OP, I don't like to see my guests go hungry either. If I invite people over for a meal, I feed them a meal. And I encourage them to take seconds and thirds. But a party is a little different. A party host really can't be responsible for making sure that multiple children are fed to bursting. Especially at a midday party. You can't bring over hungry children with an expectation that a midday party will fill them up with four courses of food. It's not a sit down affair with everything from soup to nuts. And cake and party food is not a meal. Plus, have you considered that your children may have been too excited at the party to eat much of anything even if there was food? I can't get my kids to eat much at parties. I think in this case, yeah, going to McDonalds is appropriate. Or going home and having cheese and crackers. What is the big deal here?

I've never been to a party where there wasn't food. If the hosts are new to doing this, maybe they didn't really know? I have a party coming up in a couple weeks, it's at 4pm and I am providing food for the kiddos only because it's in a rented facility. When I've hosted bday parties in my home, I have had plenty of snacks and finger foods for kids and adults alike.

For the PP who said it was always during a weird time, parents of young children generally try to work around nap times when planning bday parties.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2-4 you don't serve a meal. Munches and cake yes, actual meal, no way. And you are never expected to feed adults. Sorry, but you're not. The party is for kids. That's who is invited. If parents want to stay, that's fine, but they can survive 2 hours w/o food and the party is for kids (20?) not 20 kids plus however many adults feel like staying.

What if the child is under 5 and it is not a drop off party?

Would you still not feed the parents (assuming it is during meal time)?

If the party start time is 2, I agree it is not meal time. I do think a party that starts at 3:30, 4:00 or 4:30 would be meal time.

What is the meal called that you eat at these times? Is it "linner" or "dunch?"

If your guests are leaving close to 6pm, I would consider that dinner time. The start time is before meal time. Your guests just leave hungry. That is all. If your guests leave hungry, I would say that is being a bad host. If you are ok with most of your guests being hungry after your party, please defend it all you want.

I also consider the parents of the children my guests. My kids are under age 5. Parents are expected to remain for the party.

Anonymous wrote:I'm dreading this. DC is already talking bday, though it is months away. We've not really had a kids party before. DC has 20+ classmates and it won't be a drop off party. I can't have it at home, I can't feed 50 people a meal. I can have the party at 2pm, right? And just serve snacks & cake without being rude?

11-12 is lunch time. 5-6 is dinner time. Snacks and cake for a 2 pm party is fine, IMO.

We do simple things. No catering. Crackers and cheese, assorted fruit or fruit salad, hummus and pretzels, etc. If its borderline close to lunch time (ie: a party from 9-11 or 1-3) I may throw in some lunchmeat rollups and pasta salad (and maybe wings, those are easy). But I tend to avoid throwing parties around mealtimes - its not only more expensive but also more hectic and time consuming.

I'm dreading this. DC is already talking bday, though it is months away. We've not really had a kids party before. DC has 20+ classmates and it won't be a drop off party. I can't have it at home, I can't feed 50 people a meal. I can have the party at 2pm, right? And just serve snacks & cake without being rude?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2-4 you don't serve a meal. Munches and cake yes, actual meal, no way. And you are never expected to feed adults. Sorry, but you're not. The party is for kids. That's who is invited. If parents want to stay, that's fine, but they can survive 2 hours w/o food and the party is for kids (20?) not 20 kids plus however many adults feel like staying.

What if the child is under 5 and it is not a drop off party?

Would you still not feed the parents (assuming it is during meal time)?

If the party start time is 2, I agree it is not meal time. I do think a party that starts at 3:30, 4:00 or 4:30 would be meal time.

What is the meal called that you eat at these times? Is it "linner" or "dunch?"

I never expect to be fed at a kid's party. Why would I? It's not about me or for me. I'm not a guest. That's just weird. That's like expecting to be included in the party games, or being irritated because they're not age appropriate for me as an adult.

20:41 - MIL is that you? Try having to eat fast food after holiday meals, OP. Sucks.

Were you invited to a birthday party or to a lunch? I would only expect lunch if the invitation mentions it. My child has yet to have any health problems due to being starved at a 2 hr. party.

Anonymous wrote:2-4 you don't serve a meal. Munches and cake yes, actual meal, no way. And you are never expected to feed adults. Sorry, but you're not. The party is for kids. That's who is invited. If parents want to stay, that's fine, but they can survive 2 hours w/o food and the party is for kids (20?) not 20 kids plus however many adults feel like staying.

Weird to defend bad hosting.

Anonymous wrote:You guys are pretty obnoxious! Unless I go or host a party at a meal time (like before 1 or after 5), then I would never expect a full meal to be served. Ever. I would hope there would be some munchies, and I would certainly provide snacks (like fruit, veggies with hummus, crackers, etc). My kid's last party was 2 - 4. Who the hell eats lunch or dinner at this time? I hope u don't starve you kids for a bday party. And, I spent time coming up with cool and fun games and activities for the kids to do so eating a long meal wasn't half the party. And yes, we are struggling financially - so not everyone can afford a catered meal. I am hosting my other child's bday at 11. Yes, we are serving a meal. Get a grip people, this is just a bday party.

Birthday party or not, you are a party host to kids (and depending on the age), a bunch of parents. Food is part of being a good host.

Anonymous wrote:2-4 you don't serve a meal. Munches and cake yes, actual meal, no way. And you are never expected to feed adults. Sorry, but you're not. The party is for kids. That's who is invited. If parents want to stay, that's fine, but they can survive 2 hours w/o food and the party is for kids (20?) not 20 kids plus however many adults feel like staying.

What if the child is under 5 and it is not a drop off party?

Would you still not feed the parents (assuming it is during meal time)?

If the party start time is 2, I agree it is not meal time. I do think a party that starts at 3:30, 4:00 or 4:30 would be meal time.

2-4 you don't serve a meal. Munches and cake yes, actual meal, no way. And you are never expected to feed adults. Sorry, but you're not. The party is for kids. That's who is invited. If parents want to stay, that's fine, but they can survive 2 hours w/o food and the party is for kids (20?) not 20 kids plus however many adults feel like staying.

You guys are pretty obnoxious! Unless I go or host a party at a meal time (like before 1 or after 5), then I would never expect a full meal to be served. Ever. I would hope there would be some munchies, and I would certainly provide snacks (like fruit, veggies with hummus, crackers, etc). My kid's last party was 2 - 4. Who the hell eats lunch or dinner at this time? I hope u don't starve you kids for a bday party. And, I spent time coming up with cool and fun games and activities for the kids to do so eating a long meal wasn't half the party. And yes, we are struggling financially - so not everyone can afford a catered meal. I am hosting my other child's bday at 11. Yes, we are serving a meal. Get a grip people, this is just a bday party.

I totally get you, OP. We once went to a party that was 11 - 1 and all that was served was a fruit tray and cake and those pseudo healthy juice boxes. For about 15 3 year olds and about 20 parents. I was peeved. By the time we left, I had a cranky, sugared-up, refusing-to-nap, exhausted kid for the rest of the day.