Low turnout for daughter's party

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in a state where COVID restrictions have been super lax (gov put in anti-mask mandate for schools). My kids are in daycare and not required to wear masks. For my daughter's 5th birthday party we invited 20 kids and wrote on the invite that we will try to spend time outside and encourage mask wearing inside for adults. 3/20 kids are coming (when we go to other parties turnout is more like 10-15 kids).

I feel bad for my daughter but also feel like I'm okay if that's the reason why people aren't showing up?

But was I unreasonable in putting that note inside the invite? Was it pointless if the kids are in school together and not wearing masks? My thought was they are in a bubble but the parents don't interact and so asking parents to wear masks inside felt like a good way to prevent the adult to adult transmission when we're not around eachother.

Any ideas for how to make it the best party ever for my daughter?

Totally off topic question, but how do you get on DCUM? I feel like I never would have known about this site if I lived anywhere else. Did you used to live here?

I'm a NP but I'll answer anyway (I live in Chicago). I found this forum after googling something about kids birthday parties and found an extremely funny thread. Then looked around a little and enjoyed hat I saw. I love this forum because there are no profiles so no one can figure out who I am. I have found half a dozen friends on Reddit because they posted obvious things about themselves like where they live and their kids' names.

[Anonymous]

Personally if I got an invite asking us to mask I would think it was virtue signaling and I would only send my kid if he really was fond of the guest of honor. Otherwise I'd figure these people are not my type.

[Anonymous]

What purpose was your asking people to wear masks when all the kids are unmasked at school?
I mean literarily that means that all those parents and kids are technically breathing each others viruses and they would find this request superfluous and ridiculous even if they were not covid deniers.
And if they are, you are still ok with your kids being in school with all those covid deniers, but now a two hour party is where you decided to show your halo?
I would not come either.

[Anonymous]

If kids are not wearing masks at school indoors, I am not seeing the point of the same kids wearing masks at a 2 hour party? I live in a blue state and kids wear masks at school when they are indoors (but not when they are outdoors.) We just had my DD’s birthday party - it was mostly class mates and we kept it outdoors - I figured same standard as the school should be ok. I didn’t mention masks at all on the invite but called it a “backyard party” so people knew it was outdoors (because I don’t know what people’s comfort level is now.)

[Anonymous]

People may not have RSVP’d yet. We just had a party for our kid last Saturday. We invited 15. 4 had RSVP’d by Friday morning, and then 13 kids showed up (2 parents RSVP’d yes plus a sibling via text after 10PM on Friday night!).

We also requested no presents, but 10 kids brought them.

I think people have forgotten how normal social interactions work!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m in Texas and frankly if I’d received your invite I would assume you’re an extremist. No one masks outdoors these days but super political left wing people, and this isn’t DC - most people don’t appreciate that no matter how they align.

I am a "super" left person, and I too find OP's request strange. You don't invite 20 kids if you are more cautious than the average person in your state. Inviting 20 kids and then requiring masks in a state where people don't wear one is confusing. It seems like you are just being political.

3 (kids) is a great number for someone who is super cautious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in a state where COVID restrictions have been super lax (gov put in anti-mask mandate for schools). My kids are in daycare and not required to wear masks. For my daughter's 5th birthday party we invited 20 kids and wrote on the invite that we will try to spend time outside and encourage mask wearing inside for adults. 3/20 kids are coming (when we go to other parties turnout is more like 10-15 kids).

I feel bad for my daughter but also feel like I'm okay if that's the reason why people aren't showing up?

But was I unreasonable in putting that note inside the invite? Was it pointless if the kids are in school together and not wearing masks? My thought was they are in a bubble but the parents don't interact and so asking parents to wear masks inside felt like a good way to prevent the adult to adult transmission when we're not around eachother.

Any ideas for how to make it the best party ever for my daughter?

Totally off topic question, but how do you get on DCUM? I feel like I never would have known about this site if I lived anywhere else. Did you used to live here?

I'm a NP but I'll answer anyway (I live in Chicago). I found this forum after googling something about kids birthday parties and found an extremely funny thread. Then looked around a little and enjoyed hat I saw. I love this forum because there are no profiles so no one can figure out who I am. I have found half a dozen friends on Reddit because they posted obvious things about themselves like where they live and their kids' names.

DP and same. I’m in the Midwest. I, too, found it a few years ago after googling something, stumbled upon it, took a look around and liked it. I also like the anonymous aspect of it. It’s also interesting to see how people in another part of the county live. I don’t like being locked in a bubble and completely out of touch with what’s going on elsewhere. Even though we’re not neighbors, we all share the same country and matters elsewhere should be of concern, especially if those matters may eventually make their way to other parts of the country. It broadens the scope, so-to-speak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m in Texas and frankly if I’d received your invite I would assume you’re an extremist. No one masks outdoors these days but super political left wing people, and this isn’t DC - most people don’t appreciate that no matter how they align.

+1. I live in DC and a parent got upset because we didn't mention masks in the invitation for our child's outdoor party. I thought they were nuts even for DC where we have insane left extremists.

OP, you're more extreme than the norm for your group and people were likely put off by you requiring masks outdoors. It's especially ridiculous in an area where kids aren't required to wear masks indoors for school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in Texas and frankly if I’d received your invite I would assume you’re an extremist. No one masks outdoors these days but super political left wing people, and this isn’t DC - most people don’t appreciate that no matter how they align.

+1. I live in DC and a parent got upset because we didn't mention masks in the invitation for our child's outdoor party. I thought they were nuts even for DC where we have insane left extremists.

OP, you're more extreme than the norm for your group and people were likely put off by you requiring masks outdoors. It's especially ridiculous in an area where kids aren't required to wear masks indoors for school.

People really do see what they want to see. OP said she required masks for adults inside, not outdoors.