Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 21:19     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
Not everyone needs to be a barbecue host OP. It’s optional. You don’t need to make new friends either.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 21:17     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
Anonymous wrote:Why is making adult friends hard. SO HARD. So awkward and alienating.


This. Sigh.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 21:15     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
Next time, don’t drink so much and blab.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 21:11     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
Anonymous wrote:Good on you for trying 👍


Agree! Many of us are too intimidated to host.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 21:06     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
The kids played. That's the most important thing.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 21:05     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did you do the bbq work? People probably had more fun than you realize


I mean probably not if people headed out early to have an after party elsewhere. Sorry OP what a bummer.


8 is fine. They were probably trying to not overstay their welcome. It’s a good start
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 20:51     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
Why is making adult friends hard. SO HARD. So awkward and alienating.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 20:47     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did you do the bbq work? People probably had more fun than you realize


I mean probably not if people headed out early to have an after party elsewhere. Sorry OP what a bummer.


It’s possible they had a peeexisting thing (like maybe a going away party for someone OP doesn’t know) but cared enough about OP to try to come to her thing first. I wouldn’t automatically assume the worst.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 20:46     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
I totally commend you for trying. People probably did appreciate it and if they didn’t they are just jerks. Don’t be down on yourself.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 20:45     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
Anonymous wrote:Did you do the bbq work? People probably had more fun than you realize


I mean probably not if people headed out early to have an after party elsewhere. Sorry OP what a bummer.
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 20:45     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue

I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you think, OP. And if the mood is really off, people usually blame themselves and not someone else (unless they're nasty people).

Don't worry. You did what you could. If they were your friends before the party, they will still be your friends after!
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 20:44     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
Good on you for trying 👍
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 20:41     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
Did you do the bbq work? People probably had more fun than you realize
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 20:40     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
Eh it’s a start. Seriously. I feel the way you do when I haven’t hosted for awhile
Anonymous
Post 07/12/2025 20:39     Subject: Just hosted a bummer of a barbecue
Invited some new neighborhood-parent friends over, and everyone left by 8:15pm. Stilted conversation. I drank too much and blabbed about idiotic things to keep the conversation alive. My house is dumpy and I'm dumpy and I feel like a lump of nothing. Kids played but the adults all talked to one another while I tried to keep up and failed and I can see into the yard of one of the family's houses and it looks like a couple of the families just headed over there.