Is it me or is this just plain rude?

[Robin'sBrood]

Well, we went for a little while after the baby woke up from his nap. Get this... my mother actually came over to get my older kids even though they said they didn't want to go... the woman won't take no for an answer!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Well, it may be true that the child just decided "right then," but the parent could have replied, "okay, so you want to do X for your birthday party. Since your birthday is only a couple of days away, we need to schedule it for next weekend or the following one, and give people time to respond. Otherwise, everyone might already have plans." Parents do have the power to say "no," and exercise that power all to infrequently.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Robin'sBrood :

Well, we went for a little while after the baby woke up from his nap. Get this... my mother actually came over to get my older kids even though they said they didn't want to go... the woman won't take no for an answer!

Did she just show up, or did she call ahead? If she just showed up, that is a lot of hutzpa! especially if you'd already said they were not going to be attending. My general inclination would be to say--"oh, I'm sorry, they can't go--we already had other plans, and will be leaving as soon as baby wakes up. So sorry you drove out of your way; next time call first."​

 

[thekid]

Quote:
Did she just show up, or did she call ahead? If she just showed up, that is a lot of hutzpa! especially if you'd already said they were not going to be attending. My general inclination would be to say--"oh, I'm sorry, they can't go--we already had other plans, and will be leaving as soon as baby wakes up. So sorry you drove out of your way; next time call first."

X2

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
Did she just show up, or did she call ahead? If she just showed up, that is a lot of hutzpa! especially if you'd already said they were not going to be attending. My general inclination would be to say--"oh, I'm sorry, they can't go--we already had other plans, and will be leaving as soon as baby wakes up. So sorry you drove out of your way; next time call first."

X2

X3

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Oh no, she just showed up. It didn't surprise me one bit to see her car pulling in our driveway, that's my mother for ya.

But it turned out ok, the baby was awake, and the older kids and I had finished doing what we were doing so we all went. We were a couple of hours late and missed the cake, etc. but my cousin didn't mind and the kids wound up having a good time in the pool with their cousins, and when the baby got to be a handful I took him home and left the older ones there with Grandma. I just got a call and they're just now on their way home!

 

[redhen]

Robin'sBrood :

Well, we went for a little while after the baby woke up from his nap. Get this... my mother actually came over to get my older kids even though they said they didn't want to go... the woman won't take no for an answer!

Sounds like the issue is more about your mother than your cousin...​

 

[pdsavage]

Quote:
Sounds like the issue is more about your mother than your cousin...

 

[Jencleg]

Quote:
Is it a Sept. 11th party or your son's 4 BD or both? Honestly, throwing a bash for a 4 year old is setting yourself up for a lifetime of over the top events, every time some special little anniversary happens, and a whole lot of grief, if you suddenly decide to say, "Enough, already."

People have birthdays on the 11th of September, too. Yes, there is a lot of grief for some people about the day, and if anyone close was personally affected by the 911 traged, then holding a celebration on the 11th could be viewed as in bad taste, but if not, then let the child have his birthday party on his birthday, and do not stress over the date. Four year olds have birthdays; its a whole lot easier to have a big bash when they get excited about the cake and balloons. You don't have to make every year a huge bash, and for that matter, there is nothing to suggest that this party is a huge bash--it's just a birthday party. Special to the child and his parents, but not so much to everyone else.

Thank you! We live in a very small community in N. Georgia, so we personally had no one affected by 9/11. I was just hoping it would not come off as disrespectful but like all have learned in the last 10 years...Life does go on.

I felt the need to defend my stance on giving him a party. Now that I read your response I feel even better about my decision. To everyone else in the world, he is just a child turning 4. To us, he is our lil man that was never supposed to be born, whom at 26 weeks
was thought to have Downs and an enlarged kidney. To me he was 36 HOURS of labor with 1/2 of an epidural.

To us he is worth every minute of cupcakes, balloons & slides and a whole day dedicated to the fact that despite all that he is an awesome, healthy, perfect, charming beautiful little boy!

 

[NoelTate]

Don't go. Send a nice note saying sorry, but you were unable to attend due to last minute notice. That is all that is necessary. If they really want you there, they will get the message and become more responsible.