DD's birthday party dilemma. WWYD?

[Party-of-five]

have others from mums group had parties and not invited everyone?
do you get a discount at play centre for a large group and then ask that they pay for themselves?

[AliBaby]

None of them had birthday parties last year where they invited everyone. They may have just done something with family and friends out of mothers group. This year DD has been to 4parties from mothers group friends. They invited everyone from mothers group. I know others have had parties this year but not invited mothers group at all.

NO discount at the play centre for large group.

[BrightSparkles]

I know that this particular play centre in her fav, are there other play centres around a little cheaper thouhg? They seem to have similar things?

[Party-of-five]

tricky

If you would feel comfortable doing it I think just invite a few from mums group and her other friends its her party after all

[Santosha]

The way we got around this (as all the Mums in the mother's group are in the same situation of course), is that we had one party for all the mother's group kids when it was about half-way between the eldest and youngest's birthdays. One of the Mums volunteered her back yard, each Mum brought a plate and we did a kind of 'kris kringle' for presents. Then we had separate parties for just our own friends and family and our own birthday girl. This meant that we all weren't trying to juggle 'double booking' since all the MG kids' birthdays are within 6 weeks of eachother, and it saved expense and stress of having all those parties (and potential party guests).

[shellbell3]

What about simple park party? I know around here you can book rotundas at park, put on a BBQ, have few salads, nibbles, kids play on the playground and that it, no clean up and cheap!

[Traveller]

I think my son is one of only a few who does not invite all his classmates to his birthday parties. Many either go without a party, or wait until they can afford all 20 kids to come. Personally I limit my kids to only their closest friends, (for example maybe 6 if we are having it at home over lunchtime, and 2 if he wants them to come for dinner and a DVD) and for a playcentre I would only invite the few that he is good friends with. However this is the norm for the older kids who in general don't want every kid they know to come to their birthday and would rather limit the numbers.

So for your daughter, if you really want a playcentre party, then only invite those you and she are closest to out of mothers group. Sooner or later all the mums will start doing the same and limiting party numbers, and I'm sure if you don't make a huge deal of it they won't mind.

[Mak]

To be honest I would do all or none at that stage. It is tricky and expensive but having been on the receiving end of no invite it was pretty gutting to hear everyone else carry on about it. I agree that when the kids are bigger and in a huge group then it is easier to go with the kids friends where as it is more about the adults in MG. It does depend on the dynamics of the group and the split too - if only one or 2 are excluded than that is a bit difficult. Each to their own tho!!!