Do people not reply to party invites these days??

abbecer

On the invites should be printed something like " deadline for replies is (date) if not received before this date the presumption will that your child will not be attending". Possibly worded a little nicer.

Bumpmakesfour

abbecer wrote: »

On the invites should be printed something like " deadline for replies is (date) if not received before this date the presumption will that your child will not be attending". Possibly worded a little nicer.

When I did the little reminder cards for DD2s in march I put something like..
Hi,don't seem to have had a reply from you for Lotties birthday.Incase the invitation didn't make it to you it's on 17th march,12-2pm at the village hall.Can you please let me know on 07572/01234 asap as we need numbers for the entertainer..if we don't hear from you we'll assume you're unable to make it.Thankyou

Sent 12,6 replied,6 ignored that and 5 of those 6 rude so n so's STILL showed up :rotfl:

bestpud

This has been a problem for a long time, in my experience - at least 15 years!

I do reply, but have to say I am far happier with a mobile phone number so I can text. I really don't like talking on the phone and avoid it at all costs!

This usually meant I would try and track down the parent and tell them in person and that may delay the RSVP if the other parent happened to be at school when I was working and vice versa.

I also hate people calling me to RSVP - I'd far rather they text or tell me in person.

I'm not sure how widespread that is though - I'm guessing that can't be the reason for all the rude people out there!

I think many are so wrapped up in their own 'world' they don't stop and look how it is for others tbh.

onlyroz

bestpud wrote: »

I'm not sure how widespread that is though - I'm guessing that can't be the reason for all the rude people out there!

I expect this is part of it, but people (mums in particular) are probably much busier than they were in years gone by, and so have less time to think about responding to an invite for a party a number of weeks ahead. Also, as free-time becomes more precious, people might resent having to give up half their weekend to cart little Johnny off to a party, and so don't want to give a definite commitment until they know what else they might be doing.

These are probably similar reasons for why people don't want to get involved in the PTA at their kids' schools, or spend all hours hand-making costumes for "book day" or the Christmas play, or whatever else the schools have dreamed up.

Bumpmakesfour

onlyroz wrote: »

I expect this is part of it, but people (mums in particular) are probably much busier than they were in years gone by, and so have less time to think about responding to an invite for a party a number of weeks ahead. Also, as free-time becomes more precious, people might resent having to give up half their weekend to cart little Johnny off to a party, and so don't want to give a definite commitment until they know what else they might be doing.

These are probably similar reasons for why people don't want to get involved in the PTA at their kids' schools, or spend all hours hand-making costumes for "book day" or the Christmas play, or whatever else the schools have dreamed up.

Seriously though it takes 20 seconds to send a text...and if they're waiting for a better offer or their child isn't keen for whatever reason just say no thankyou..job done.
I'm just being naive because as annoying as it can be having to give up time at weekends I think it's a lovely part of childhood going to parties.With having three school age kids I've spent many weekends ferrying them about to several different parties but that's part and parcel of having kids surely?
I'm no Mary Poppins but will never understand how totally uninterested some of the parents at my kids school are in their little ones activities

Bumpmakesfour

update..5 out of 27 replies :rotfl:
But DD1 came home with a party invitation today for sunday 17th so I'm wondering if it's normal to give 5 days notice and my 3 weeks is OTT for some:p

sashadesade

Spendless wrote: »

I don't understand that. Surely if you've been invited to a birthday party and have no prior engagment then that IS what you are doing? I can understand someone not knowing if they work to a rota and that hasn't come out yet or if they need to check if they can access a car if it's a drive away but other than that?

It seems like some people's unwillingness to commit to things is due to them waiting to see if something 'better' comes up. It's pretty scuzzy, but it happens. Goes hand in hand with people waiting to see who else is going to a party before they commit to going, I suppose.

onlyroz

sashadesade wrote: »

It seems like some people's unwillingness to commit to things is due to them waiting to see if something 'better' comes up. It's pretty scuzzy, but it happens. Goes hand in hand with people waiting to see who else is going to a party before they commit to going, I suppose.

Why is it such a problem that people don't want to commit so early? There might be plenty of things that are more important than rushing around to attend the party of a child that your own child might barely know.

keigcf

We don't do party bags any more which helps. I get a basket/bag/whatever and put a load of treat size chocolates in. When the kids leave they can all pick out 2 or 3. No waste as the remaining all goes back into the sweet cupboard. On the food front, we have a cooker at our local village hall and have cooked pizza's. This way very little waste as you can see how many kids before you put them in the oven. All spares then can be uncooked and taken home.
A family member had a party recently was expecting 100 and only 40 arrived, she was gutted.

Spendless

onlyroz wrote: »

Why is it such a problem that people don't want to commit so early? There might be plenty of things that are more important than rushing around to attend the party of a child that your own child might barely know.

Because it's bloody rude that's why! If you are asked either you are already doing something and know that or you are free. If you don't want to go then politely refuse, don't just go if nothing better turns up in the interim.