Considering Tman's birthday

[georgeharrison]

This might be weird, but would it be inappropriate?  I'm a planner, so forgive me for thinking so far ahead.

Tman's birthday is the end of July.  He gets out of school June 9th.  I have no contact info for his classmates.  Tman doesn't really have friends outside of school.  He's kind of in a transition period - we've changed schools, churches, and extracurriculars.  He has a few friends in our complex, but other than that, they are all at school.

I haven't had a party for Tman for a few years.  But he's turning 10 this year, kind of a big deal.

I was thinking of having his party in June instead of July.  I could send the invitations home with the kids the last week of school and then have the party 2-3 weeks afterwards.  I know that's a long time in advance to send kid's birthday party invitations, but the other options are a) have no party for Tman, b) send out invitations at the end of school for a party in July - so a month and a half instead of just a couple weeks.

I'd like to have it somewhere.  I was thinking lasertag - that's close by - in between his school and our house.  The only thing is that there is a kid minimum.  So, I'd have to book it and then hope that enough kids were able to come/want to come to fill that minimum.  And I'd put it on the invitation, so I'd have to decide well in advance and before I knew how many could come.  

Inappropriate to have his party a month in advance based on this situation?

Take the risk on booking the lasertag?

Also, for mom's: would a Friday night be weird to have it?  I hate to take over people's weekends.

[dana86]

I don't think doing the party early is a big deal. I would do it. We gave M a 1/2 birthday last year so we could do it in the summer. I say go for the June and the laser tag sounds like a great idea for a 10yr old bday and even better on a Friday night. I'd be ok with all of it if I was one of the parents with a kid invited.

[Deleted]

I'm not sure about laser tag only because I'm one of those people who ALWAYS thinks NO ONE is coming to the parties I throw (and has a freakout). However, as a choice of activity I think it's perfect. Also, I think having an early party is FINE. July is hard to organize and so many people have vacations and 10 is a big year.

[georgeharrison]

@ksta, yeah, I'm nervous about people not coming, but I re-read the website and it says 8 minimum players, so James and I would count, so that would mean we'd only need 5 kids to show and I bet my dad would come and be one of the players if necessary. We can't have it at our house. I mean, we could, but it would be lame. We don't have an outside area for them to go and our place is pretty small. We wouldn't really have any way to do anything fun. And I know this is dumb, but I don't want Tman to have a reputation of having lame parties. Then no kids will come for sure.

[Deleted]

Oh, I TOTALLY get ALL of that!

[georgeharrison]

Apr 21, 2015 12:45:37 GMT -5 @lauralynne said:

Do you know when the other birthdays in his class are? That's another thing to consider -- if there are several June birthdays that might conflict for example. Do you have a class list with emails to do an evite then July is still and very viable time to have his party. Otherwise no issues with June . And laser tag sounds perfect for 10 year olds!!

No, I don't have any information on the other kids.  Tman swiched schools 1/4 of the way through the year, so I guess it could have been provided at the beginning of the year, but I doubt it.  His school seems pretty big on privacy.  The only info I have is one phone number because Tman went to another kids' party and I RSVP'd.  I could ask, I guess.

[spa]

I think it is good to plan now since there are so many options/variables

Laser tag or paint ball would be a good idea and 10 is a big year! Do paint ball ranges require a minimum too? I have no idea...

I would send out invites around the end of school, does his class do an end of the year field day or event where you could talk with some moms and hand out invites?

The only other idea for a party I have is to have it at a park or something and have kids bring super soakers and do a water fight (you have some big buckets with water as a refill station) and have a bbq, not sure if super soakers are still cool or not :l

[Deleted]

Mid july bday checking in, I had a few parties in June and it was totally fine.

It was actually more sad trying to have a party in July because usually people were on vacation by then.

Also, we did laser tag for H's 30th and it was awesome. The guys running the game said that the 8-10 year old did better than we did.

He's going to have so much fun!

[MrsPotatohead]

I have a birthday in July as well and totally get the problem.

Here's the only change I would make: what about just doing the party before school is over? We never did this to my knowledge for my birthday, but I think it would have made it less stressful, especially for an activity where you need a certain number. It was hit or miss whether I got good turnout and I think I would have been happy to have a party in June and then a family thing for my actual birthday.

[georgeharrison]

Apr 21, 2015 13:48:23 GMT -5 MrsPotatohead said:

I have a birthday in July as well and totally get the problem.

Here's the only change I would make: what about just doing the party before school is over? We never did this to my knowledge for my birthday, but I think it would have made it less stressful, especially for an activity where you need a certain number. It was hit or miss whether I got good turnout and I think I would have been happy to have a party in June and then a family thing for my actual birthday.

This is a good suggestion.  I will run it by James.  That way, Tman could talk it up and stuff and we are pretty much assured that no one would be on vacation since school would still be in session.

[alias]

I think this is a good is a good idea. 2-3 weeks notice is fine. But, I'd avoid Fri night, that just seems really stressful for me.

[InBetweenDays]

I don't think it is at all weird to have his birthday a month ahead. Especially given how busy the summers get. And laser tag sounds like a great party idea.

My only concern would be contacting people if you don't get an RSVP. I'm wondering if you could send home a note ahead of time? Telling them T-man would like to invite their child to his party and asking for their address/email address?

[georgeharrison]

Apr 21, 2015 13:56:34 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

I don't think it is at all weird to have his birthday a month ahead. Especially given how busy the summers get. And laser tag sounds like a great party idea.

My only concern would be contacting people if you don't get an RSVP. I'm wondering if you could send home a note ahead of time? Telling them T-man would like to invite their child to his party and asking for their address/email address?

Yeah, I thought of this, too.  It looks like the laser tag doesn't have a maximum, you pay individually.  So, I think we would be okay as long as we got the minimum.  I'll probably not do favors and it's in a place urban enough that if we need more cake or food, that's just a few minutes away...although I doubt we will fill the place up or anything.

[sotally tober]

I would totally have it early (before school is out) and laser tag would be perfect.

We have to coordinate DD's around Thanksgiving every year, and end up doing it in December, between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I don't mind Friday night birthdays at all...DD's school gets out early every Friday, so that makes a bit of a difference also.