I wouldn't have a party. Maybe you can offer an outing or a big gift or something instead?

I’ve attended a few backyard bday parties that have gone well

Absolutely not.

I would not attend a birthday party right now, so you may get a lot of declines for parents still practicing social distancing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For heaven's sake, no. No one wants to be bothered with a make-up birthday from MARCH at the start of a busy school year.

Have one or two friends over on a Friday or Saturday or Sunday night for cake in the driveway. ONE OR TWO friends.

Do you exist? Everyone I know IRL is so normal, yet I always see these types of responses on here. We for one would be happy to receive an invite to a half birthday party. We may decline based on what safety protocols were in place, but it’s absurd to imagine it would bother people “at the beginning of a busy school year.” What? Most people are doing nothing! You have to be really unpleasant as a person to begrudge this.

NP here, but I totally agree with the first poster. I wouldn't be angry but would be annoyed. We are OVERWHELMED with life right now. We are trying to keep it together by a thread. We are trying to work every second the other parent is not working so we keep our jobs. I do not want to have to deal with politely declining a birthday party that shouldn't be happening. I am not an unpleasant person at all -- I am overwhelmed and frustrated and hanging on by a thread. Our lives are incredibly busy, and it really irritates me when people claim they have all this free time and COVID is like a vacay for them. Do you actually have kids? And jobs?

No, I get it. I think I was just triggered by that common DCUM tone of scorn and “no one wants to be bothered.” I hate that tone when it comes to other people’s kids. I’m no saint, but I can see my kids in other people’s kids, which I feel like some people can’t. It’s just a little 7 year old who missed their birthday party (which yes, I know most kids did, including mine).

We have jobs, kids and are overwhelmed too, especially with distance learning now. Covid is really hard, not a vacation at all, so I’m sorry if you felt that I was saying that. Life is hard right now and we are all doing the best we can. We aren’t doing much on weekends though, which is what I meant. Of course everyone is trying to keep their head above water during the week, but all of our weekend activities have come to a halt. But we don’t have toddlers anymore, which I feel would be extra tough.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For heaven's sake, no. No one wants to be bothered with a make-up birthday from MARCH at the start of a busy school year.

Have one or two friends over on a Friday or Saturday or Sunday night for cake in the driveway. ONE OR TWO friends.

Do you exist? Everyone I know IRL is so normal, yet I always see these types of responses on here. We for one would be happy to receive an invite to a half birthday party. We may decline based on what safety protocols were in place, but it’s absurd to imagine it would bother people “at the beginning of a busy school year.” What? Most people are doing nothing! You have to be really unpleasant as a person to begrudge this.

NP here, but I totally agree with the first poster. I wouldn't be angry but would be annoyed. We are OVERWHELMED with life right now. We are trying to keep it together by a thread. We are trying to work every second the other parent is not working so we keep our jobs. I do not want to have to deal with politely declining a birthday party that shouldn't be happening. I am not an unpleasant person at all -- I am overwhelmed and frustrated and hanging on by a thread. Our lives are incredibly busy, and it really irritates me when people claim they have all this free time and COVID is like a vacay for them. Do you actually have kids? And jobs?

If he's playing soccer with these kids, why not have a backyard party? Especially if you have individual bowls for snacks and treats? Seems like the exact same level of exposure for all kids involved. If families don't want to go, then they can decline. I hope nobody has hard feelings for whatever decisions other families are making for themselves.