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Parenting

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Original poster

Going to kids parties

15 replies

homarrre · 07/09/2022 21:55

Not sure if I'm being cruel or not..

My Daughter is 5 and absolutely loves going to birthday parties. Last year we must have gone to about 20 different parties (and I'm not exaggerating). We went to every single one that she was invited to and it has taken over our weekends.

It was bliss not going to any over summer holidays. Back in school this week and we already have an invitation. I'm dreading it.

Do other people tend to take their kids to every single party?? I know I will feel so guilty if I don't take her but at the same time I fucking hate going.

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Creepymanonagoatfarm · 07/09/2022 21:58

Surely you just drop her off?

WaddleAway · 07/09/2022 21:59

Yeah, I take my kids to them all unless we have other plans. They love going so wouldn’t feel right to refuse just because I didn’t want to take them.
Happy to politely decline if we have other plans though.

minipie · 07/09/2022 22:01

If it’s the staying there that you hate - that will end really soon and parties will be drop off. Probably about now in fact.

If you don’t like even dropping her at parties as you want to do other things - well you can say no. But assuming she enjoys the parties, she’s not going to be happy about missing them if all her friends are going. They’re usually 2 hrs long or so, plenty of other weekend time.

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Original poster

homarrre · 07/09/2022 22:05

@Creepymanonagoatfarm She's only just turned 5 so not ready to leave her on her own yet. They are big parties with about 20-30 children and she has tried to walk out of parties to explore before so I don't trust her quite yet!!

@WaddleAway I worry that I am going to feel really guilty. Especially if we end up just sitting in the house at the time of the party 🙈.

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Original poster

homarrre · 07/09/2022 22:07

Ok, it sounds like I should carry on with attending the parties!!

I know it's for selfish reasons that I don't want to go. I just can't bare standing around and making conversation for 2
Hours every weekend but I am going to suck it up!

OP posts:

MsChatterbox · 07/09/2022 22:10

Have you got any family close by? I had a couple of grandparents at my sons party. Maybe you could share the load!

Muchtoomuchtodo · 07/09/2022 22:12

Can you team up with some other parents so that you take a couple of extra kids when it’s your turn to go but you don’t have to go to so many?

Stichintime · 07/09/2022 22:12

It does seem alot of parties, but just grit your teeth and enjoy watching your daughter having fun. I'd be surprized if there are 20 parties this year, as people may be reining in their spending.

minipie · 07/09/2022 22:19

Do you have a partner, if so can you alternate so it’s only 10 each. Agree about teaming up with other parents too, although it’s more difficult if you don’t know anyone well yet.

DuggeeHugPlease · 07/09/2022 22:20

I hear you! Just starting y1 and we've already got 4 invitations for September alone. We went to so many during reception year - there were even 2 occasions where we had 4 party invitations in one weekend!

I dislike how they dominate our weekends but my DD absolutely loves going so unless we already have firm plans (holidays etc) I try my best to accommodate them. I expect by mid way through the year I'll try the drop and run but they've mixed up the classes and I don't know some of the parents at all so need to get to know people before I'm comfortable not staying.

MuggleMe · 07/09/2022 22:24

Parents definitely start to drop and run in y1, usually asking a closer friend to keep an eye rather than the host. Maybe you can alternate with a friend who hates them as much as you.

arethereanyleftatall · 07/09/2022 22:33

Yes. I did take mine to all of them. Because they loved them. And, as I dropped and ran from 4 (like everyone round here), I loved it too, 2 hours free.

lionsandwhales · 27/11/2022 09:37

Bare with it. In year or two parties will be drop offs and won’t involve most of the class so the invites become less often. A year or two after that it will be exclusively drop off only for handful of friends and then …sleepovers 😀hang in there and go with it

Fundays12 · 27/11/2022 09:41

I don't accept every party offer. Ds2 missed one this weekend as I was working. They can dominate your weekends if you allow them. Ds2 recently had a birthday party and a lot of parents left just turned 5 year olds. Some were too young and shouldn't have been left as they got upset. A party host cannot responsibly look after 20 plus kids while hosting a party in my view. They don't have eyes in the back of there head.

AuntieMarys · 27/11/2022 09:49

Mine only went to the parties of friends, ie those who came to tea, we met up with in the holidays etc.

Otherwise it got ridiculous. We had busy weekends anyway

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