I just had a sixth grade party and a few parents stayed. It was probably because venue was kind of far.

I thought an uninvited kid invited herself to your party. Mom of second grader to be expected. Kindergarten and first grade almost all parents stay.

Anonymous wrote:I am wondering if this is the first time op has ever done a party for her kid. At least a class type party. She seems pretty surprised by the request and have high expectations about how fun it will be to be with her parents and friends.

I agree it sounds like her first rodeo, or perhaps OP is socially anxious about talking to people she doesn’t know, or hosting in particular. Maybe she did a party in the past and found it overwhelming. It’s understandable to feel anxious about social situations OP and your friends/family are “safe” but you may be surprised if you take a little risk and embrace the situation that it will work out okay.

Years ago, when DD was about this age, she met a girl at the park or some play place. We invited the girl over for a play date. We'd never met the parents, and the mom just dropped their 6 or 7 year old off DD without stepping into the house, meeting us, or anything. Then my daughter was invited to the girl's birthday at her house, and I asked if I could stay because DD was shy and didn't know anyone, and because I knew literally nothing about these people. The mom begrudgingly agreed, but made me feel so awkward the whole time. She basically hung out with her close friend while I spoke to her mother-in-law. I felt terrible. What was so hard about being a little bit welcoming?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she shows up just ignore her and talk to your friends! Have fun OP

This is OP. This is basically what I'm planning to do. I may just "forget" to respond to her text. If she shows up and stays, fine, but I'm not there to entertain her.

well, aren’t you a peach. wow.

Yes, mean and selfish. The poor mom and her kid are definitely better off not attending.

(and lol at op thinking this party will be any kind of fun for her and her friends with that many kids attending)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

asking

You answer. She asked, you answer.
Be a grown up and use your words
whatever those are

Regardless of her words, OP doesn’t get to decide who stays at a public venue, unless she owns it.

The public venue is kind of immaterial IMO. If the party were at OP's home, I would still have wanted to stay with my DS when he was in 2nd grade, he could be a real handful at that age.

If your child cannot behave in a public place or at someone else's house then you should not accept an invitation. A screaming, tantruming child ruins a party and far too many parents just smile and say, "I don't know what's gotten into him/her because most of the time they are little angels!"

What an asinine response. No one said a child was "tantruming". You are vile.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. These responses are getting a little out of hand. I'm just annoyed because I feel like this mom is pushing in on a party she wasn't invited to. Maybe her kid has special needs. I don't know. That doesn't feel like my problem.

If you are not a troll, you are a huge jerk. For all you know, this young child could end up being a close friend of your child’s someday. And even if this never happens, you need to learn how to show some grace. No parent is trying to “push their way in” to your party. They are trying to find a way for their child to participate. Some kids need more parent support than others. God forbid your child ever need some type of support someday. I hope you look back and remember what a jerk you were.

I doubt that the kids will ever be friends because the OP is teaching her child to be mean and exclusive. The other child will know to stay far away.

Anonymous wrote:Lol, imagine being OP and thinking it's such a treat to have an exclusive invite to hang out at her kid's Jump Zone party venue.

OP, if this is the only chance you have to "catch up" with those other parents, they are not your friends. Sorry.

Right? That’s the sad and pathetic part of OP. I have hosted those parties before. A fun place to catch up with friends they are not. It’s sad.

How hard is it to extend grace to someone? You may need it yourself someday, OP.

I am wondering if this is the first time op has ever done a party for her kid. At least a class type party. She seems pretty surprised by the request and have high expectations about how fun it will be to be with her parents and friends.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. These responses are getting a little out of hand. I'm just annoyed because I feel like this mom is pushing in on a party she wasn't invited to. Maybe her kid has special needs. I don't know. That doesn't feel like my problem.

If you are not a troll, you are a huge jerk. For all you know, this young child could end up being a close friend of your child’s someday. And even if this never happens, you need to learn how to show some grace. No parent is trying to “push their way in” to your party. They are trying to find a way for their child to participate. Some kids need more parent support than others. God forbid your child ever need some type of support someday. I hope you look back and remember what a jerk you were.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. These responses are getting a little out of hand. I'm just annoyed because I feel like this mom is pushing in on a party she wasn't invited to. Maybe her kid has special needs. I don't know. That doesn't feel like my problem.

Lady. You *made it your problem* when you invited the whole class. It’s totally normal for parents to stick around at a birthday party still with 7 year olds. If you did not want this you needed to invite a smaller group of kids and make clear it was drop-off only.

Anonymous wrote:Lol, imagine being OP and thinking it's such a treat to have an exclusive invite to hang out at her kid's Jump Zone party venue.

OP, if this is the only chance you have to "catch up" with those other parents, they are not your friends. Sorry.

+1. It sound like OP has never been to a jump zone.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. These responses are getting a little out of hand. I'm just annoyed because I feel like this mom is pushing in on a party she wasn't invited to. Maybe her kid has special needs. I don't know. That doesn't feel like my problem.

When you have a party for kids under a certain age you are NECESSARILY inviting the parents to stick around. You don’t have to provide them food or activities (although it’s pretty rude of you not to offer some sort of refreshments). Honestly OP, you sound incredibly immature. For a 2nd grade party you are going to have a lot of parents stick around so you should adjust your expectations accordingly.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. These responses are getting a little out of hand. I'm just annoyed because I feel like this mom is pushing in on a party she wasn't invited to. Maybe her kid has special needs. I don't know. That doesn't feel like my problem.

OP, if you invite the whole class, you invite the whole class. YOU are the one making a problem where there is none. Period. Stop whining and be a gracious host.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. These responses are getting a little out of hand. I'm just annoyed because I feel like this mom is pushing in on a party she wasn't invited to. Maybe her kid has special needs. I don't know. That doesn't feel like my problem.

She's trying to make it not your problem by being there in the event that there is a problem.

But also -- you live in a community. Why are you so aghast at being flexible to help someone out at little cost to you?