

It's the first good weekend - we've tried over Easter, May Day holiday and so on but it was too cold. And the next month is fully booked with work commitments....

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 20/05/2010 20:13

you sound rather selfish

I expect the childrens parties would have had a limited number of people invited...if you sack them, someone else missed out

regarding the dinner...have a bbq instead and enjoy the rays at home

princessmel · 20/05/2010 20:13

What AF said

MrsMellowdrummer · 20/05/2010 20:14

Camp in the garden instead, and make yourself a lovely camp fire to cook your dinner party on...?

traceybath · 20/05/2010 20:14

Well lets just hope that all the children invited to the parties have parents who don't decide to go camping.

Imagine poor birthday child sat on own as all friends have gone away.

Feeling guilty yet

catinthehat2 · 20/05/2010 20:15

Letting friends down at the last minute?
Letting your children see it's OK to let their friends down at the last minute?
Thinking up a few good lies to tell about it all?
And a little guilty smiley to make it all better?

What a gal!

expatinscotland · 20/05/2010 20:15

Why not have a BBQ for the dinner, then, and air the tent in your back garden and let the kids play in it?

It only needs to air a few hours (just check it for ticks, too, after it's been out).

As for the parties, YABU.

marriednotdead · 20/05/2010 20:16

YABVU. Why not put the tent up in the back garden and make the dinner a bbq? As others have said, your guests may have turned down other things to spend time with you; it's far too short notice to cancel on a whim. And the kids would grass you up when asked why they missed their parties, even assuming they forgave you. There are a few more sunny weekends to be had before we return to Antarctica

expatinscotland · 20/05/2010 20:17

What catinthehat said.

I can't abide flaky people like this. It's very immature and selfish behaviour.

fearnelinen · 20/05/2010 20:19

Oh cancel, no-one's going to get hurt. And chances are they're going to enjoy the sunshine anyway. It's hardly a hardship. Tell the kids party people that 'something unavoidable's come up' and tell the dinner people the truth - invite them along for a barbecue?

Life's too short to get het up about these things - I wouldn't sweat it if I was a cancelee - actually I would, in my garden, on a lounger, with a long G & T!

Original poster
wonderingwondering · 20/05/2010 20:19

maybe a twinge of guilt traceybath...

I know it's bad form really but I work F/T at the mo, DH works weekends, so it's a question of choose your guilt really - quality family time vs previous commitments.

I wondered what the consensus was - as I actually would think someone was mad to give up a weekend away to come to my child's party, I wouldn't mind a last-minute cancellation at all. But seems I'm in the minority...

OP posts:
dizzydixies · 20/05/2010 20:22

I think its really shit of you too - we've got a kids party organised this weekend and frankly I can't be arsed and would rather do something else instead but I appreciate the fact that others will have changed plans to come here. I've also spent a lot on food/drink/party stuff that if someone dropped out this late I'd be a bit

if you're dropping out of mine don't expect me to be best bloody pleased about it

said · 20/05/2010 20:22

You're not giving up a weekend away re the party. You were never going to go away in the first place.

It's my daughter's birthday party this weekend so I'm touchy about this. Would be sooooo pissed off if all the invitees did the same.

anonymousbird · 20/05/2010 20:22

Stick the tent in the garden, you must be able to improvise around that???

Otherwise, seriously poor, YABVVVU. If it were simply having a cup of tea with someone, fine, but all those arrangements?? Prepare to lose some mates/not be invited again to anything they arrange!

Flamesparrow · 20/05/2010 20:22

My child only has 2 people going out for her birthday. she would be devastated

expatinscotland · 20/05/2010 20:25

What, they are all day parties? They only last about 2 hours.

Thankfully, people around here aren't as rude as you are.

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