Is this rude, or is it just me?!?

jellyhead

I once turned up to a party for identical twins with just one present! The invite was from twin1, but everyone else seemed to know that there were 2 of them and had bought 2 gifts. My daft child thought they were the same kid! He had 3 sets of identical twins in his class and it took him a while to get his head around it, bless him!

Felicity

I can't quite believe some of your horrible birthday party experiences!

For the purpose of balance ... I had a party for my 4 yr old last month, I invited 40, got 40 rsvp's, 30yes/10no.

30 turned up, with gifts and cards. It was a lovely party, gifts were very appreciated (opened the next day as party day too chaotic), thank you cards sent out within a week.

Very enjoyable by all!!!

The sibling thing is a difficult one where you pay per guest but as we had hired a hall, siblings were more than welcome, actively invited (we live in a close community so I know most of them) and for the cost of a few extra sandwiches, it made the event very family friendly. I even did extra food for the adults as the party was over a meal time.

Oh and I did party bags but mainly because I enjoyed doing them (in response to not nice comment about only pretentious Mums or similar doing them), they were lovely and appreciated!

mummyoftwomonkeys

its one of those things that annoys me too, even when I got married we had about 3 reply cards back but everyone but one person came and that was one that said she was coming lol

Mrs.W_2

Where kids' parties are concerned, I keep strict rules. As do many of the Mum's in my children's peer groups. They keep costs down and party management at a minimum. It's just practical.

Acceptable:
(i) RSVP's in person, by text, by phone, via another Mum/Dad.
(ii) Only the children who are invited attending. (For many practical reasons.)

Appreciated:
(i) A birthday card to the birthday boy/girl. (My girls love the cards to put on the mantle, then after their birthday celebrations, to parcel away for future viewing.)

(ii) Party bags. Even if it's a handful of penny sweets, a glittery pencil and a balloon or party squarker, kids of the 'party bag age' appreciate them.

Unacceptable:
(i) Passing the invite on to another child if the addressee cannot attend.

gratefulforhelp_2

jellyhead wrote: »

I once turned up to a party for identical twins with just one present! The invite was from twin1, but everyone else seemed to know that there were 2 of them and had bought 2 gifts. My daft child thought they were the same kid! He had 3 sets of identical twins in his class and it took him a while to get his head around it, bless him!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:Love him!

aliasojo

Mrs.W wrote: »

Unacceptable:
(i) Passing the invite on to another child if the addressee cannot attend.

Wow, do people actually do that? :eek:

tankgirl1

Mrs.W wrote: »

Unacceptable:
(i) Passing the invite on to another child if the addressee cannot attend.

In what sense?

DS turned 6 a while back - we had a little tea party at the house with family, one very close friend with her 2 kids (who DS is also v good friends with) and he was allowed to invite 2 friends of his choice from school. We did home made invites for everyone, he was really excited, and although if he could have he would have invited more or less his whole class, I had to restrict it to 2 school friends only, due to money (primarily!) and space.

One friend couldn't make it, so he invited a third friend instead..... Was that wrong?

For what its worth, I went to a lot of effort for him - he had a home made piñata, and we did pass the parcel and musical bumps. Everyone (incl family) got a party bag and a wedge of home made cake.

Very stressful and messy way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon, but DS and his guests loved it

Also it was cheap :money:

Mme.Hibou

tankgirl1 wrote: »

In what sense?

One friend couldn't make it, so he invited a third friend instead..... Was that wrong?

I think it's when friend one can't make it, so he passes on the invite to friend 3, not the birthday boy/girl. Someone on another page mentioned it had happened to them!

Mrs.W_2

tankgirl1 wrote: »

In what sense?

DS turned 6 a while back - we had a little tea party at the house with family, one very close friend with her 2 kids (who DS is also v good friends with) and he was allowed to invite 2 friends of his choice from school. We did home made invites for everyone, he was really excited, and although if he could have he would have invited more or less his whole class, I had to restrict it to 2 school friends only, due to money (primarily!) and space.

One friend couldn't make it, so he invited a third friend instead..... Was that wrong?

For what its worth, I went to a lot of effort for him - he had a home made piñata, and we did pass the parcel and musical bumps. Everyone (incl family) got a party bag and a wedge of home made cake.

Very stressful and messy way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon, but DS and his guests loved it

Also it was cheap :money:

Oh, I love helping my girls make piñatas for their birthdays. Sounds like your DS's 6th Birthday was a great day enjoyed by all!

Regards passing on invitations, I meant the mother of an invited child passing on the invitation to another mother whose child is in the same class. It happened to us two years ago.

The party was held at a local park farm. The names of all the invited children were with the staff at the front door. We were rather amazed when 'Bob' turned up wearing a name tag reading 'Joe'. And complaining loudly that he was NOT 'Joe'! The staff weren't at all concerned. *tut

'Bob''s mother had checked him in at the front desk as 'Joe', pointed him in the direction of our party in the soft play area, then scarpered. I let my OH walk 'Bob' to his Mum at the door come pick up time. I was still a bit cross with her.

The party was a marvellous, muddy, cake-fuelled celebration! We still look at the pictures of that day and wonder how so few small children could put away so much cake!

At the school gates on the Monday morning I spoke with both 'Bob' and 'Joe''s mothers. Everything I said, I said with a smile, but... Ach!

EDA: Sending thank you cards or notes to all who attend your child's birthday party is simply good manners.

aliasojo

Mrs.W wrote: »

The names of all the invited children were with the staff at the front door. We were rather amazed when 'Bob' turned up wearing a name tag reading 'Joe'.

That's truely shocking. :eek: What a damned cheek. If you'd wanted Bob there you'd have invited him!

I'm not so sure I wouldn't have turned him away. Yes, I know that's bad. :rotfl:

I probably wouldn't cos I'm a soft touch really and wouldn't like to upset the kid but oh boy I'd be soooooo tempted.