Did I miss it - when was the RSVP cutoff date and when was your planned advance ticket purchase?

Did you not purposely build in a buffer? For example, I'll specifically tell parents I need a headcount/RSVP by Wednesday, but not order tickets until say Thursday night and in the meantime reach out to XYZ people who still hadn't replied (and knowing they are close friends with DD).

Anonymous wrote:What kind of helicopter parent must sit right next to an 11 year old at a movie? Just sit in back.

What kind of neglectful parent doesn't sit with the kids? Just let me know. You can have my child's seat, no issue.

To the clueless parents asking why it’s such a big deal for OP to sit with the 11 year old boys and girls sitting alone together in a dark theatre - I know kids who got up to a bunch of mischief at that age.. sexual stuff or also just annoying the people around them, throwing popcorn, etc.

Please supervise your kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here, I’m not comfortable sitting too far from the group, and the show is pretty much sold out so the theatre wouldn’t be able to rearrange our seats. I’m going to see if I can convince younger sibling to stay home in exchange for a special outing another time (this might work depending on sibs mood). Otherwise I’ll just have to let them know that sorry, the show is sold out :/

Moral of the story-please PLEASE rsvp in a timely manner.

Why should your younger child suffer because your other child has a friend whose mother is incompetent?! Really mean!

A nitpick, but please -- parent or parents. It's a small thing, but it bugs me. I don't see anywhere it's mentioned that the kid has a single mother or two mothers. I'm tired of it always being assumed that it is the mother's job to be on top of stuff like this, and no one thinks dad has any responsibility.

I don't get why you cant sit apart from them. Could someone please explain what the problem is sitting a few rows away?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, did you say: RSVP by 10/22 (or a specific date)? Or just "RSVP ahead of time"?

Her op said she specifically had a date so they could all sit together.

I re-read the post and only see this reference: "I specifically said in the invite that tickets were being purchased ahead of time so the group can get assigned seats together."

I don't see where she said to rsvp by a specific date?

If the date was on there, this is easy. Kid can't come. If not, then it's trickier.

What kind of helicopter parent must sit right next to an 11 year old at a movie? Just sit in back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd let them sit together and plan to grab a seat in the back row. Maybe someone who RSVPd yes will not come and it'll be moot.

This. Really, why be mean to a little kid because of a late RSVP. And you never know what was happening in their family lives that caused the late RSVP. You have an easy solution that hurts no one.

this

Anonymous wrote:“Suzy, oh so sorry. But I already bought tickets and since this is assigned seating, there are no seats beside us. Can you both join, i’d Be happy to get 2 seats for both of you”. I wouldn’t think of leaving the sibling, or letting a 10 year old sit on her own. Not sure how many kids, but I would also be hesitant about sitting away from them (unless it’s a row above or below and you can get up easily) so that you can help in case a child needs to go to toilet etc. I think optimal is that mom and daughter both come and mom sits next to daughter.

10 and 11 yos would all be sitting together, no one would be sitting alone except you, the parent.

I would be surprised that a parent planned to sit right with the birthday girl and friends, at that age, they need some space and don't want a parent RIGHT THERE eavesdropping.

“Suzy, oh so sorry. But I already bought tickets and since this is assigned seating, there are no seats beside us. Can you both join, i’d Be happy to get 2 seats for both of you”. I wouldn’t think of leaving the sibling, or letting a 10 year old sit on her own. Not sure how many kids, but I would also be hesitant about sitting away from them (unless it’s a row above or below and you can get up easily) so that you can help in case a child needs to go to toilet etc. I think optimal is that mom and daughter both come and mom sits next to daughter.

Anonymous wrote:I would be totally comfortable having 5th graders sit by themselves and sitting in back-and I have a 10yo 5th grader DD.

Me too. For anyone not comfortable, what do you think will happen?

I’d have sibling bring a friend and sit with dad or invite a friend and see if they can sit with sibling. What is age difference? Are these siblings friends , too? Might change my answer.

I would be totally comfortable having 5th graders sit by themselves and sitting in back-and I have a 10yo 5th grader DD.

You don't say, "yes" to something AND consider it "incredibly rude". That is the worst of all scenarios. Now you are resentful, and you've said yes giving them the wrong idea that this is not a problem, that you don't mind one way or another. You are not being genuine (fake nice)

Anonymous wrote:I'd let them sit together and plan to grab a seat in the back row. Maybe someone who RSVPd yes will not come and it'll be moot.

This. Really, why be mean to a little kid because of a late RSVP. And you never know what was happening in their family lives that caused the late RSVP. You have an easy solution that hurts no one.