Anonymous
Post 02/10/2018 19:13     Subject: When can you stop going to family kid parties?
Anonymous wrote:My SIL used to do this. She would throw kid parties and EXPECT her siblings their spouses, etc even before we had kids. Started at age 1 with a huge party that had her daughter in tears with fear. Continued until her daughter was 12! it was insane. Her daughter just wanted to be with her friends. We stopped going and she still holds a grudge. She has grudge against people who won't come from out of town. It was strange. She would actually obsess at the party over which adult family members didn't come to a children's party. It got even stranger when the kid as 4 or 5 and she insisted parents DROP OFF their kids, but expected her extended family there. One of her in-laws is sketchy as can be and if I were taking my kid to a party and saw his drugged out looking self, I would either stay or take my kid home.


+1 We don't have kids, and we didn't attend the birthday party (mainly because we had a conflict, but we didn't think it was a big deal because it was a little kids party with their friends). Well, SIL and BIL threw a fit and a massive guilt trip about how we should have gone. So now we go every year and just stand there while the kids play. It's the most ridiculous thing ever and a waste of a weekend day. The kids barely even talk to us. We maybe get a quickie hug as we leave.

But it's easier to just go than to deal with their guilt trip if we don't go. I can't wait until their kids are 18.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2018 18:10     Subject: When can you stop going to family kid parties?
My SIL used to do this. She would throw kid parties and EXPECT her siblings their spouses, etc even before we had kids. Started at age 1 with a huge party that had her daughter in tears with fear. Continued until her daughter was 12! it was insane. Her daughter just wanted to be with her friends. We stopped going and she still holds a grudge. She has grudge against people who won't come from out of town. It was strange. She would actually obsess at the party over which adult family members didn't come to a children's party. It got even stranger when the kid as 4 or 5 and she insisted parents DROP OFF their kids, but expected her extended family there. One of her in-laws is sketchy as can be and if I were taking my kid to a party and saw his drugged out looking self, I would either stay or take my kid home.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2018 12:01     Subject: When can you stop going to family kid parties?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. I will go his year because it will likely be an issue if I don't.

I just don't feel like going. I'm tired and would love to spend the whole day sleeping. Shrugs


Well, own your choices. If you chose to fabricate that "it will likely be an issue," and then you choose to go even though you don't feel like it, that's your decision.

So stop bitching about it.

Go, don't go, your choice. Are you sure you're not the 8-year-old here?

"Shrugs"?
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2018 12:00     Subject: When can you stop going to family kid parties?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. I will go his year because it will likely be an issue if I don't.

I just don't feel like going. I'm tired and would love to spend the whole day sleeping. Shrugs


Go and leave early. Doesn't have to be difficult.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2018 11:04     Subject: When can you stop going to family kid parties?
Anonymous wrote:The bigger question is why do parents insist on making every birthday a big to-do? Have a cake at home with some close family and call it a day. Everything is a humongous show to make the kid feel like God’s gift to the world. It’s ridiculous. No one wants to attend.


We are even worse than the OPs sister. We have three birthday celebrations for our kids. One with just our family on the birthday, one with friends, and one with grandparents, aunt and uncle whenever it's convenient for them.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2018 10:58     Subject: When can you stop going to family kid parties?
OP here. I will go his year because it will likely be an issue if I don't.

I just don't feel like going. I'm tired and would love to spend the whole day sleeping. Shrugs
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2018 09:35     Subject: When can you stop going to family kid parties?
They just invited you so you would feel included. Just decline. NBD.