WWYD? reluctant guest

[DestinationUnknown]

One of the mums at ds's school stopped me at the gate the other day to ask ds to come back for tea & play tomorrow. I felt a bit put on the spot & accepted. Turns out ds isn't particularly great friends with the other boy & doesn't really want to go. Do I make up a lame, last minute excuse or just let ds cope with it? he might have a nice time after all. They are both YR and only just 5.

Depends whether your DS really hates the idea of going and will be upset and want to go home in which case an excuse is in order (i.e. DS v tired, just wants to go home after school, maybe coming down with something) or just not very keen in which no harm done to send him as he may well enjoy himself once there.

If he really doesn't want to go, then I wouldn't make him. Depends how strongly he feels.

And in future when asked by another Mum, tell them you will check with your DS. It should always be his choice after all.

Thank you great advice. Don't want to upset host child but not fair to ds to land him with 2 hours of unwanted socialising! Not sure how I would handle the follow up from asking ds - he says no thanks, what do I say to the mum then? I hate things like this, I am rubbish at saying no!

If I get put on the spot like that I always say I haven't got my diary with me, but the date rings a bell for something so I need to go home and check with ds/dh/calendar.

Would you be going with him? Do you know her at all? DS1 is in Y2 now and I would still feel uneasy with him going to play with somebody at their house if I hadn't been there before or hadn't socialised with them at lots of other parties/playing in the park together/etc beforehand...

If you're not invited, then could you say that he's got very clingy recently and you just can't persuade him to go anywhere on his own, he freaked out when you told him he was going to play with this person? Be prepared for the mum to invite you on the spot though!

Hmm might go with the accompanying option, I wouldn't mind and it is true that ds has become somewhat clingy and wants me to come along.