Can I skip this first birthday party?

[minzy]

Not that you need an excuse not to go, but having a cold is another way out.

[littlemermaid]

Have your husband go and you stay home to work and rest so that cold goes away.

[Deleted]

Have your husband go and you stay home

[Deleted]

No problem if your husband is going.

DH and I are big fans of attending solo when it caused a big inconvenience for the others.

[dochas]

It would be great if your husband could go, but I don't think you have to. If they guy lived here, I'd say you both could skip it!

[anna7602]

Two part answer:

a) you can always skip a birthday party unless the honoree is your own child/spouse/parent/maybe sibling.

b) "she has to work" is perfectly acceptable

[rikki]

I think it is completely fine for you to skip.

[Deleted]

I don't understand why this is a question. Skip.

[ECB]

Aug 16, 2012 7:18:12 GMT -5 v said:

so I really don't know how obligatory these things are.

They aren't, at all. I don't find ANY event truly "obligatory", but if I ever feel I have to go to something- it's usually a funeral.

a kids b-day party - never ever "obligatory".

[aspentosh]

Aug 16, 2012 7:28:40 GMT -5 littlemermaid said:

Have your husband go and you stay home to work and rest so that cold goes away.

:Y:

[bronxgirl]

When I read the headline, before i even read the rest of the post, my response was yes you can skip it. This is obnoxiously judgemental of me, but as a parent I side eye this kind of party. It seems like they just want to have a party, but are trying to score gifts for their kid. DD's 1st birthday party was at Gymboree and the invitees were her baby friends. That is what is common in our circle.

[mbcdefg]

Aug 16, 2012 8:10:15 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

When I read the headline, before i even read the rest of the post, my response was yes you can skip it. This is obnoxiously judgemental of me, but as a parent I side eye this kind of party. It seems like they just want to have a party, but are trying to score gifts for their kid. DD's 1st birthday party was at Gymboree and the invitees were her baby friends. That is what is common in our circle.

I agree with it being the parents' excuse to party, although the gift-grabbing aspect didn't come to mind.

The first birthday party, no matter how simple or elaborate, is pretty much just for the parents/family to GTG anyway. Or show off, in some cases.

[ECB]

Aug 16, 2012 8:10:15 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

It seems like they just want to have a party, but are trying to score gifts for their kid. DD's 1st birthday party was at Gymboree and the invitees were her baby friends. That is what is common in our circle.

While I can understand this view, at the same time I don't agree. I think parents feel obligated that they have to have a 1st b-day party (I mean, what will your kid think if they find out you didn't celebrate their FIRST birthday!!! ), but parties for 1 year olds are OFTEN more about the adults anyhow.

A part of this does depend on whether or not other kids are being invited or not and their ages. For DS's 1st b-day, the other kids invited were all quite a bit older and we didn't really need to entertain them.

If the party is going to be mostly adults anyhow, I'd have no problem going to a restaurant.

[mrshandy]

Aug 16, 2012 8:18:49 GMT -5 ECB said:

Aug 16, 2012 8:10:15 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

It seems like they just want to have a party, but are trying to score gifts for their kid. DD's 1st birthday party was at Gymboree and the invitees were her baby friends. That is what is common in our circle.

While I can understand this view, at the same time I don't agree. I think parents feel obligated that they have to have a 1st b-day party (I mean, what will your kid think if they find out you didn't celebrate their FIRST birthday!!! ), but parties for 1 year olds are OFTEN more about the adults anyhow.

A part of this does depend on whether or not other kids are being invited or not and their ages. For DS's 1st b-day, the other kids invited were all quite a bit older and we didn't really need to entertain them.

If the party is going to be mostly adults anyhow, I'd have no problem going to a restaurant.

I agree that 1st b-day parties are more for adults anyways. DS was the only kid at his. But I'm a little shocked at the time. 1-5 is an odd time since most kids would be napping at this time.

[chessie]

Aug 16, 2012 8:08:58 GMT -5 ECB said:

Aug 16, 2012 7:18:12 GMT -5 v said:

so I really don't know how obligatory these things are.

They aren't, at all. I don't find ANY event truly "obligatory", but if I ever feel I have to go to something- it's usually a funeral.

a kids b-day party - never ever "obligatory".

This, if you dont want to go don't. I probably stay home. No invite is mandatory is how I look at it, especially bday parties, the kid will have one every year..so I tend to automatically cross those out for any cousins kids.

[Deleted]

I would skip it, especially if your DH was going.

I would also treat myself to a slice of cake. Mmm...cake....

[ECB]

Aug 16, 2012 8:23:11 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

But I'm a little shocked at the time. 1-5 is an odd time since most kids would be napping at this time.

Between the time and the location, though, I'm wondering if other kids are being invited or not.

[Deleted]

Skip it!

[thedutchgirl]

Skip no question.

[glynn2009]

Skip.

[Deleted]

totally ok to skip.

[bunnysmom]

Aug 16, 2012 7:31:08 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

No problem if your husband is going.

DH and I are big fans of attending solo when it caused a big inconvenience for the others.

Same here !