Why can't birthday parties be closer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a little inconvenient but in the end, the majority of these places are in the far burbs and there’s not that many of them. I would rather take my kid to a trampoline park or rec center 30 minutes away, drop him off, and maybe have time to grocery shop or just have Starbucks or something at a nearby shopping center vs. feeling like I have to stay and “visit” at a home party. Yes I know home parties start being exclusively drop off at some point but we’re finishing up 1st grade and it hasn’t happened yet.

I was amazed at how many people just dropped off their kids at our kindergarten bday party.

Did you expect them to stay? In K I assume it’s a drop off.

My kid was 5 in all of K. I would drop off at a house. I would not drop off at Main Event, other arcade places, or sky zone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a little inconvenient but in the end, the majority of these places are in the far burbs and there’s not that many of them. I would rather take my kid to a trampoline park or rec center 30 minutes away, drop him off, and maybe have time to grocery shop or just have Starbucks or something at a nearby shopping center vs. feeling like I have to stay and “visit” at a home party. Yes I know home parties start being exclusively drop off at some point but we’re finishing up 1st grade and it hasn’t happened yet.

I was amazed at how many people just dropped off their kids at our kindergarten bday party.

Did you expect them to stay? In K I assume it’s a drop off.

PP here and maybe. I mean they don't know us and while our house is child proof they really don't know. Also, 10+ kids is a lot to manage for the hosts. Finally, when something happens the kids look to their parents for comfort. For example, one girl couldn't work the bathroom door after washing her hands and she freaked out that she was stuck in there. I would say about about 1/4 of the parents stayed.

[Anonymous]

If your kid is old enough for a climbing gym, zip line, trampoline park, etc. they are probably old enough to carpool to a drop off party.

[Anonymous]

Don’t go. Stop biiitching like a stupid shithead on an anonymous forum because your kids got invited to a party.
Schmuck.

[Anonymous]

Wow OP...first world problems. Seriously?! Most kids in the world never get a birthday party. Count your lucky stars instead of complaining.

[Anonymous]

OP, I hear you. It’s like a cycle. We get invited to a dear friend’s party 45 min away. We grumble but then DD and friends have a blast. Two other friends have a party there. Then DD begs to have her party there. We say yes, just as the other parents did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this will sound so cliche, but with my youngest having just graduated high school, I am ruminating over all the things I wish I could do over, and do differently. Not sweating the small stuff is on the top of the list. This time goes so fast. I would give anything to have 30 minutes in my car with my 8-year-old back again. Make the most of it!

+1

And where possible, don't skip the party that your kid might enjoy, because you (no you pp) might feel put out about the drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this will sound so cliche, but with my youngest having just graduated high school, I am ruminating over all the things I wish I could do over, and do differently. Not sweating the small stuff is on the top of the list. This time goes so fast. I would give anything to have 30 minutes in my car with my 8-year-old back again. Make the most of it!

I know some people don't like these reminders, but I actually really appreciate them and found this helpful today so thank you pp. I saw something recently saying when you're feeling frustrated to try to pretend in your mind that you've been brought back in time and this is the one day you get with your kids while they are little again. Really helps you appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like there is a trend of getting invitations for kids' birthday parties that are like 30+ minutes from where the birthday boy or girl and classmates live. The days of parties at the local karate, little gym, or firehouse seem to be over. Now we have to trek to far off arcades, indoor basketball, amusement centers, zipline places, etc. I just got an invitation for a party that is 20 miles from our elementary school. Are parents thinking when they make these choices? I know junior really really wants to have all of his friends at this cool arcade, but most parents are squeezing these parties into busy weekends and really don't want to drive 60 to 90 minutes round trip to eat cake with the 6 year olds who live in their neighborhood.

We always just carpool with another family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like there is a trend of getting invitations for kids' birthday parties that are like 30+ minutes from where the birthday boy or girl and classmates live. The days of parties at the local karate, little gym, or firehouse seem to be over. Now we have to trek to far off arcades, indoor basketball, amusement centers, zipline places, etc. I just got an invitation for a party that is 20 miles from our elementary school. Are parents thinking when they make these choices? I know junior really really wants to have all of his friends at this cool arcade, but most parents are squeezing these parties into busy weekends and really don't want to drive 60 to 90 minutes round trip to eat cake with the 6 year olds who live in their neighborhood.

Make poor/frugal friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this will sound so cliche, but with my youngest having just graduated high school, I am ruminating over all the things I wish I could do over, and do differently. Not sweating the small stuff is on the top of the list. This time goes so fast. I would give anything to have 30 minutes in my car with my 8-year-old back again. Make the most of it!

I needed to hear this today, PP. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

My kids go to private school so we always drive a distance to parties because not everyone lives in the same place. They like to be with their friends. If your kid wants to go, what's the big deal?

[Anonymous]

It's an invite, not a summons. You don't have to say yes!

[Anonymous]

It’s your free time to roam around target or sit at a coffee shop or get a pedicure if it’s your turn to carpool. That’s why. The kids don’t want to go to the firehouse much past 5.

The parties stop as quick as they start. My youngest is in late elementary and I haven’t driven to one of those in a long time. Unfortunately now the girls are all about sleepover parties, which is no driving but another set of issues. I would rather drive to Pump it Up.

[Anonymous]

That's where these places are. We live in Bethesda inside the beltway and even most of the little kid venues were a 20+ min drive for us because that's where most playspace etc were located.