OP here - I was overly sensitive and am ashamed of my knee jerk reaction.

My friend messaged me this morning that they're having a family birthday for her daughter next week on the actual birthday and the neighborhood group of friends is invited. I'm really embarrassed I acted this way over it.

Yes, you are being dramatic. Who knows why he wasn’t invited. Maybe the other boy was a super close friend or a cousin- but otherwise it was girls. You can’t expect her to invite the neighborhood just because you do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They reach an age when they may only invite their gender. She could be only inviting girls that are in third grade, for example, and your boy doesn’t fit in.

Read it again.

+1
OP mentioned one boy & younger kids were in attendance

That boy was likely a brother to another invited girl.

OP, it may also be about how your son would be treated by the other guests, the other 8 year old girls. Girls you don't know. Not like it's going to be something awful but the others may not be inclusive of your son. The other mom and girl don't want to have to police that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They reach an age when they may only invite their gender. She could be only inviting girls that are in third grade, for example, and your boy doesn’t fit in.

One boy was invited.

He may have come with a sister who was invited (maybe he was not invited at all).

Anonymous wrote:They reach an age when they may only invite their gender. She could be only inviting girls that are in third grade, for example, and your boy doesn’t fit in.

This. Your boy will also reach an age when girls will stop being invited.

She still play together with your son when no girls around, but that’s changing. She’s just growing older.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They reach an age when they may only invite their gender. She could be only inviting girls that are in third grade, for example, and your boy doesn’t fit in.

Read it again.

+1
OP mentioned one boy & younger kids were in attendance

Curious if you're son would consider inviting a girl two grades lower to his 8th birthday. We have a few close family friends of mixed ages who we celebrate lots of things with, but nobody expected my dd to invite anyone to her 8th "friends" birthday party.

This is common. When planning a bday party, you normally just invite that same age group.

Your child is not entitled to be invited to every social event in your neighborhood/school. Do not make it a huge deal and your child will follow. Of course kids shouldn’t talk about upcoming parties, but they do all.the.time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They reach an age when they may only invite their gender. She could be only inviting girls that are in third grade, for example, and your boy doesn’t fit in.

One boy was invited.

We don't know how old the only invited boy was. It matters if he is the same age as the birthday girls or if he's 1.5 years younger.

Anonymous wrote:They reach an age when they may only invite their gender. She could be only inviting girls that are in third grade, for example, and your boy doesn’t fit in.

One boy was invited.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is pretty normal. In our neighborhood all the kids play, but birthdays tend to be same age group. Do not read a lot into this if you have otherwise good relationships!

Just because sexism is “normal” (in your view) does not make it ok !

We went to two birthday parties today for 8 year old girls. Both parties were all girls.

Anonymous wrote:This is pretty normal. In our neighborhood all the kids play, but birthdays tend to be same age group. Do not read a lot into this if you have otherwise good relationships!

Just because sexism is “normal” (in your view) does not make it ok !

Anonymous wrote:My daughter just turned 8. She plays a ton with the neighbor boy who is 6. She really really likes playing with him. Still didn’t want him at her party for “8 year olds.”

Do not take this personally.

This!