Children's Party - Rant!

BJV

I understands exactly how you feel. My two are now 10 and 13 and we had so many parties, even sleep overs where children did not attend in the end we stopped. Well almost. In fact we have a party tonight with a few of my 10 years old's friends. We have invited 8 for pizza, movie then trick and treat games knowing that at least two will not turn up. They have all confirmed but????

OP I am like you, if I could not make it last thing I would at the very least let you know and apologize.

The last couple of years we have had two parties at big ball pond type places when it cost a good 10-15 per child. One year 5 did not turn up the next year we had an extra two?

Now my two have friends that we know will turn up hell or high water and friends that may turn up.

I know it is hard but the last thing you can do is show it to your children. They have a parent that cares and knows that this is unacceptable behavior and that is worth far more than. It is Halloween tonight and I am sure that extra food will go with Trick or Treat'ers. Good Luck.

janninew

These threads are always fascinating to me, reading how other parents raise their children! Bedtime at 6.00pm seems really early to me, my daughter who has turned 5 last week would never go to bed for 6.00, she'd never sleep that early! I get little ones trick a treating every year up to 7.30ish at my house.

paddy's_mum

I wanna tell you a story!

Many years ago when my younger children were at playgroup, the Leader told me that she and her several helpers every year without fail sent a Christmas card to each child from each of them, the staff. The reason for that was that one year, a child who was not unpopular or disliked but was nobody's particular friend received not one card from his playgroup fellows and was bitterly hurt - he could not understand why everyone else got cards but he did not and was too young for effective explanation.

My heart ached for that child and in the circumstances given by the OP, even if my child for sensible reasons could not attend, I would myself have gone round to the party with a cheerful greeting and a little gift so that no child had that memory for the rest of its life.

It says a great deal about the standards of the parents who accepted the invitation but then treated someone else with such contempt that they chose not to phone and explain. If it wasn't that a child would feel wounded, one could almost wish it upon them and see if they like it! :mad:

duchy

supersaver2 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I did umm and ahh over the time but as it was a Halloween party I did think evening was more appropriate and we live in a small village so very little travel time. Plus holidays have just started and I honestly didn't think it was to late for 4/5 year olds to be up!

Anyway lesson learnt, I simply can't excuse their bad manners.

I wonder if some of the parents didn't clock the time until the day and either decided it was too late OR assumed that it was a party for older siblings too as it started so late.

As for manners in not letting you know, get used to it, plenty of parents have no manners and never bother letting you know.

Frankly at 4 mine was ready for bed by 6pm, weekday or weekends still. It really was a poor time for a four year olds party, sorry. Not all kids see staying up late as a treat, mine never did.

duchy

janninew wrote: »

These threads are always fascinating to me, reading how other parents raise their children! Bedtime at 6.00pm seems really early to me, my daughter who has turned 5 last week would never go to bed for 6.00, she'd never sleep that early! I get little ones trick a treating every year up to 7.30ish at my house.

Oh I felt the same but in reverse.
My son always had a routine from early on and he'd be asleep by 6.30 and sleep til 7.30 the next morning. I could never understand how other parents who got no recharge time and tired moany kids to motivate in the mornings managed but kids are all different, some just need more sleep than others.

In our area trick or treating didn't happen at the weekend ,I have heard parents say it is because of the clowns , whether it is that or just the way the days fell this year I don't know.

trolleyrun

It's not just parents who are rude like this. Years ago, I was preparing to move 500 miles. I arranged a leaving party and around 50 people said they would come. 3 turned up! I was fuming!

catkins

AylesburyDuck wrote: »

To me, that just sums up a lot (note the use of a lot for the delicate and sensitive) of school mums in a nutshell.
Self centered
Self entitled
and to be avoided was my experience.
Glad my kids are grown.

Edit.
So sorry you and your daughter had to go through that. Manners cost nothing and seem in short commodity these days.

Not just mums that are self centered and self entitled, it's dads too quite often.

Parents in general are getting worse. They seem to feel once they have children they are entitled to what they like and should have priority over just about everyone.

I live close to an infant school and 2 junior schools and see the parents parking (on yellow lines, fully on the pavement, over driveways that have a car on etc). I have even seen them parking on a zebra crossing. Some of them have no thought for others at all

ognum

catkins wrote: »

Not just mums that are self centered and self entitled, it's dads too quite often.

Parents in general are getting worse. They seem to feel once they have children they are entitled to what they like and should have priority over just about everyone.

I live close to an infant school and 2 junior schools and see the parents parking (on yellow lines, fully on the pavement, over driveways that have a car on etc). I have even seen them parking on a zebra crossing. Some of them have no thought for others at all

I don't think you can say this is just parents, I live no where near a school with double yellow lines in front of my driveway and all and sundry park there and can't understand when I ask them to move.

Life is busy, people don't think, is it rude, well yes it is but people just don't think.

janninew

ognum wrote: »

I don't think you can say this is just parents, I live no where near a school with double yellow lines in front of my driveway and all and sundry park there and can't understand when I ask them to move.

Life is busy, people don't think, is it rude, well yes it is but people just don't think.

Agreed, loads of selfish, unpleasant people about. They then go on to have children and carry on being selfish and unpleasant as parents. When you discover one avoid at all costs, I do.

sheramber

My grandson is 41/2. He is in bed by 7pm and falls asleep before the story is finished.

He wakes at 6 o'clock in the morning so has had a long day.

They have just been on holiday where the children's entertainment started at 7 pm and they said it was too late for him.