Would it bother you if parent stayed at your childs party

[macwoozy]

My 5 year old ds has been invited to a birthday party. It will be his very first, well apart from one when he was 2, but that doesn't count. I imagine the whole class has been invited. It will be held in an indoor ball park, its going to be an hour or so of play followed by some food. My ds can't be trusted to behave whilst he's there, and without my supervision he's likely to be really hard to manage.I really want him to go as he always misses out on events like these, but if I do let him go, I've just got to be there, just to keep him in place.

I've never spoken to the birthday girls mum, so I will find it really hard to just ask out of the blue if it's OK for me to stay.

As I'm obviously a novice when it comes to these kiddies parties I'd really be interested to hear what other mums think of this. Would you mind at all if another parent who you've never spoken to before asked if she could stay behind, or would that make you feel abit awkward, perhaps you would prefer only parents stay that you knew well. I'd hate to be anywhere where I didn't feel welcome but at the same time I really want my ds to experience the fun of a birthday party.

Do many parents stay behind or do you leave as soon as you've dropped off the kids. Have you ever stayed behind even when you haven't been asked to?

Reading this back to me sounds like I'm worrying about such a trivial matter, can't help myself

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I invited the whole class once at 5yo and made sure I had enough friends roped in to help that it didn't matter if none of the mothers stayed. Just as well because most didn't. Fair enough though, I was prepared!

If my child wants me to stay at a party then I do - simple as that, even if its a house party. I usually explain to the hostess that we sort of come as a package and that I hope they don't mind. I always end up helping out though, wouldn't dream of just sitting there and not doing anything and it makes me feel a bit better about having to stay. Plus its the only time I get out

Wouldn't mind at all

I wouldn't mind. You could offer to help out so you feel less of a spare part.

Not read the whole thread, just the first few...

My DD is only diddy, so no first hand experience, but I would say in a soft play place etc, the more hands the better! You might get on really well with the mum too.

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest if mums wanted to stay.

My son is just 4 and I would stay, in fact he would instist that i stay. When it was his birthday a few weeks ago he invited friends from his nursery, I don't know the mum's as I work and don't see them but I was very surprised that most of them left their children and went off shopping. The party was in an indoor play park and found it really stressful being responsible for children I did not know andtrying to keep an eye on them all.

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