Birthday parties. Why are parent so lazy??

[JulieDB]

One year I knocked on a door and asked the dad if the girl was coming because she didn't RSVP. He said yes, she did RSVP. Just to someone else's party! That year I took the kids out for a Mexican food lunch and then to get mani/pedi's. I needed to know how many kids I would have to pay for. Grrr...

My daughter's birthday is in July. It's next to impossible to get kids to come at this time. Many go away for the summer. And this year some are moving. We're just not even going to try this year.

Last year we had an un-birthday party in May. It was a dance party. I think we invited 12 and 9 showed up. That was pretty good. But I also told her that since it was a dance party she should invite kids who liked to dance. She has one friend who has refused twice to come to a dance party because she doesn't want to dance in front of people.

This year, May was bad. Illness and injuries took up her whole month and now she has a back injury so most things are out of the question.

So... We're just having a family party.

[fungirl2727]

I did a huge birthday party last yr and 20 kids showed! This yr I am doing a very small hotel party maybe 4 kids and that is it

[cbrown022904]

I am glad this thread came up!!! I throw parties for my children somewhere THEY want to go so when no one but family shows up its not a big deal. This year my son (4) wanted a park party so he got a park party. My girls (twins turned 6) we had their party at the Children's Museum and they had a blast. I invited 42 kids from their separate kindergarten classes and no one showed or RSVP'd either. I knew they wouldn't but the girls wanted to invite everyone so we did. But they had a great time with family and no disappointment from them as of yet.

Cheryl

[shashabell]

I totally know where you're coming from. For my son's 7th birthday I invited his classmates to a pizza at the park party and only two girls showed up. Last year we did a bowling party and only one boy showed up. They were the only ones who RSVP'd too. I even wrote "Call me to let me know if you can or can't make it" on the invitations incase someone didn't know what RSVP meant.
This year I didn't even bother with classmates. I wasn't going to let my son be disappointed - although he did say he had good times at both failed parties. Instead we're going to Chuck E Cheese and his two Aunts, an Uncle, and a cousin and her boyfriend are going with us. He's more excited this year than he was the past two years.

[shashabell]

...oh and I forgot about the bowling party last year. There was one little girl in his class that my son loved. The mother told me face to face several times that she was going to show up for my son's party. Guess what? She never showed up. My son had me call her five minutes after the party started and I didn't get an answer. Needless to say I don't so much as say "hello" to the mother when I see her now.

[BigDog]

Not to be mean...really but a different thought. Not read WHOLE thread so not sure if this got brought up...just another side of the fence.

Today in this day and age I REFUSE to let my kids go to a b-day party of anybody's....We did that whole single child party thing for the first 3-4 years of my oldests life. And even thought I say no gift wanted/needed, they bring them...and then these parents...

Throw a birthday party for their kids. And the kids EXPECT a gift...well, I can't afford to give the kids expect anymore. Most kids have EVERYTHING. And my kids feel awful they didn't bring anything or brought a homemade gift. And yes you might instill a understanding that homemade gifts are special...but, not all kids understand that perspective.

Yes, I know is weird.

If people would just drop the presents thing, I would come let my kids come, then I could reciprocate and invite their children to our kids parties. My kids get their favorite meal, cake (sometimes homemade sometimes Publix version), we give them a small gift. But, now kids feel entitled to Monkey Joes, Chucky Cheese, or Amusement Parks.

Plus, it usually means that I have to go and let my husband watch our other kids at home for 2-3 hours...And that takes our family time on the weekend which I never feel we have enough of anymore. We switched to 1 BIG party for a couple years...but, got tired of the..."that isn't fair 5 of them get presents but, why not me mommy?" junk...Or other kids would look at us like where is our cake to blow out? And their parents kind of looked the same.

It doesn't have a thing with being lazy...I just value my familytime over another kids' family party.

I'm sorry nobody showed up for your child...but, I wouldn't have showed up either. As far as RSVP....I found one the other day it was from 2 years ago stuck in a old backpack in the attic...not lazy just misplaceful.

Again just another perspective from a as you put it "lazy parent".

[StacyNVA]

We don't really do Birthday Parties at my house. My oldest dd is 16 and her birthday is 5 days before Christmas so often kids are out of town or parents are spending all their money on Christmas. My youngest (9) has a summer birthday and it is hard to get a hold of school friends in the summer. My son (13) has a March birthday which makes it easier but he usually only want to have 1-3 friends go do an activity with him like laser tag.

My 9 year old changed schools this year and seems to have a nice little group of about 6 friends so we are thinking of having a party for her. She went to 3 birthday parties in the last 2 weeks so hopefully they will return the favor. I think we are going to do a horse back riding party. I'm hoping that will be exciting enough to get the kids to show up.

[do5]

Sorry that your Child had no one show.


Bigdog covered alot of what I feel. ^^


Of the birthday parties we do attend, its for very close family friends and then my whole family will go.

[CW&M Mom]

Well the one little girl that showed up to my daughters is having a party today...odds are we will be the only one that show up to this even too *sigh*.

I know for us the least important part of the party is the gift. Seriously for those thinking that people have a birthday party just for the gifts...I think your way off base. My daughter could care less about the gift/gifts. She just wants to play with her friends.