Parties

[Cali]

:duh:

Need diplomacy here and not sure how to go about it. Why don't things like this come in a nice book like 'Parenting for Dummies'! :rofl:

Connor is 7 next month and I am planning his birthday party. He's decided on a place, and I decided that at £8.50 a child (!!) he can only invite six other children. Last year he invited a few who didn't pitch up, no phone call, nothing, just didn't come and at £8.50 a head I DO NOT want a repeat of this! So these children are off the list for a start. But how do I make sure the other ones will come. I don't want to hand out six invites if some of them aren't going to make it, thus leaving me with spaces and no more invites. How do I do this diplomatically?

Last year there was a child who cried as he wasn't invited. He's not my favourite type of child but since Connor is inviting this child's best friend, should I pay for another child (making total children to 8 and therefore an even number for the bowling alley - equal teams of four) so there's no repeat of the tears? I can't bear the thought of making a child cry - even though he made Connor's life a misery for most of last year. :hug:

Aarrrgh, I wish his birthday was in Summer so that I could just have a house party!!!

Does anyone else think the prices are a bit steep as well? They get a game of bowling, a gift and a meal. All in an hour and a half.

[pumba]

Hi Cali, can't offer advice re the invitations as I wouldn't be sure what to do there either, but 8 sounds okay, like you say you can have two teams of four.

As far as the price goes, doesn't sound too bad as we have parties where I work, football or trampoline or swimming parties etc and we charge £48 for the hire of the hall for an hour and then £3.45 per child for a meal which includes a balloon each. So for eight kids it would have cost you about £76.00. Hope this helps.

[sooibrand]

best I can offer is have an a list of invites and double check that they are going to pitch and any non acceptences and you can invite off the b list (know it sounds horrid, but you simply cannot invite everybody and there is no sense in paying for non-arrivals)

[Venus]

Sounds like a great party, Cali! :thumbs: Are you able to get the mums' telephone numbers & check with them before making the booking? I'm sure they'd understand if you explained the cost involved.

[Cali]

THanks for all the advice ladies!

Pumba, the cost doesn't worry me all that much if the service is good. (and mom and dad are going halves with me! ) It's the time that annoys me - it's not quite an hour and a half even, I looked at the prices of the actual bowling and it's about £3/4 a head - now really does a kiddies meal cost £4? AND I have to provide a cake! lol

But in our area, it's the only thing for children of his age group.

Sooi - I was thinking that was what I was going to have to do.... but as you say, it just seem horrible. I did put my foot down for no girls - because the one he wanted to come won't come without her friend and I refuse to be bribed by a six year old who isn't mine! :rolf:

Venus, I've checked with three of the children's mothers so far - she is working that day so the little boy is coming around here in the morning which is fine. And I presume his little friend will come then. So that's only two I have to worry about.

I think I will do an extra child... I dislike odd numbers - always think some poor child will be left out!