I once had a family not rsvp at all (so assumed the kid wasn’t coming), then the kid got dropped off 20 min late and picked up like 45 min late.

The parents did say a thing about any of it (I didn’t even meet them until the late pickup b/c they had dropped their kid and immediately left). It was all so bizarre. Like didn’t they want to even see the parents they were leaving their kid with or have any worry their kid may be left alone if we hadn’t stayed late?

We’ve had a few other weird party experiences like that. Hosting kids’ birthday parties has been eye opening to how other people parent …

I try to give people tons of grace in this area where traffic is soooo bad. But boy if I was 20 minutes late I would be apologizing profusely. I hope they did.

NOTE: if you're having your kid's party at one of those types of places, include PICK UP INFO on the invite with the emphasis on being on time for the end.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see the issue. Why did you have to babysit? They probably figured the kids would go bounce after.

NP here. No way. We've all been doing these stupid parties since our kids were 4. We know the party includes 1.5 or 2 hours of bounce time, not extra. If your kid makes it to 4th grade adn you don't know that ... that's weird. Plus the invite said it ended at 4.

I think there is one agitator in here who doesn't have kids, doesn't know how these parties work, but feels compelled to make moronic statements like the PP. People with school aged kids are pros at these parties. They work the same every time.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see the issue. Why did you have to babysit? They probably figured the kids would go bounce after.

NP here. No way. We've all been doing these stupid parties since our kids were 4. We know the party includes 1.5 or 2 hours of bounce time, not extra. If your kid makes it to 4th grade adn you don't know that ... that's weird. Plus the invite said it ended at 4.

+15 should not be an issue. Traffic, other kids melt down, anything. More than that feels like there should have been better planning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have been on Team OP if she had had to clean the party room. That can be stressful especially if there is a time limit. But just having to hang out for 20 minutes with 3 kids does not merit this level of anger. You hosted a party, be grateful people attended.

In my culture having end times for parties is weird. Of course I understand why they have them. But as a host you need to be a little gracious. People took time out of their weekends to celebrate your child. Seething over mildly late pickups is bizarre.

1st bolded: Um, no?
2nd bolded: This was a venue. Not hanging at your house eating. Don't play the culture card. This is straight up rude.

Omg I am not "playing the culture card". Mentioning the existence of different cultural norms is not "playing a card".

Not sure why you wouldn't be grateful people celebrated your child but you do you.

Of course it's rude. Even people from "your culture" host venue parties and know the rules are different. Your culture is probably embarrassed to have to claim you now.

But you, you are clearly lovely lol

Lovelier than self centered A-holes who play dumb and think the world revolves around them. Nobody likes those people.

Anonymous wrote:I think OP needs to relax. To come here and complain about 20 minutes when it's her kids party is just off. I dislike people who can't be punctual but the tone was totally off.

I understand the issue, but was expecting to see something more egregious than 15. That's not enough to really matter. By the time you say goodbye, let the stragglers use the bathroom, find everyone's shoes, start loading the car up, the 15 mins is gone. 30 minutes would be very noticeably late.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have been on Team OP if she had had to clean the party room. That can be stressful especially if there is a time limit. But just having to hang out for 20 minutes with 3 kids does not merit this level of anger. You hosted a party, be grateful people attended.

In my culture having end times for parties is weird. Of course I understand why they have them. But as a host you need to be a little gracious. People took time out of their weekends to celebrate your child. Seething over mildly late pickups is bizarre.

1st bolded: Um, no?
2nd bolded: This was a venue. Not hanging at your house eating. Don't play the culture card. This is straight up rude.

Omg I am not "playing the culture card". Mentioning the existence of different cultural norms is not "playing a card".

Not sure why you wouldn't be grateful people celebrated your child but you do you.

Of course it's rude. Even people from "your culture" host venue parties and know the rules are different. Your culture is probably embarrassed to have to claim you now.

But you, you are clearly lovely lol

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have been on Team OP if she had had to clean the party room. That can be stressful especially if there is a time limit. But just having to hang out for 20 minutes with 3 kids does not merit this level of anger. You hosted a party, be grateful people attended.

In my culture having end times for parties is weird. Of course I understand why they have them. But as a host you need to be a little gracious. People took time out of their weekends to celebrate your child. Seething over mildly late pickups is bizarre.

1st bolded: Um, no?
2nd bolded: This was a venue. Not hanging at your house eating. Don't play the culture card. This is straight up rude.

Omg I am not "playing the culture card". Mentioning the existence of different cultural norms is not "playing a card".

Not sure why you wouldn't be grateful people celebrated your child but you do you.

Of course it's rude. Even people from "your culture" host venue parties and know the rules are different. Your culture is probably embarrassed to have to claim you now.

I think OP needs to relax. To come here and complain about 20 minutes when it's her kids party is just off. I dislike people who can't be punctual but the tone was totally off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have been on Team OP if she had had to clean the party room. That can be stressful especially if there is a time limit. But just having to hang out for 20 minutes with 3 kids does not merit this level of anger. You hosted a party, be grateful people attended.

In my culture having end times for parties is weird. Of course I understand why they have them. But as a host you need to be a little gracious. People took time out of their weekends to celebrate your child. Seething over mildly late pickups is bizarre.

1st bolded: Um, no?
2nd bolded: This was a venue. Not hanging at your house eating. Don't play the culture card. This is straight up rude.

Omg I am not "playing the culture card". Mentioning the existence of different cultural norms is not "playing a card".

Not sure why you wouldn't be grateful people celebrated your child but you do you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re doing them a favor by giving them a few free hours of babysitting. The list they can do is be on time.

except half the time, there's nothing that can be done in that weird amount of time and you are stuck floating yourself and/or other kids waiting until the part yis done, or making awkward convo with other parents. basically these far away parties can often have 1 parent at least semi-hostage kiling time

Then decline the invite. Your inability to occupy yourself for that time is not the host's problem.

I used to love these types of parties. My child had a fun time and I got 90 minutes to myself. Totally worth the drive time and the cost of the present.

Anonymous wrote:I would have been on Team OP if she had had to clean the party room. That can be stressful especially if there is a time limit. But just having to hang out for 20 minutes with 3 kids does not merit this level of anger. You hosted a party, be grateful people attended.

In my culture having end times for parties is weird. Of course I understand why they have them. But as a host you need to be a little gracious. People took time out of their weekends to celebrate your child. Seething over mildly late pickups is bizarre.

1st bolded: Um, no?
2nd bolded: This was a venue. Not hanging at your house eating. Don't play the culture card. This is straight up rude.

I agree it’s very rude. We all know how these things work. You need to be on time for pick up if you aren’t going to stay. I sincerely doubt these families were late because of public transit issues, they just didn’t want to be on time.