StantonHyde
08-22-2006, 08:20 PM
My children go to a really great daycare that is sponsored by the hospital where I work. There are about 15-20 kids in DS's 3 yo class. 3 of the kids had a combined Bday party at a park on Father's Day this year. They asked that you bring a present for just one child and they invited the whole class--good idea, I thought. I was not able to go so extended my regrets. This morning, a mom approached me and asked me DS's bday and asked me if I wanted to go in on a bday party with her. I said that we would be having a small family party for DS--he gets overwhelmed easily---and that I might look at doing a large class party in elementary school. She said that they had been invited to several large bday parties and she felt they had to reciprocate.
I was ticked for 2 reasons: These kids are turning 4 fer crying out loud!!! I refuse to buy into the "keep up with the Joneses" over a 4 yo's BDay party! And, yes, I could afford to do it--it just seems ridiculous to me.
The second thing that pissed me off is that I thought one of those BDay parties was something for a kid in class and his parents just wanted to invite the kids he plays with on the weekends. Makes sense, I invite my DS's best friend from class who we play with every weekend. But the mom who approached me is not in that group--so it seems like a lot of kids got invited but not a select few???? Good grief, what--are we in high school??? And the birthday party we didn't get invited to was for 2 kids whose parents I talk to all the time. I also helped spearhead an effort to secure grants for our daycare and so I talk to lots of people. I really felt snubbed.
I realize my son doesn't know the difference, but at some point he will. And I realize I have to prepare him--but I was hoping to face this in 5th grade, not before he turns 5!!!! I wonder if I should bring this up with the director--to ask if there is a guideline about inviting the whole class if you pass out invites, etc. And, if there is, to remind people about it. Of course, the jerks who do this won't care anyway and it will just impact the rest of us.
I tell ya, I am now more committed to talk to any parent I don't know well as I walk in and out of daycare. I do not want to be perceived as a cliqueish person and I am not always chatty before and after work. But I will work to make sure I give a nice hello to everybody. aargh.
I was ticked for 2 reasons: These kids are turning 4 fer crying out loud!!! I refuse to buy into the "keep up with the Joneses" over a 4 yo's BDay party! And, yes, I could afford to do it--it just seems ridiculous to me.
The second thing that pissed me off is that I thought one of those BDay parties was something for a kid in class and his parents just wanted to invite the kids he plays with on the weekends. Makes sense, I invite my DS's best friend from class who we play with every weekend. But the mom who approached me is not in that group--so it seems like a lot of kids got invited but not a select few???? Good grief, what--are we in high school??? And the birthday party we didn't get invited to was for 2 kids whose parents I talk to all the time. I also helped spearhead an effort to secure grants for our daycare and so I talk to lots of people. I really felt snubbed.
I realize my son doesn't know the difference, but at some point he will. And I realize I have to prepare him--but I was hoping to face this in 5th grade, not before he turns 5!!!! I wonder if I should bring this up with the director--to ask if there is a guideline about inviting the whole class if you pass out invites, etc. And, if there is, to remind people about it. Of course, the jerks who do this won't care anyway and it will just impact the rest of us.
I tell ya, I am now more committed to talk to any parent I don't know well as I walk in and out of daycare. I do not want to be perceived as a cliqueish person and I am not always chatty before and after work. But I will work to make sure I give a nice hello to everybody. aargh.