I understand the sentiment, but would have wirded the text a bit better and left out the bathroom part (when the time comes for a guest to use the bathroom, then direct them downstairs to the basement - but no need to blast out those petty logistics on a text).

"We look forward to celebrating Larla's bday today despite the rain clouds. Everything is covered and dry and we hope parents can stay as the kids have fun"...or something like that.

She's basically trying to find a tactful way of saying "no drop offs" .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a 5yo birthday party you should absolutely be expected to stick around and watch your kids.

Agreed. School age parties are different. I once had a pool party and I reminded parents not to drop. It was in the paper invite though. These were young school kids not yet strong swimmers.

I would expect to drop off at someone's house, if it wasn't a pool party. I would stick around somewhere public like a trampoline place.
Most parents don't want other parents lurking around their birthday parties!

NP. A party for 4-year-olds is not drop-off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The text is fine

It’s kind of inhospitable but also par for the course if it’s a white person. Especially the part about the basement bathroom (unless that’s the one most convenient to the backyard).

NP. In our house, the basement bathroom is the closest/most convenient from the back yard (walkout basement). And, it’s far nicer than the first floor powder room, so I wouldn’t necessarily assume “inhospitable” here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a 5yo birthday party you should absolutely be expected to stick around and watch your kids.

Agreed. School age parties are different. I once had a pool party and I reminded parents not to drop. It was in the paper invite though. These were young school kids not yet strong swimmers.

I would expect to drop off at someone's house, if it wasn't a pool party. I would stick around somewhere public like a trampoline place.
Most parents don't want other parents lurking around their birthday parties!

Anonymous wrote:For a 5yo birthday party you should absolutely be expected to stick around and watch your kids.

Agreed. School age parties are different. I once had a pool party and I reminded parents not to drop. It was in the paper invite though. These were young school kids not yet strong swimmers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The text is fine

It’s kind of inhospitable but also par for the course if it’s a white person. Especially the part about the basement bathroom (unless that’s the one most convenient to the backyard).

And how are people not crying racism with this statement? If it were the reverse there'd be such outrage.

It’s just the resident DCUMer who has to mention “white people” on every single thread, no matter how unrelated the topic is. Just ignore her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The text is fine

It’s kind of inhospitable but also par for the course if it’s a white person. Especially the part about the basement bathroom (unless that’s the one most convenient to the backyard).

And how are people not crying racism with this statement? If it were the reverse there'd be such outrage.

Anonymous wrote:I bet the brother won’t be napping - I bet he has Covid and is isolating.
(Not that I would care - I’m over it - but a four hour nap makes no sense).

+1 And this is the hosts way of protecting people - making sure everyone sticks to the basement bathroom if they go inside the house at all. It is what I would do.

Anonymous wrote:While telling everyone to watch their kid is rude and overkill I imagine that the real situation is that they planned an outdoor party because they don't want anyone in the house. Then the forecast of rain came and they freaked out so the preemptively gave an excuse as to why people can't be in the house. It was a lame excuse and the son is probably not napping all four hours but they needed some reason other than we don't want you in our house.

+1. Most people will show up at the beginning and leave 2 hours later. Hopefully the cake will be served 1.5 hours in and you’ll get to have some, but don’t be surprised if that doesn’t happen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The text is fine

It’s kind of inhospitable but also par for the course if it’s a white person. Especially the part about the basement bathroom (unless that’s the one most convenient to the backyard).

Well they couldn’t book the pavilion at the local park with no bathrooms at all and a broken grill because it was already booked by…other families. Such a shame.

While telling everyone to watch their kid is rude and overkill I imagine that the real situation is that they planned an outdoor party because they don't want anyone in the house. Then the forecast of rain came and they freaked out so the preemptively gave an excuse as to why people can't be in the house. It was a lame excuse and the son is probably not napping all four hours but they needed some reason other than we don't want you in our house.

Anonymous wrote:The text is fine

It’s kind of inhospitable but also par for the course if it’s a white person. Especially the part about the basement bathroom (unless that’s the one most convenient to the backyard).

Bday party formula:
2 hours. Cake is served at the 1.5 hour mark and not a second later.

Whoa four hours is a long time. I know some folks are saying it's a come and go sort of thing, but don't assume that! We once did a birthday party and three hours later there was no cake. No food. Just insane running around. We left. It was so odd. To this day I'm hesitant to go to backyard parties unless I know there's a 1.5 to 2 hour plan. As for the text, seems fine to me. The only thing that's weird is the four hours. I wish people would be more upfront and honest like that.

Super neurotic.