Holidays, and work and AL and Grandmothers and parties and fitting it all in.

Sambucus_Nigra

faithcecilia wrote: »

Yes she said Easter Saturday, which is the Saturday after Easter. The day between Good Friday and Easter Day is Holy Saturday or Low Saturday.

I think you are deliberately splitting hairs here.

OP - don't ask us - ask Granny. Give her a choice of the weekends that you are free, go on the friday night, come back on the sunday night and you won't have to take leave at all.

Spendless

Hi, To clear up matters I was meaning the Saturday between Good Fri and Easter Sunday that DD has been invited to a party.

Whilst it doesn't have to be a Butlins/CP type place. It always has been before as it gives the kids (and us) entertainment on site without having to think about things like how far the car-park is from the attraction, or is there steep steps to <whatever we've gone to see>.

August BH is a possibility instead.

gingin_2

I'd apologise to the birthday child and arrange a tea party/ trip to the soft play with a litte birthday cake for her on a different date.

I know with my Grandma who is in good shape but 90 years old, that she couldn't take an intense overnight stay. I think at that age, they like to eat, have a little wander and people watch rather than have a rushed trip.

My parents take my children here http://www.kellingheath.co.uk/

It's a bit more genteel than Center Parcs and better value.

the_cat

Perhaps on this occasion DD could just NOT go to the party? At 87, there may not be (m)any more occasions where gran is actually physically up to taking a family trip. It seems an awful shame to put that to one side for the sake of a kids birthday party

I would go ahead with the family plans for easter. Parties come and go, family time should come above that

peachyprice

Yep, I'd put my own family needs before the other child's party too. Infact the party wouldn't even enter the equation.

Spendless

DD doesn't have to go to the party and has been told she may not be able to and was ok with that.

However, I feel mean if I refuse, cos I have a daughter with an 'Easter time' birthday and I know what a pain in the arris they can be. Last year, I paid for my DD's party at the same place (£10 a head, min of 10 kids) and 5 let me down on the day, some told me on the day (too late for me to find replacements), others just didn't appear. You pay for the places a week ahead, so if they all don't turn up you've still paid and you don't get a refund. That's unlike other play centres where you are only charged for the kids that turn up on the day as long as you meet min requirements.

My friend with 2 December kids, had much the same experience when hers were little, cos it's also a 'holiday occassion' people say they are coming and at last minute let you down. The birthday child concerned has had a lot of recent upheaval changed to live with her other parent and changed schools and I think how awful for her if people let her down in the same way they did my DD last year cos of when the party is booked for as well as the cost. It's why I didn't want to add to refusals -even if mine is in advance.

I like the link gingin gave me though.

Newly_retired

I wonder if Gran wouldn't even prefer just a shorter trip maybe without the kids, with just you? if your Oh is prepared to to mind them overnight. Somewhere of her choice. Your OH could give the kids a treat of some sort at some other time, maybe?
I'd want to avoid Bank Holidays like the plague, at her age.

As regards birthdays, my granddaughter has a b-day in the xmas hols, so they arrange a later w/end when poeple have not got family commitments. Or even a summer treat with friends. I t's not the end of the world, though I do see your point about not wanting to upset the other child's special time.

JC9297

Newly_retired wrote: »

As regards birthdays, my granddaughter has a b-day in the xmas hols, so they arrange a later w/end when poeple have not got family commitments. Or even a summer treat with friends. I t's not the end of the world, though I do see your point about not wanting to upset the other child's special time.

I agree with this, the other child's parents should be prepared for other families being unavailable over the easter weekend as many people go on holiday/visit family then, they should have planned the party for a less busy time.

Janepig

Spendless wrote: »

DD doesn't have to go to the party and has been told she may not be able to and was ok with that.

However, I feel mean if I refuse, cos I have a daughter with an 'Easter time' birthday and I know what a pain in the arris they can be. Last year, I paid for my DD's party at the same place (£10 a head, min of 10 kids) and 5 let me down on the day, some told me on the day (too late for me to find replacements), others just didn't appear. You pay for the places a week ahead, so if they all don't turn up you've still paid and you don't get a refund. That's unlike other play centres where you are only charged for the kids that turn up on the day as long as you meet min requirements.

My friend with 2 December kids, had much the same experience when hers were little, cos it's also a 'holiday occassion' people say they are coming and at last minute let you down. The birthday child concerned has had a lot of recent upheaval changed to live with her other parent and changed schools and I think how awful for her if people let her down in the same way they did my DD last year cos of when the party is booked for as well as the cost. It's why I didn't want to add to refusals -even if mine is in advance.

I like the link gingin gave me though.

I know what you're saying here, I also have a Boxing Day boy and DD's birthday is the day after the "wedding" this year so falls in the school hols, but you've got enough to stress yourself out about without worrying about how another child/family is going to take it if you are unavailable for their party.

I wouldn't want someone to disrupt their whole holiday weekend just so their child could attend my child's party for two hours, and I'm sure you'd feel just the same. Don't beat yourself up over it, there's loads of notice (in fact it's a colossal amount of notice for a child's party imo!) so they'll know in plenty of time that you won't be there (and they have time to invite someone else instead!! ).

Jxx

Spendless

JC9297 wrote: »

I agree with this, the other child's parents should be prepared for other families being unavailable over the easter weekend as many people go on holiday/visit family then, they should have planned the party for a less busy time.

To be fair, you realise this once you have done it ie live and learn. And the child has swapped which parent she lives with recently, so quite possibly they have never experienced organising a birthday party before.

newlyretired- Nan likes to go away to be with/see her great grandchildren so we are limited with when we go.