I found that birthday parties/playdates on Friday nights, Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons (during the Winter months) are better attended than at other times.

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, we are in an area where parties on Sunday interfere with church activities, so Saturday is the best day here. And this was the best day based on consults with other moms.

Thanks for the encouragement- I think we will start pushing for smaller, parties too. It is just so hard to move and make new friends on top of special needs.

Are many families Catholic? If so, First Communions could be playing a role in the low turn out. Kids usually make their First Communions in second grade & around this time of year. They can take place on either Saturday or Sunday (my church growing up had so many kids make theirs each year that half had it Saturday & half Sunday) & relatives often come in from out if town for the whole weekend.

When you add that to sports & other events that often take place in the spring (church picnics, and of the school year shows, competitions & parties for various activities , etc), the low attendance may really have little to nothing to do with your kid not being well liked & everything to with unfortunate timing.

I know, however, that, regardless of the reasons, it still hurts seeing your kid disappointed, especially about a special, once a year event like his birthday party & that it hurts even more when when you already have to watch the kid in question struggle with so many other things through out the year

Anonymous wrote:OP if it's any consolation, a lot of neuro-typical kids have poorly attended b-day parties as well. My friend's kid had one, bunch of RSVPs and we were the ONLY ones who showed, party tables were set for close to twenty kids. This is not to say "so shut you're complaining" at all, more to say, it may have less to do with your quirky kid than you think. At any rate, good luck to you and your son. He will find his tribe. =)

ugh. terrible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate this Holland crap. Please stop posting that: it’s so so so so so condescending.

I thought the article was right on point.

DP. This response to Welcome to Holland has always resonated with me a bit more: http://niederfamily.blogspot.com/2010/10/amsterdam-international.html

I like this too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate this Holland crap. Please stop posting that: it’s so so so so so condescending.

I thought the article was right on point.

+1
I did too.

Anonymous wrote:OP if it's any consolation, a lot of neuro-typical kids have poorly attended b-day parties as well. My friend's kid had one, bunch of RSVPs and we were the ONLY ones who showed, party tables were set for close to twenty kids. This is not to say "so shut you're complaining" at all, more to say, it may have less to do with your quirky kid than you think. At any rate, good luck to you and your son. He will find his tribe. =)

This is so sad

That's horrible that no one showed up. How could people do that? It would haunt me for the rest of my life if I accidentally skipped out on a child's party and it ended up how you describe.

OP if it's any consolation, a lot of neuro-typical kids have poorly attended b-day parties as well. My friend's kid had one, bunch of RSVPs and we were the ONLY ones who showed, party tables were set for close to twenty kids. This is not to say "so shut you're complaining" at all, more to say, it may have less to do with your quirky kid than you think. At any rate, good luck to you and your son. He will find his tribe. =)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate this Holland crap. Please stop posting that: it’s so so so so so condescending.

I thought the article was right on point.

DP. This response to Welcome to Holland has always resonated with me a bit more: http://niederfamily.blogspot.com/2010/10/amsterdam-international.html

Does your SN child like big groups? I found this is something I like, but my learning disabled and language delayed child would love it if a party was only him and two other kids. Big groups are too hard for him to keep track of with all his language difficulties.

I have to remind myself what i prefer isn't what he prefers.

It’s going to be better than you’re anticipating, OP. Happy Birthday to your sweet boy.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. To respond to a few questions:
- yes church here is often multiple meetings on Sunday
- we did take cupcakes to school a few weeks ago so that was nice
- we did invite the Cub Scout pack and a few are coming
- and I’ve invited every neighbor we’ve met who has a child and a few are coming

And perhaps most hopefully- I’ve gotten 2 yes RSVPs today, so perhaps this isn’t as bad as I was worried about.

The piñata goodies will be great for a small group

Neighbors? Friends from an activity he does (boy scouts? after school clubs?)

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, we are in an area where parties on Sunday interfere with church activities, so Saturday is the best day here. And this was the best day based on consults with other moms.

Thanks for the encouragement- I think we will start pushing for smaller, parties too. It is just so hard to move and make new friends on top of special needs.

Even afternoon or late afternoon on Sunday parties? People go to church all day long?

I'm sorry OP. That's hard. Is the party on a Saturday? WE have baseball and soccer on Saturdays (and we don't even do travel yet, which I think is on Sundays). Birthday parties are really, really hard.

Your son sounds really sweet. I hope he has a fun party.