Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP. Mostly I just thought it was incredibly RUDE. In part rude to the parent, but most of all rude to the kid. I mean at five years old, a child know's what's up. When the table's set for seven...

I almost wanted to call up the parents myself and give them a talking to.

Just obnoxious.

(I'm feeling overly hateful right now, maybe. I'll calm down after my second coffee. )

i think you SHOULD call - and say something like, "oh my gosh, was little peter sick this wknd? we were at mark's birthday and only 3 kids came; i felt so bad for the birthday boy. he was so disappointed" lay it on thick.

If I say I'm going to be somewhere at a certain time, I show up.

If I can't make it, I call/text/email and explain.

If I receive an invitation, I rsvp yes or no.

Same for my kid too.

Applies to haircut appointments, social events, work meetings, pretty much everything.

Isn't this just common courtesy?

My child recently attended a classmate's party and only one other child showed up. I felt really bad for the bday child. I would have missed the party too had I not emailed the mom asking if siblings could come. I didn't have a babysitter for my toddler but managed to get one last minute. Despite being an introvert I force myself to schedule playdates at least twice a month so that my child will develop friendships beyond the classroom. We also invite siblings to our parties. I'd rather have a full house over an empty house.

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP. Mostly I just thought it was incredibly RUDE. In part rude to the parent, but most of all rude to the kid. I mean at five years old, a child know's what's up. When the table's set for seven...

I almost wanted to call up the parents myself and give them a talking to.

Just obnoxious.

(I'm feeling overly hateful right now, maybe. I'll calm down after my second coffee. )

I agree that it's incredibly rude to the parents and just sad for the kid. I had the opposite experience for my DC's birthday--almost everyone we invited showed up, so we were at capacity, and it was just a great time for my kid. To have just a few come would definitely put a damper on a happy occasion.

I'm the OP. Mostly I just thought it was incredibly RUDE. In part rude to the parent, but most of all rude to the kid. I mean at five years old, a child know's what's up. When the table's set for seven...

I almost wanted to call up the parents myself and give them a talking to.

Just obnoxious.

(I'm feeling overly hateful right now, maybe. I'll calm down after my second coffee. )

Anonymous wrote:It stinks for sure. You know what is equally frustrating? Uninvited siblings. People can be so inconsiderate! Grrr!

Eh, I love when kids bring their siblings. I prefer to be inclusive--the more the merrier!

This happened to my dd's 5th bday party at a pre-pay place where you pay per body not child. I was thoroughly annoyed. They had confirmed the week leading up to the party.

We were expecting 10 kids and 6 showed. Plus parents and an extra one of their friends who we also had to pay for.

You know what is equally frustrating? Uninvited siblings. People can be so inconsiderate! Grrr!

It doesn't bother me at all if the person mentions or asks. I just need to know how many kids are coming so that we can have the right amount of food/drink/treat bags. It seems like such a little thing to ask for this information, but apparantly it is too much for many people.

Anonymous wrote:It stinks for sure. You know what is equally frustrating? Uninvited siblings. People can be so inconsiderate! Grrr!

This doesn't bother me. I would have gladly had siblings show up than have my child ask why only 1 friend came when others were saying they would be there.

This is just awful. Honestly, while not a huge reason, this is a peripheral tiny one of the reasons I have opted not to do a bday party until DD gets a bit older, b/c I feel the bday parties are just so anonymous at her age. My DD will be turning 5 this November and we'll just be doing a party with her cousins. This makes me so sad for the parent who planned the party, and then for the kid too who must have been so looking forward to his/her friends coming!! I don't understand people who don't RSVP; I truly do not.

It stinks for sure. You know what is equally frustrating? Uninvited siblings. People can be so inconsiderate! Grrr!

I have had it happen as well - 10 yes RSVPs, three shows. Luckily DS was only 3 and so he was just happy to have a party and didn't worry about who was/was not there. It did wind up wasting a ton of money in terms of goody bags, cake, etc.

Yes it happens. It happens even more when they get older and the excuse is "well there was a soccer game". It really stinks for the bday kid.

This happened to me last year. I invited 15 kids including family and only 1 child came. No response to RSVP from half and the others said yes.

Wow. I've now seen this first hand. I mean, I know if your kid gets sick last minute (and you call in advance to apologize) or something. But this weekend I really did see a terrible thing:

Parents had prepared a party for eight kids. ONE parent RSVP-ed (that was me, apparently). A week before the even, mum calls up non-responders, and five say yes. Guess how many total came? THREE.

This is really a shitty thing to do, folks. Seriously.

If we managed our work lives like this, we'd be fired. This is more important than work: this is the reason why we work--to be functioning, polite, productive members of society.

I felt sad for the mum of the five year old. I don't think she cared that there were three, but she did care that her kid was treated so cavalierly. It's hard not to take it personally.

Has this happened to anyone else? I was astounded.