First birthday party tonight, invited the whole family, it's at a house, want to make friends

[Anonymous]

Our oldest is in kindergarten and we have our first birthday party tonight. They invited the whole family both on the invitation and when I RSVPed, they responded "please bring your little one too- all family members welcome! Pounds of pasta and princesses galore!" which I thought was really nice so we are bringing our 2yo as well. I haven't really had a chance to meet other parents yet and really want to make friends as I don't have any in our neighborhood yet.

Any advice? How did you make friends with other school parents? Should I bring something other than the gift?

[Anonymous]

It's easiest to lead with the kids. So find the parents of the school-aged child and introduce yourself. Then find any parents with toddlers. That way at least you have the kids in common. If you are new/don't anyone, definitely say that so people can introduce you to others. I've only brought more than a gift if I happen to know the host family well, and it'll be flowers or something small.

The other thing that's happened is random families will sit with us to eat because their kids like mine, so that's another way to meet people.

[Anonymous]

Don't bring anything other than the gift. Get your 2 yr old out of there at 6:30 or earlier so she doesn't melt down at someone else's house.

Just make boring chit-chat. Which kid is yours? Mine is the one in the green sweater. What are you doing for the holidays? Oh, happy hanukah! That sounds awesome - I've never been there but have heard excellent things. Are you seeing the Wonka movie? I want to go see it.

Stuff like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't bring anything other than the gift. Get your 2 yr old out of there at 6:30 or earlier so she doesn't melt down at someone else's house.

Just make boring chit-chat. Which kid is yours? Mine is the one in the green sweater. What are you doing for the holidays? Oh, happy hanukah! That sounds awesome - I've never been there but have heard excellent things. Are you seeing the Wonka movie? I want to go see it.

Stuff like that.

I respectfully disagree. She is welcoming your entire family for dinner. The right thing to do is to bring the bday present and a small thank-you-hostess gift. Especially if you want to make a good impression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't bring anything other than the gift. Get your 2 yr old out of there at 6:30 or earlier so she doesn't melt down at someone else's house.

Just make boring chit-chat. Which kid is yours? Mine is the one in the green sweater. What are you doing for the holidays? Oh, happy hanukah! That sounds awesome - I've never been there but have heard excellent things. Are you seeing the Wonka movie? I want to go see it.

Stuff like that.

I respectfully disagree. She is welcoming your entire family for dinner. The right thing to do is to bring the bday present and a small thank-you-hostess gift. Especially if you want to make a good impression.

NP. No one wants to deal with a hostess gift (or several) while dealing with entire families at a birthday party. Bring a nice gift. Be a good guest. Send a text after the party thanking her inviting your family and let her know you had a great time. If some of the food was particularly good, say so. That sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

Do you know if there will be other little kids there? Are you going with a spouse who is less invested and can watch the 2yo while you mingle?

I feel like minding a toddler at a party is a surefire way to not have decent adult conversation with new people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't bring anything other than the gift. Get your 2 yr old out of there at 6:30 or earlier so she doesn't melt down at someone else's house.

Just make boring chit-chat. Which kid is yours? Mine is the one in the green sweater. What are you doing for the holidays? Oh, happy hanukah! That sounds awesome - I've never been there but have heard excellent things. Are you seeing the Wonka movie? I want to go see it.

Stuff like that.

I respectfully disagree. She is welcoming your entire family for dinner. The right thing to do is to bring the bday present and a small thank-you-hostess gift. Especially if you want to make a good impression.

Skip the gift, that's weird. It's a child's birthday party, not a housewarming party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't bring anything other than the gift. Get your 2 yr old out of there at 6:30 or earlier so she doesn't melt down at someone else's house.

Just make boring chit-chat. Which kid is yours? Mine is the one in the green sweater. What are you doing for the holidays? Oh, happy hanukah! That sounds awesome - I've never been there but have heard excellent things. Are you seeing the Wonka movie? I want to go see it.

Stuff like that.

I respectfully disagree. She is welcoming your entire family for dinner. The right thing to do is to bring the bday present and a small thank-you-hostess gift. Especially if you want to make a good impression.

NP. No one wants to deal with a hostess gift (or several) while dealing with entire families at a birthday party. Bring a nice gift. Be a good guest. Send a text after the party thanking her inviting your family and let her know you had a great time. If some of the food was particularly good, say so. That sort of thing.

+1
I have always had huge parties for my kids birthdays, inviting the parents and the siblings too. If you are feeling particularly grateful, buy a nice gift, include a gift receipt and make sure that you have written your child’s name and your name clearly on a card that is secured well. Name tags get lost very frequently during parties.

Even better if your card itself has the particulars.

Dear Ron
Thank you for inviting me to your birthday party. I hope you like your Rover 5000 quidditch broomstick. Many happy returns of the day!
- Harry Potter
11067 Muggle street

Mom - Lily Potter [phone]

[Anonymous]

Agree that you don't need to bring another gift. What is super helpful, based on the parties I've been to that are like this, is lending a helping hand to the host when it's clearly needed. Don't go unloading their dishwasher or anything intrusive like that, but I'm sure the opportunity will arise and it will be appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't bring anything other than the gift. Get your 2 yr old out of there at 6:30 or earlier so she doesn't melt down at someone else's house.

Just make boring chit-chat. Which kid is yours? Mine is the one in the green sweater. What are you doing for the holidays? Oh, happy hanukah! That sounds awesome - I've never been there but have heard excellent things. Are you seeing the Wonka movie? I want to go see it.

Stuff like that.

