Hosted a holiday party for our kids friends tonight

[Anonymous]

There are 2 sides to every story.

Traffic was really bad tonight - everywhere (presumably holiday shoppers and holiday parties).
So that may have been unexpected for them.

I assume they apologized. Maybe offered to reciprocate at a later date.

It's a one-off for them, no? Don't go tit for tat. Friendships aren't like that.

[Anonymous]

Jesus, who cares? Your kids were probably thrilled to continue the party with a movie night with their friends. It’s Christmastime. It’s Saturday.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, OP. Some parents are such low class jerks.

Thank you for being a considerate hostess and taking care of the kids. Your kids are learning from you and they will be generous too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly then you should have said no. What’s the big deal?

They’re gross users. That’s what’s the big deal.

not OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jesus, who cares? Your kids were probably thrilled to continue the party with a movie night with their friends. It’s Christmastime. It’s Saturday.

Hi, lazy, self-centered parent!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jesus, who cares? Your kids were probably thrilled to continue the party with a movie night with their friends. It’s Christmastime. It’s Saturday.

Hi, lazy, self-centered parent!

Nope. I would never be late if I could help it. But I can’t imagine begrudging people an extra hour of festivity after the last two and a half miserable years when it’s almost no skin off my back and my kids were having fun with theirs! I bet everyone had fun. I’d probably text and ask if I could put the kids to bed to be picked up in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Not a big deal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly then you should have said no. What’s the big deal?

Not OP, but not picking up on time is the problem.

[Anonymous]

They should not have been an hour late, that's rude.

But OP you are also exaggerating in calling it 5 hrs of childcare and dinner when most of that was the party you were already hosting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One parent asked if their 2 kids could stay later after the party so they could attend a holiday event solo. We said sure, we’ll put a movie on for them and our kids. Parent said they would pick up at 9. Kids have just been picked up at 10pm. They’ve been here since 5pm and we’ve entertained, fed them dinner, and cleaned up after them for 4 hours of free childcare now.
It just sucks how some people are such takers and users of anyones goodwill. Now my own kids aren’t going to bed until 2 hours past their normal bedtime just so another parent could go party on our watch.

As expected, bc you "hosted a holiday party for your kids friends tonight". Tell us the printed hours of the party you hosted and maybe we'll be a bit more sympathetic?

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids? If an 8 pm bedtime is important for you to adhere to on a Saturday night, maybe do a daytime party next time? It was rude of the parents to show up an hour late without an explanation, but the rest of it is no big deal whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, hope your kids enjoyed the party and I know it’s frustrating to be taken advantage of. Did you know these parents were supposed takers? Now you do, and since you bit once, they will definitely ask again. Just in case you need a reminder, be prepared to say no and don’t allow them to dictate plans. They might suggest a play date and then when you say yes, they will say, “Perfect, I will drop my kids off tomorrow afternoon”. If you are put on the spot, just say, “That won’t work for us”.

+1. Time to start ghosting these people. Now that they know you’ll provide free childcare, see how long it takes them to try again. My guess is it’ll be by the New Year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, hope your kids enjoyed the party and I know it’s frustrating to be taken advantage of. Did you know these parents were supposed takers? Now you do, and since you bit once, they will definitely ask again. Just in case you need a reminder, be prepared to say no and don’t allow them to dictate plans. They might suggest a play date and then when you say yes, they will say, “Perfect, I will drop my kids off tomorrow afternoon”. If you are put on the spot, just say, “That won’t work for us”.

+1. Time to start ghosting these people. Now that they know you’ll provide free childcare, see how long it takes them to try again. My guess is it’ll be by the New Year.

Or, alternatively, OP could ask if they could keep her kids for a few hours on weekend night and she could go out for a nice evening herself. The other parents would probably love for their kids to have company for a bit and OP would get a chance to unwind, which she seems to desperately need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should not have been an hour late, that's rude.

But OP you are also exaggerating in calling it 5 hrs of childcare and dinner when most of that was the party you were already hosting.

+1

[Anonymous]

I either happily do this for my kids’ friends. How old are the kids?