Should I just cancel? I'm embarrassed

[mamamasala]

Right, so it's my son's birthday tomorrow. He's only 1. I have thrown a party. A shocking 16 out of the 30 invited have pulled out in the last 3 days. I'm so upset and the people coming now aren't really even my friends. They're family friends and more close to my parents. ALL MY FRIENDS HAVE PULLED OUT. It's embarrassing. Disheartening. I've bought food, drink etc. For 30. I've just had enough of shit friends. How do I make this a non embarrassing empty event? Or do I just carry on and hope it's okay?

As others have said, it sounds lovely. At that age children don’t really interact anyway. All the first birthdays I went too with my two consisted largely of adults chatting watching their little ones crawl off exploring on their own. It’s just nice to mark the occasion. You have some friends and loads of family. Enjoy it!

We had a family party for my DD on her first birthday and I think that's normal tbh. You should carry on, did anyone who is not coming accept initially (I'm guessing not).

Is the party in a soft play or something that makes it odd to have all adults coming now? If it is, just change the venue. If not, then it sounds absolutely fine, people won't care. They'll come and enjoy themselves with a bit of cake and then go. They won't be expecting anything stupendous as its a first birthday. Your anxiety about the whole thing is trying to trip you up, but there's no need - the party sounds good

Still go ahead for your childs sake. Remember who pulled out and do the same back!

Sounds like an absolutely fine guest list OP. It doesn't matter at this age whether there are other kids - it would at 2 or 3 but not yet. And everyone tends to invite different types of people/friends/family to first birthdays.

Noone else will know about the cancellers (and prep yourself now for the fact that someone else will prob cancel on the day)

Carry on & use it as a social opportunity to lay the seeds for new friendships, invite the ones you click with over for play dates or park meet ups & sod the ones who have let you down.

It's really rubbish when this happens, but it does happen to almost everyone at some time or other. I had a memorable Xmas get together, around a week before xmas day, and 3 out of 16 people turned up.

It was a bit quieter than I expected and nobody drank or ate anything as they had stuff to do for xmas. It was dire:) I'm still friends with everyone though. It's just too many people thinking they won't be missed.

They'd all said they'd come. A few RSVPd as NO initially and they're not who j am referring to

Umm... Is this party for you or your child? Who cares if lots of people can't make it, your one year old won't care.

If that's all the people who are definitely coming, then you've got more people coming to a party than I've ever invited to one.

14 still sounds like a good number for a do xx

The ones who haven't replied may still turn up. I've sent dd invites out before and half not even bothered replying with some just turning up anyway