Have you ever broken a promise? How did you fix it?

At the moment there is a festival on here that comes at the beginning of November each year & there are fireworks on the two Saturday night it runs. Tonight is the last night. I promised Zander we would go, but now I don't think we can :( Aaron was supposed to go to a bucks night, but he's too sick now so he's staying home (in bed at the moment) and Juliette is also sick. I now feel like I'm getting it too, sore throat is coming in, so it's really not a good idea for me to go out have & have a late night when I'm coming down with a cold.

So what do I do? Do I tell him we can't go or just hope he doesn't realise? We can hear the fireworks from our house, but he will be in bed by then & more than likely asleep. How do I make it up to him???

I personally would hope he forgets, then, if he mentions it explain the situation.
Tell him you are really, really sorry & that there will be heaps of other things to go to. Maybe have something else he can look forward to insead?
Tell him instead you guys will snuggle on the couch with his fave movie & eat pop corn? Maybe even order pizza so you can have a break too ;)

If he's anything like my boys there is no hope in hell that he won't realise.
Is there a trade you could do? Swap the festival for a trip to a play center or going to the movies or similar.

I'm afraid he's like your boys Pony. I like the idea of a trade, I might suggest that :) Do you think it would be best to tell him before the fact or wait til he realises?

That's a toughie. If I tell mine before the fact that I'm cancelling plans there are tears and temper and pleeeeases but it's the more honest option. Afterwards they seem to accept it with less arguement and fewer tears but I feel like I've been a bit sneaky.
Maybe arm yourself with a distraction before you start the conversation ;)

Well in the end the promise wasn't broken, I took him to the carnival & we had a great time :)