My latest idea for DS's birthday party 18th Dec

[Flibbertyjibbet]

When he was 1 he was billy no mates for his birthday - no one let us know they weren't coming and casually said after 'oh we had to go to grandmas cos its nearly xmas'.
Year two I just had grandparents on his birthday and organised a 'fun day' with nature trail and party food (but no pressies) at our local woods visitor centre. Hardly anyone turned up - again no one bothers to tell you - the general excuse being that they had other more important things to do, because it wasn't his birthday. One friend actually said she was coming then text two days before to say sorry not coming because the child has been invited to a birthday party on the same day, so the proper birthday party got priority.
So, this year on 16 Dec I have booked the party in the enclosed play area of a local (huge) mill shopping complex that sells everything and has umpteen cafes. I've blagged some money off shopping vouchers for the mums from the management. I've made invitations which invite the parents to leave the children at the party with us while they go and do christmas shopping.
Do you think I'll have better attendance this year?

Forgot to say, the age 2 fun day in the woods was in the spring. Not the middle of winter, then I would have understood no-one turning up!!

I think you are mad to go to all that trouble for a three year old personally. And also it is a time of year when people are shopping frenziedly and dont want to 'waste' 2 hours at a party. Wait till he is older - people will LOVE dumping their kids and doing some last minute shopping.

dd1s is on the 20th and most people come but I never bothered with anything big until she was at school

this year we are doing bowling and pizza. Too good an offer to pass up for most mums - they can leave the kids and go and shop!

Actually, I think it is a good idea. It obviously matters to you that your DS gets a good party and this should enable that to happen. I think it is a good idea. I also can't abide by people being rude and not letting you know they aren't coming. I think as he gets older though you may have to do trips out with about 3 friends, give their parents a day off as an incentive.

Its sounds perfect. Sad that you have to add incentives for the parents, but hey ho. I hope your ds has a lovely birthday.

Enid, thats the whole point, the parents just leave the kids with us in the play area and go on their shopping frenzy!
Yes its important to me that my child has a special day for his birthday like all his friends have at other times of the year. Recently he has started to realise that other people are having 'happy birthdays' and his just got overshadowed by the run up to Christmas both previous times.
If he ever has a trip out with 3 friends I will make sure DP takes them and then its ME that has the day off to do my xmas shopping

Maybe when he is old enough to understand the calendar you could start having a big do on the 18th June for his "half birthday", and do something small for his real birthday?