DD's birthday party dilemma. WWYD?

[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!!!

[mumsy]

I agree with MAK.

I would just invite the 5 kids from outside MG and explain to the 12 other Mothers in MG that you couldn't afford to invite everyone and you hope they understand that rather than exclude some people, you decided it was best not to invite anyone from MG.

[aussienic]

or alternatevly (sp) you could invite everyone along to the party and ask instead of a present would they mind paying the admission fee??

[Shanti]

That's the Problem I faced what I did was invite DDs closest friends (7 of them) and their parents plus our fam and friends. Then we got together during the week with mums group at a play centre it worked well! GL!!

[Danielle_NZ]

What about mentioning prior to the invites going out that DD is having a party and "she" is doing the inviting... mention that she's only allowed to invite ** number of children due to the costs involved... that way they know it's limiting numbers... also gives them an excuse to use when their parties come around...