by EricaL (follow)

Parenting (10)      Birthdays (4)     

Why you should always respond to a child's birthday party invitation...



Recently a friend of mine's son was left sad and lonely after three quarters of the friends he invited to his birthday party did not turn up.

It was a superhero party at an indoor playcentre, with the parents of the invited children given over a month's notice.

Admittedly, these children's parents had not RSVPd so my friend didn't know if they would arrive at her pre-booked play centre party.

This is why it is so important for a parent to RSVP to a birthday party invitation; even if that answer is "sorry, we can't make it".

We all live busy lives, and yes sometimes it is easy to forget, but children suffer and parents worry when we aren't organised enough to reply. In such situations, parents are also left paying for those who didn't show up to the party in question.

The above situation could have be averted if my friend had known in advance that so many children couldn't come. She might have invited different children to make up the numbers, or moved the party to a different venue.


It seems this is a common problem, and not a rare case. Take this story for example, of a young boy left alone on a birthday party in Oregon, USA. There is even a small not for profit Australian organisation called Friend IN ME set up just for this purpose, to organise Australia's Biggest Social Inclusion events for all children.

The equally upsetting and confusing problem of children not being invited to a party when other kids in the class are, is also on the rise. There has to be a better way to make sure parents can communicate with other kids in their children's class, and to teach our kids the courtesy that comes with responding to a party invitation.

Have you ever been in a similar situation? What do you think is the main issue holding people back from RSVPing to a child's party?

#Birthdays
#Parenting

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