I like this plan a lot. Going to file it away for a few years...

 

Birthday parties for the younger set are tricky. My daughter is just getting dropped off for parties since this summer (she turned 5 then). Although sometimes I still want to stay and talk to MY friends too!

 

Oh was I supposed to stay at the parties?

ooops! I had a manicure booked, what's a girl to do?

Ha! Kidding, my older son quickly adapted to the kid only parties and given that I feel the same way about mingling with parents I don't know, I head for the door ;-)

 

Oh I do wish you lived closer. You would love our playdates & kid parties that my husband and I host. Whenever we plan a kid event, we use a paper invitation along with an emailed reminder invitation. In the invitation, I try to provide an idea of the crafts/activities we have planned - it also includes specific activities for "dads" which usually includes grilling food, a best dad dartboard or pool table player contest or just watching a football game. I also make a note that children's juice & adult beverages will be available. I have found a small glass of wine or a beer helps break the "parent ice". No pretend sipping/gulping here.

As far as I am concerned, a child's birthday is a mom's celebration too. Two, three, four, five and on it goes is annual celebration of the number of years a mom has been doing a GREAT job of being a mom. When I give birthday gifts for kids under 10, it usually includes a basket of inexpensive gifts from Big Lots wrapped nicely and I bring the birthday Mom a bottle of Korbel champagne to celebrate another amazing milestone.

But, that's just me and it that rings true with my saying that it doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes a village to support a mother raising her children!

Cheers!

-EE

PS-You are invited to Scooby's third birthday party in February. You'll love it!

 

I would love to meet you at a party and know there was a friendly face. I am also a wallflower but would hate to think that it would ruin my child's life if I didn't get past it.

 

Group dynamics always impact what happens to me when I go somewhere and don't know anyone. usually I wind up in a corner by myself. Sometimes, if the group is exceptionally friendly to newbies, I have fun. I think it works this way for most people.

I recently went to a horrific book party and the host was a wretched bitch who noticed me hovering around waiting to talk to her since I didn't know anyone else and not only did she not speak to me, so didn't bother introducing me to anyone else. I was very proud of myself when I approached another woman who looked lost and introduced myself. The problem was keeping a conversation going. Sigh.

 

You are not a geek at all. I can total relate to the social anxiety. Once again I am going to take a lesson from you though and book myself a pedicure when my son first gets party invites. (Forget the manicure. With a pedicure you geta foot rub!)

 

I consider myself to be outgoing (interpret that as I talk way too much) and sometimes still find these situations to be challenging .

Ok, and please tell me the invitation didn't says bring presents... Of course I wouldn't send my child to a party without a gift for the birthday child but spelling it out on the invite strikes me as a little much.

 

Good to note for future parties. I'll skip the cake and take myself out.
My hubby and I have often talked about what life is going to be like when you have to socialize at kids' events. I suppose it's like at work, sometimes there will be people you click with and sometimes there won't but it's always good to try.