Unexpected Children At Birthday Party Lead To Tough Decision For Mom, Asks One Guest To Take Some Of Her Kids Away

"I explained that they were specifically invited."

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• January 24, 2024

Throwing a birthday party for kids can be tricky, especially when you have to decide who to invite. This story is about a mom who planned a birthday bash for her 8-year-old daughter, Maddy.

She had another daughter, Josie, who was 6. Their house was small, so they couldn't invite everyone. Maddy wanted a "big girl" party, so they only invited a couple of Josie's friends who were siblings of Maddy's friends.

Everything was going fine until one of Maddy's friends showed up with her mom and three other kids who weren't invited. The mom hadn't asked beforehand and seemed stuck because her husband was working and she didn't want to leave her kid alone at the party.

OP had to tell her that they just couldn't have extra kids at the party. The mom got upset and left with all her kids, even the one who was invited.

This situation made things a bit awkward and the other parents had different opinions. Some thought the host mom did the right thing since it wouldn't be fair to others who left their kids at home.

Others felt she should have just let them stay since they were already there. Should OP have let the extra kids stay or was she right to stick to her plan?

OP hosted a party for her 8-year-old daughter and invited some of her younger daughter's friends to ensure everyone had a good time.

Due to space/budget limits and Maddy's wish for a "big girl" party, other siblings were not invited.

During the party, one of Maddy's friends arrived with her mom and 3 siblings. so OP had to speak with the mom and clarify that this was a no-siblings party.

She was upset but OP couldn't accommodate her.

In the end, she left with her kids, causing some awkwardness among the adults.

For future parties, it's a good idea to mention in advance that it's a small gathering, and only invited kids are welcome to avoid frustration.

Siblings are individuals and can't always do everything together.

It's not polite when parents bring extra kids to parties without asking.

OP is not obligated to accommodate unannounced children.

OP doesn't have to change her abilities to accommodate others in her own house.

Planning for a specific number of guests is important, and unexpected extras can cause issues like running out of food or party favors.

No need to invite the whole family.

OP needs to set clear boundaries.

For future parties, it's a good idea for OP to let people know in advance that it's going to be a small gathering, and only the kids who received invitations should come. Sometimes, brothers and sisters can't do everything together, so it's okay to have separate plans.

It's not polite for parents to bring extra kids to parties without asking first. You don't have to invite the whole family if you don't want to. It's important to set clear rules and make them known to avoid any problems.

Damjan