Birthday parties

[Anonymous]

Wow, ppl here would have hated the mom that hosted a 7 hour party then. So many specifics, expect for weekdays, excluding Friday nights we make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate the 2-4pm time frame for parties. It pretty much ruins the whole day for us to do something as a family or make any other plans. Not enough time in the am for a day trip, not enough time in the evening to do much after. Plus they have at least cake and snacks so they really don’t want proper dinner- yet the rest of the family does.

Decline the invite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dislike most kids birthday parties so my ideal party (if you absolutely have to have one) is Saturday 10am to noon. Simple activity in an easy-to-get-to location (not something a 40 minute drive from where we all live). Party starts on time. Serve bagels and snacks but no need to serve a meal (it just prolongs everyone being there). Do cake 90 minutes into the party. If you have it at a park or playground then people can hang out if they want but once cake happens they can also leave.

I think most kids parties prior to drop off parties (which usually involve the kids' actual friends they made themselves as opposed to the whole class or whoever their parents think they should invite) are horrible and that this whole trend of making them extra elaborate is stupid.

It's a great example of parents shooting themselves in the foot by creating an expensive and time consuming parental obligation that literally no one enjoys (not even the kids -- your 6 yr old would actually be more than happy with a park party because they are too young to know better until you fill their head with fantasies of Sky Zone or whatever). Just stop.

Decline the invitations. Save yourself from the misery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate the 2-4pm time frame for parties. It pretty much ruins the whole day for us to do something as a family or make any other plans. Not enough time in the am for a day trip, not enough time in the evening to do much after. Plus they have at least cake and snacks so they really don’t want proper dinner- yet the rest of the family does.

I love it because we have sports in the AM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate the 2-4pm time frame for parties. It pretty much ruins the whole day for us to do something as a family or make any other plans. Not enough time in the am for a day trip, not enough time in the evening to do much after. Plus they have at least cake and snacks so they really don’t want proper dinner- yet the rest of the family does.

I love it because we have sports in the AM

+1 I don't see anything wrong with 2-4, this is a normal spot for kid parties.

OP I think anything starting 10am or after is fine; should end by 6pm for lower ES. Maybe 6:30/7 if serving dinner like pizza.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate the 2-4pm time frame for parties. It pretty much ruins the whole day for us to do something as a family or make any other plans. Not enough time in the am for a day trip, not enough time in the evening to do much after. Plus they have at least cake and snacks so they really don’t want proper dinner- yet the rest of the family does.

Decline the invite.

I do. OP asked what preferences are and I answered

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate the 2-4pm time frame for parties. It pretty much ruins the whole day for us to do something as a family or make any other plans. Not enough time in the am for a day trip, not enough time in the evening to do much after. Plus they have at least cake and snacks so they really don’t want proper dinner- yet the rest of the family does.

Decline the invite.

I do. OP asked what preferences are and I answered

What family activity/outing are you routinely doing that a 2pm party impinges on? We are usually out in the morning (kids get up early), eat lunch out on the way home, and get home well before that.