MOOKs: classmate birthday parties?

[jeaniebueller]

What is your criteria for whether your child will attend one? DS was invited to one that is happening on a weeknight. He has never really mentioned the birthday girl, except in passing. I don't really feel like taking him....mostly because it's a weeknight and he isn't good friends with the girl. But I am feeling badly that maybe a lot of other kids won't attend either for that reason. Just wondering how others handle these things.

[rootbeerfloat]

If he wants to go and we're free, we go.

[anna7602]

I make the effort to take her to them if it's not unreasonable, mainly because I always worry about there being a kid who doesn't have anyone show up to his/her party. That said, a weeknight would require a sitter for us due to DS's bedtime, so I'm not sure I would make that effort for a kid I don't know.

We have a weekday bday party next week on a school half-day and I'm annoyed. I need to work that day and our nanny can't really take DD to the party outside the hood AND deal with the baby, so we'll have to divide and conquer.

[jeaniebueller]

FWIW, there are 24 kids in DS's class. I asked if he ever played with the birthday girl at school and he said "not really." (I haven't told him about the party yet because we are deciding what to do).

[lizlemon19]

If he wants to go, is something he can do, if we are available. I had to pass on a movie bday party because he couldn't sit through it.

[Deleted]

It's my kid's decision (assuming we are free).

She usually opts not to go when she doesn't know the birthday kid well.

[InBetweenDays]

If they want to go and we are free then we'll go.

[ECB]

We try to go if we can. We skipped one that went from 10:30 - 12:30 because he had another party that started at 12.

Weeknight? Would depend on the day of the week and the time. Monday from 6-8? Nope, not going. Too early in the week to mess with bedtime. But a Thursday night? Sure. Monday 4- 6, sure. Why not. He'd still be home in plenty of time.

Mon/Tues/ and even Wed - I'd really have to take the time into account.

[imojoebunny]

I only make an effort for kids they really like. I also only invite kids they really like and try to have it at times that are considerate of the invitees (not Saturday morning during soccer season).

[pinkdutchtulips]

if she wants to go and we're free, it's a go !

[savan]

If my kid wants to go and we are free then we go. I use parties as a way to get to know the other parents from school.

[zarapipe]

We go If we don't have other plans

[cjeanette]

I ask them if they want to go. They always say yes. We go. Weeknight parties often mean they are doing it on their actual birthday which I think is cute.

[gretchenindisguise]

Being free.

It being a cool or convenient location.

Us wanting to go.

[SpartanGirl]

My kids go if we're free. We haven't ever had a situation where they didn't want to go to a party. It's cake and games. What's not to love?

[KKD]

If we're free, we go. My kids never turn down a party.

[bronxgirl]

If we're invited and we're free then we go. We love parties.

[iheartbanjos]

We generally make an effort to go.

[lizlemon19]

I would think it being on a weeknight may be a money thing.

[meltoine]

We've only been invited to two so far and we've gone/are going to both.

The first was a family we had met at the birthday party of another mutual friend and I was interested in becoming better friends with the mom. Plus is was a normal Saturday morning party and we were free.

The second is a family I'd also like to be friendlier with. The older girl is in DS1's class and the younger boy is in DS2's class at MDO. They go to our church and the mom and I were pregnant together with our second babies, who were born days apart.

I would probably go to most parties we were invited to as long as we were free. I hate just hanging around the house on the weekends. I like to get out and my kids love to socialize. And, with our lifestyle and moving so frequently, if my kids are going to have any friends at all I have to set an example of being outgoing and putting the effort into making friends. I'm an introvert, so it would be easy for me to just hang out amongst ourselves and not make friends, which I did at our pre-kids duty stations. But kids need friends, KWIM?