Anonymous wrote:Team OP. Everyone knows how these places work. You have to clear out when your slot is over. It’s not difficult to be on time. You just have to care enough about it to make it happen.

+1. Exactly this. It's not like we haven't all rented or been to one of these places, we get it. There are set times and slots and you need to get out when it's over. These are also expensive places so be glad your kid got to have fun for two hours.

I’ve had kids get dropped off 45 mins late (for a 2 hr party!) and picked up 20 mins late. I’ve had kids rsvp yes but no show no text or anything (and a reminder sent 2 days before party so doubt they forgot). I’ve had kids complain about the food or beverages served or complain about what’s in the goodie bags. I’ve had parents bring siblings without asking and drop them off.

People are just rude. Hosting kids’ bday parties has made me very aware of how rude some parents are and how they’re obv not teaching their kids any manners either.

Anonymous wrote:Fast way to never be invited to another party I host.

If you text and say you’re running late I have grace for days but radio silence AND you’re late?’ No thanks! Too rude.

That’s a bummer for your kid. I agree it’s rude to be late and I won’t be initiating any car pools or time sensitive activities with those families. However on my child’s birthday I will invite whomever they choose up to the headcount limit I give them. Even kids who may arrive late, parents who text mid-party asking me to find their kid a ride home, or kids I just find obnoxious or annoying. Yes I am the host, but it’s not my birthday and these are the people that matter to my kid.

I commiserate OP. As the parent of elementary age boys, trying to manage kids who are tired (jumping) and sugared up from cake -while in a super fun environment where you have to be the “bad guy” who has to enforce that jumping is over is tough. My kid had a trampoline party and for some reason it took 15 min to pay the bill and get him his free t-shirt at the end after the kids left and my kid was melting down from the fun hangover.

My husband always thinks my party invites are “rude” but I insist that it is good manners for everyone to know exactly what they are signing up for.
Do we request no gifts?
Do kids need to sign a waiver / wear socks / wear clothes that can get dirty?
What am I feeding them? When?
Do we have room for siblings? If so, what age is appropriate?
Can I accommodate your food allergy or help arrange a car pool?
How can you reach me or my spouse the day of the party?

If I have thought the question, so has another parent. I feel like it’s best to just put it out there FAQ style. If they don’t want to scroll down, that’s fine. It’s there for the parents or kids who need to have more info to feel prepared - or need to let me know how to make sure their kid feels like a welcome guest.

Fast way to never be invited to another party I host.

If you text and say you’re running late I have grace for days but radio silence AND you’re late?’ No thanks! Too rude.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cna we all agree the trampoline places kind of suck? They're far away, some kid always gets hurt, the parking sucks later in the day. The parties are rushed and impersonal.

I don't know...maybe don't host it there? I always end up staying because there's very little to do around it and by the time I get home, I have to turn around and drive right back. People are making an effort to come celebrate your kid's day. Assume you'll have to do some child minding if you call it a drop-off party. Sorry.

I mean, they're not far from all of us!

They are if you have to be on 270 for any period of time and there's traffic.

Anonymous wrote:Cna we all agree the trampoline places kind of suck? They're far away, some kid always gets hurt, the parking sucks later in the day. The parties are rushed and impersonal.

I don't know...maybe don't host it there? I always end up staying because there's very little to do around it and by the time I get home, I have to turn around and drive right back. People are making an effort to come celebrate your kid's day. Assume you'll have to do some child minding if you call it a drop-off party. Sorry.

I mean, they're not far from all of us!

Cna we all agree the trampoline places kind of suck? They're far away, some kid always gets hurt, the parking sucks later in the day. The parties are rushed and impersonal.

I don't know...maybe don't host it there? I always end up staying because there's very little to do around it and by the time I get home, I have to turn around and drive right back. People are making an effort to come celebrate your kid's day. Assume you'll have to do some child minding if you call it a drop-off party. Sorry.

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.

I’m on the side of be on time. But birthday parties were not a gift to the parent of the invited kid. As people pointed out, some of these venues are really out of the way. And most of us don’t have hours to kill during the birthday party years.

Likely those of us that have hosted experienced late pick ups and I’m sure many of us have tips to avoid or minimize the impact.

Again, I’m team OP. Pick up on time. I just don’t agree that the party time is something great for parents and the further from home the venue is, the worse it is for parents.

So say no if you can't work it out? This is not the problem of the hosts that you have a busy day. Your presence is not that important if it's an undue burden. But, likely your kid wants to go. So you make the sacrifice for them, not as a gift to the birthday child.

Anonymous wrote: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.

OP specifically included this info in the invite.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Agree. Obviously the late parents were in the wrong, but to view this as anything more than a minor annoyance is very off. It was 20 minutes of OP's life. She seems like a grumpy, uptight, very overwhelmed parent and I feel sorry for her spouse and kids.

(And no I'm not late, I'm always early and my kids complain about that.)

You feel sorry for her spouse and kids because she’s annoyed that several people were late? Um…okay

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.

I’m on the side of be on time. But birthday parties were not a gift to the parent of the invited kid. As people pointed out, some of these venues are really out of the way. And most of us don’t have hours to kill during the birthday party years.

Likely those of us that have hosted experienced late pick ups and I’m sure many of us have tips to avoid or minimize the impact.

Again, I’m team OP. Pick up on time. I just don’t agree that the party time is something great for parents and the further from home the venue is, the worse it is for parents.

OP, don't throw parties

The kids help you clean up or entertain your kid while you clean up. Not a big deal.

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.

Agree. Obviously the late parents were in the wrong, but to view this as anything more than a minor annoyance is very off. It was 20 minutes of OP's life. She seems like a grumpy, uptight, very overwhelmed parent and I feel sorry for her spouse and kids.

(And no I'm not late, I'm always early and my kids complain about that.)