I have often attended parties (sometimes as a guest and sometimes bein paid to help with set-up, refilling food, etc. so that parents could enjoy the day), but never really enjoyed it. My favorite thing that a family did was to invite me to join them for dinner on charge's birthday and celebrate with the family. I have always been a "part-of-the-family" nanny (working long hours and taking as much as I can off of employer's plates so that they can have down time with their kids), so being part of the more intimate celebration let me relax and enjoy jus being with the family.

I've always been invited to the parties. I don't even know if you would call it invited as they always just assumed I would be there. With my current family, I attended the oldest's 3rd birthday in November and then the twins 1st birthday in January. My bosses didn't make me feel like I had to help at all and actually I spent more time with the adults and chatting then with the kids.