Weekday birthday party

[Anonymous]

What are the chances anyone will come to a weekday late afternoon party at a Chuck E. Cheese type place? For a multitude of reasons it has to be a weekday.

- It’s kids from the preschool class, and I usually get there around 4:45 and mine is one of the last there
- Party is scheduled 4-6 right after when I presume most kids get picked up based on the above
- The kids have nap time in the afternoon
- Party is about 10 minutes from preschool
- Invite encourages dropping in or dropping off for as long as you are able to
- Invite says all siblings welcome and admission will be covered for all
- Invite makes it clear there will be food/dinner provided for all

I knew going in it wasn’t going to be a popular time. But I didn’t think we’d get literally zero RSVPs and we’re a week out from the party I tried to make it as convenient as possible for parents to make up for the strange time and day. For what it’s worth, the invites were adorable and eye-catching….

[Anonymous]

Oh no! I’m so sorry. I have done and attended weekday parties but I think it depends on the group. All the things you mention make it sound more doable. Is this a group that has done a lot of parties and get togethers? I’ve found this can really vary. Did you have an RSVP deadline?

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry people didn’t RSVP. I wonder if because you were so welcoming people thought it was more of a “drop by” event. Send a follow up saying you need to
tell the place numbers by X date.

[Anonymous]

Were they paper or electronic invites?

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the family situation. For my oldest 2, we would have been able to attend that kind of set up. By the time my youngest was that age, the older kids had activities during that time so it would have been more difficult. Dropping my 3 or 4 year old off would have completely depended on how well we knew the family hosting. They were a bit wild at that age and I wouldn’t have wanted to leave them with just anyone.

Either way, we would have let the host know!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh no! I’m so sorry. I have done and attended weekday parties but I think it depends on the group. All the things you mention make it sound more doable. Is this a group that has done a lot of parties and get togethers? I’ve found this can really vary. Did you have an RSVP deadline?

I’m not sure, we are fairly new to the school, and there have been a couple parties that my kid got invites to but we couldn’t make it so not sure how well attended they are. Plus I never see anyone at pickup! We have a sitter that does dropoffs so haven’t had a chance to make acquaintances with other parents.

We do have an RSVP deadline of February 1st, so I’m hoping there’s still time yet. Do people tend to wait until the last minute on these? This is the first non-family party we’ve had and I am stressed!

The invite said “Larla would love you to join her for a groovy celebration at Party Place! Siblings are welcome; there will be plenty of appetizers, pizza, snow cones and fun for everyone. Please let us know who would like to attend so we can cover admission to the playhouse. Feel free to drop in or drop off for as long as your family’s schedule allows.

RSVP: Jenny 867-5309 by February 1st”

I feel like I did everything but beg people to show up 😩 maybe they could read my desperation and want nothing to do with it haha

[Anonymous]

I’d love a party like that. We often go to play places at night on weekdays as a fun treat. 5-7 is more common for us though. I have 3 kids and picking them all up from different schools is tedious.

Sorry op! I would bump the invite. Or have the school send out an all class email reminder to rsvp. Parents of little kids can be flaky

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Were they paper or electronic invites?

I first texted the class group chat because a school closure meant the paper invites were delayed but I wanted to let people know ASAP, and put the paper invites in cubbies a few days later. Nobody does the electronic invites to my knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the chances anyone will come to a weekday late afternoon party at a Chuck E. Cheese type place? For a multitude of reasons it has to be a weekday.

- It’s kids from the preschool class, and I usually get there around 4:45 and mine is one of the last there
- Party is scheduled 4-6 right after when I presume most kids get picked up based on the above
- The kids have nap time in the afternoon
- Party is about 10 minutes from preschool
- Invite encourages dropping in or dropping off for as long as you are able to
- Invite says all siblings welcome and admission will be covered for all
- Invite makes it clear there will be food/dinner provided for all

I knew going in it wasn’t going to be a popular time. But I didn’t think we’d get literally zero RSVPs and we’re a week out from the party I tried to make it as convenient as possible for parents to make up for the strange time and day. For what it’s worth, the invites were adorable and eye-catching….

So when my older kid was in preschool I usually picked him up around 4:30 so I could get back to my younger's daycare (closer to home) and then get them home for dinner. Mine all went to bed by 7 in preschool/ daycare days. So just saying that if parents are picking up before 5 it might be because they need to do the dinner, bath, etc routine. I am not sure I would have attended this party with my kids unless it was a Friday. That being said I would have RSVPed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were they paper or electronic invites?

I first texted the class group chat because a school closure meant the paper invites were delayed but I wanted to let people know ASAP, and put the paper invites in cubbies a few days later. Nobody does the electronic invites to my knowledge.

OP it seems like you don't know the culture of this class. When my kids were that age, no way would a weekday party work (working parents, multiple pick ups, possibly an activity for a kid, etc.) I'm sorry this hasn't worked out. The fact that you didn't get a response to the text AND the paper invites indicates that the parents were probably confused by the fact there was a birthday party right after daycare/pre-school pick up. Yes, they're rude for not replying at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were they paper or electronic invites?

I first texted the class group chat because a school closure meant the paper invites were delayed but I wanted to let people know ASAP, and put the paper invites in cubbies a few days later. Nobody does the electronic invites to my knowledge.

OP it seems like you don't know the culture of this class. When my kids were that age, no way would a weekday party work (working parents, multiple pick ups, possibly an activity for a kid, etc.) I'm sorry this hasn't worked out. The fact that you didn't get a response to the text AND the paper invites indicates that the parents were probably confused by the fact there was a birthday party right after daycare/pre-school pick up. Yes, they're rude for not replying at all.

And that the parents have ZERO idea who you are.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t drop off a preschooler at chuck e cheese.
My kid went to a part time preschool, I could see those kids attending because we all pick up at same time. But your pick up times are all different and people have been at work all day.
I would maybe reach out to close friends that your kid has mentioned and follow up directly.
But that’s why you’re not getting responses.

[Anonymous]

Agree that a weeknight for working families with small kids is hard especially if they also have to do an aftercare pickup at elementary school for older sibs. Also, the wording makes it sound like an open house and that you're offering to cover costs but otherwise I get a "come if you can" vibe.

No way is anyone going to drop off their 4yr old at a Chuck E Cheese, and especially if they don't even know you which is an added issue.

Sorry, OP. I'd connect directly with a few families of your child's friends but otherwise assume a low turnout and only pay as you go for pizza and the activities.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't go, but I would definitely RSVP. I'm sorry no one had the common courtesy to reply to your invitation. People really suck.

[Anonymous]

People are terrible at RSVPing. With that said, 4-6 on a weekday is a pretty terrible time for a birthday party. Also can't imagine dropping off a preschooler at Chuckie Cheese unless I knew the family extremely well.