I promised my son a birthday party for his 8th. I planned it a month in advance and sent out invitations to his class and the relatives. So far, of the relatives, all of the adults plan to attend PLUS a few are bringing their adult friends/coworkers/etc.
The party was to be at a well-known kids fun-park. We have to pay for each adult AND child. With the relatives we're sure it is the "free food" that is drawing them in. I'm kind of shocked that some went so far as to invite other people who weren't even invited.
I have NO rsvp's from his class, NO relatives are bringing their kids just bringing their buddies/selves. He'll have his siblings but it just isn't the same. I'm afraid he'll be heartbroken. It isn't HIM. It is my fault because I really just don't know anyone...and when mom doesn't know people...this is what happens. With all the additional adults we're looking at a couple hundred MORE dollars than what we planned, too. Maybe just cxl and book a trip somewhere instead?
2007-03-25 20:25:45 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Friends
For the price it is adding up to be to entertain all these lovely adult moochers our whole family could go out of town for the weekend to Sea World. Seriously, this has driven the cost up THAT HIGH. I don't know if I will EVER try to set something like this up again.
2007-03-25 20:48:26 · update #1
If you go ahead with the party, you should expect to pay for the children from his class and the adult relatives you invited. If it were me and money was an issue, I wouldn't hesitate to call each of them and let them know that your party budget only included X number of people, and that their friends are welcome to join in for cake, but they'll have to pay their admission and meals.
If you do decide cancel the party, you might need to call all the parents in his class to see if they were planning on attending...so many people don't RSVP these days. Ask your son's teacher for a class list that would have all the phone numbers. I think it would be kind of humiliating for your son to have to make a general announcement in class that his party had to be cancelled.
(Rant time...I hate the way birthday parties have evolved. When I was a kid, you invited a few friends to your home for cake, games, and presents. They always came, and the parents would drop them off and pick them up promptly. Now, it seems that those same kids have grown up into adults who still expect to attend children's birthday parties, but they won't just stand there and wait, they want to be fed and boozed! Unbelievable! I'm not hosting a dinner party, here! I gave up on trying to plan for a certain number of children, because so many of the parents can't even be bothered to pick up the phone and call you to say if their child can attend. When they do show up, half the time they have a younger brother or sister in tow. One year I had a "princess party" for my daughter, and a girl came with her (uninvited) brother! I had to scramble to find something to give him as a game prize.)
2007-03-26 01:45:04 · answer #1 · answered by The Skin Horse (formerly ll2) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, cancel the party. And then ask your son where he wants to go. Alot of places like Chuck E Cheeses, and the such have games and fun things for birthdays. Rent a skating hall, order a pizza. The kids will have a blast. something like that. Kids are very appreciative for the little things like that. Call a couple of your sons closest friends and invite them along. I've been in the same situation, and if you let these other people take advantage of you, they will continue. Be straight up and tell family exactly why you are cancelling. That's not right. They should be ashamed of themselves.
2007-03-25 20:50:27 · answer #2 · answered by freak_bitch1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I've never done anything like this, but parents who have have told me that people don't rsvp for that type of stuff - they show up that day and drop off the kid that was invited and all the sibs and other friends and that they'd NEVER do it again.
Yes, cancel the party. It was not right of the relatives to invite other people, and this will cost you a fortune and not add to your child's party one bit. Try again. Call the parents of THREE of your son's classmates and personally ask them if they will come with their son and other children, so your other children can have some friends to play with, too. Order one of those bouncy things that kids love so much and cost about $125 to rent. Have great snacks and plan FUN party games and be really cheerful and fun, and your son will love you for it and will know you are the bestest mommy ever.
2007-03-25 20:33:42 · answer #3 · answered by Cris O 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You are definitely being taken advantage of. I would cancel the whole thing, and plan something else. What fun would it be for your son to spend his birthday with a bunch of adults, many of which he won't even know.
It is awful, but I find it pretty sad that a bunch of adults would invite their adult friends to a child's party but not be bringing their children. They are thinking that this is an adult party, which means that they are expecting to be fed and entertained; with little regard for the fact that it is in celebration of your sons birthday.
I have seen this type of thing happen before, where the relatives show up for the free food and disappear into the woodwork. If worse comes to worse, ask you son what he would enjoy doing for his birthday, within reason of course. Pizza and a movie, a game night at home with your family, a day trip to a favorite place...whatever.
Ditch the moochers and have fun for and with your son.
2007-03-25 20:41:41 · answer #4 · answered by Sue F 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