I respectfully disagree. She is welcoming your entire family for dinner. The right thing to do is to bring the bday present and a small thank-you-hostess gift. Especially if you want to make a good impression.

NP. No one wants to deal with a hostess gift (or several) while dealing with entire families at a birthday party. Bring a nice gift. Be a good guest. Send a text after the party thanking her inviting your family and let her know you had a great time. If some of the food was particularly good, say so. That sort of thing.

+1
I have always had huge parties for my kids birthdays, inviting the parents and the siblings too. If you are feeling particularly grateful, buy a nice gift, include a gift receipt and make sure that you have written your child’s name and your name clearly on a card that is secured well. Name tags get lost very frequently during parties.

Even better if your card itself has the particulars.

Dear Ron
Thank you for inviting me to your birthday party. I hope you like your Rover 5000 quidditch broomstick. Many happy returns of the day!
- Harry Potter
11067 Muggle street

Mom - Lily Potter [phone]

Ok clown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't bring anything other than the gift. Get your 2 yr old out of there at 6:30 or earlier so she doesn't melt down at someone else's house.

Just make boring chit-chat. Which kid is yours? Mine is the one in the green sweater. What are you doing for the holidays? Oh, happy hanukah! That sounds awesome - I've never been there but have heard excellent things. Are you seeing the Wonka movie? I want to go see it.

Stuff like that.

I respectfully disagree. She is welcoming your entire family for dinner. The right thing to do is to bring the bday present and a small thank-you-hostess gift. Especially if you want to make a good impression.

NP. No one wants to deal with a hostess gift (or several) while dealing with entire families at a birthday party. Bring a nice gift. Be a good guest. Send a text after the party thanking her inviting your family and let her know you had a great time. If some of the food was particularly good, say so. That sort of thing.

When I've hosted whole family parties, some people bring a bottle of wine or six pack of beer and others don't. It's really personal preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't bring anything other than the gift. Get your 2 yr old out of there at 6:30 or earlier so she doesn't melt down at someone else's house.

Just make boring chit-chat. Which kid is yours? Mine is the one in the green sweater. What are you doing for the holidays? Oh, happy hanukah! That sounds awesome - I've never been there but have heard excellent things. Are you seeing the Wonka movie? I want to go see it.

Stuff like that.

I respectfully disagree. She is welcoming your entire family for dinner. The right thing to do is to bring the bday present and a small thank-you-hostess gift. Especially if you want to make a good impression.

NP. No one wants to deal with a hostess gift (or several) while dealing with entire families at a birthday party. Bring a nice gift. Be a good guest. Send a text after the party thanking her inviting your family and let her know you had a great time. If some of the food was particularly good, say so. That sort of thing.

+1
I have always had huge parties for my kids birthdays, inviting the parents and the siblings too. If you are feeling particularly grateful, buy a nice gift, include a gift receipt and make sure that you have written your child’s name and your name clearly on a card that is secured well. Name tags get lost very frequently during parties.

Even better if your card itself has the particulars.

Dear Ron
Thank you for inviting me to your birthday party. I hope you like your Rover 5000 quidditch broomstick. Many happy returns of the day!
- Harry Potter
11067 Muggle street

Mom - Lily Potter [phone]

Sorry, this is a bit much!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't bring anything other than the gift. Get your 2 yr old out of there at 6:30 or earlier so she doesn't melt down at someone else's house.

Just make boring chit-chat. Which kid is yours? Mine is the one in the green sweater. What are you doing for the holidays? Oh, happy hanukah! That sounds awesome - I've never been there but have heard excellent things. Are you seeing the Wonka movie? I want to go see it.

Stuff like that.

I respectfully disagree. She is welcoming your entire family for dinner. The right thing to do is to bring the bday present and a small thank-you-hostess gift. Especially if you want to make a good impression.

NP. No one wants to deal with a hostess gift (or several) while dealing with entire families at a birthday party. Bring a nice gift. Be a good guest. Send a text after the party thanking her inviting your family and let her know you had a great time. If some of the food was particularly good, say so. That sort of thing.

You can't "deal" with putting a gift down on a table or floor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't bring anything other than the gift. Get your 2 yr old out of there at 6:30 or earlier so she doesn't melt down at someone else's house.

Just make boring chit-chat. Which kid is yours? Mine is the one in the green sweater. What are you doing for the holidays? Oh, happy hanukah! That sounds awesome - I've never been there but have heard excellent things. Are you seeing the Wonka movie? I want to go see it.

Stuff like that.

I respectfully disagree. She is welcoming your entire family for dinner. The right thing to do is to bring the bday present and a small thank-you-hostess gift. Especially if you want to make a good impression.

NP. No one wants to deal with a hostess gift (or several) while dealing with entire families at a birthday party. Bring a nice gift. Be a good guest. Send a text after the party thanking her inviting your family and let her know you had a great time. If some of the food was particularly good, say so. That sort of thing.

When I've hosted whole family parties, some people bring a bottle of wine or six pack of beer and others don't. It's really personal preference.

Yes but it's not required and is not going to win you favor with the hosts. Just be normal and not try to be obviously sucking up. That's a bigger turn off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you know if there will be other little kids there? Are you going with a spouse who is less invested and can watch the 2yo while you mingle?

I feel like minding a toddler at a party is a surefire way to not have decent adult conversation with new people.

Bringing a toddler to an elementary school party is not the way to make adult friends.

I have a 6yo daughter and I am very friendly with several moms I met in kindergarten. It is usually my daughter and another mom and her daughter hanging out. Siblings stay home with dad.