What do I do?

My DC birthday party is (was) this weekend. Out of the 13 kids invited, only 4 could make it and 1 cancelled tonight. So that is only 3 kids (2 of which are cousins). So there is only ONE friend coming.

What do I do? Do I cancel? If not, how do I break it to DC that none of DC friends are coming.

Im heartbroken for DC. Every single day, DC tells me how many days are left until DC party. DC is so excited for it.

I don't know what to do except cry at the thought of having to tell DC that there isn't going to be a party.

What do I do?

Don't cancel it. Can you invite some family over too so it's more people for him? A party doesn't have to be just kids. I would feel as bad as you do too.

Re: What do I do?

Message edited 9/18/2013 12:00:49 AM.

Re: What do I do?

Wow! Must be a busy weekend!
Last party I had, I hoped people wouldn't make it!

How old is your kid again?
DS thinks his cousins are friends and would have a better time with just a few kids! He's 3.

If your kid would notice, I'd just deal with the truth and say kids couldn't make it because they were... Sick, with grandma, etc.

Sorry. Parties are crazy...

What do I do?

Aww. TERRIBLE. I guess it depends how old your dc is. Ds, at 3 1/2 , I think wouldn't notice so long as he was having a fun time.

Re: What do I do?

What do I do?

You can't cancel. Just explain to him that his friends had previous plans and can't make it, but he can still have fun with his cousins and friend. Where is the party? Is it the kind of place where the number of kids matters?

What do I do?

Poor thing. I don't think I would cancel. I would try not to make a big deal of it, just mention a lot of the kids were busy but that he'll have lots of fun. Maybe you can splurge for something extra special since it's just a few kids that would make them all excited. No idea what but I would try to think of something that to the kids would seem a little over the top.

Re: What do I do?

Sorry for you and your son. I think that canceling would be more disappointing than only having a few friends show. With that said, did you get explanations from people where you feel they would have come if the party had been another date? If so maybe you could try rescheduling? If not I would just keep the party as is. He'll be disappointed but hopefully will still have fun!

Re: What do I do?

Don't cancel.

Where is the party?

Can you take a loss and make it into a cooler private party for 4 kids?

Or if a kids bounce place, follow it up with a special birthday trip someplace else your DS loves... Just for the MOST special people in his life: like a place with go karts or adventureland? Something new for him maybe?

Either way.... Hugs to you! Sorry you are dealing with this!

Re: What do I do?

OMG don't cancel that would be even more sad.
Just make the best of it. Can you invite neighbors? or if DC is in school any classmates? I am sure DC will have fun either way.

Re: What do I do?

Ugh - I know how you feel I just went through the same thing with my son. I invited 14 kids and only 5 showed up. It was his first "real" birthday party & I was so heartbroken & disappointed for him, but luckily he's young enough that he didn't even notice (he turned 4).

I wouldn't cancel. I know that you already had the family party, but (depending on the place) is there anyway that a few extra family members can come to this one too? We wound up having 3x the number of adults than kids & then most of them came over for the family party the next day too.

ETA: I agree with the other posters about asking some school/club friends. At the last minute I invited 3 kids that we know through my brother. I explained the situation to the parents & told them not to bring a gift under any circumstances since their coming was the gift. One of the 5 kids was actually a little girl that my son met/played with a few times at my brother's house.

Message edited 9/18/2013 9:50:21 AM.

Re: What do I do?

Aww...my heart breaks for him. Is your son in any activities that you can invite some additional kids from? Soccer? Boy Scouts? How about your friends- do they have kids? Siblings of the ones who are coming?

ETA: I alway over-invite to bday parties. Sometimes it has backfired (everyone comes ) but most of the time I invite like 30 and end up with about 20.

Message edited 9/18/2013 9:49:50 AM.

Re: What do I do?

do not cancel it. the huge 1st birthday party i planned turned into a super small gathering last minute. i was annoyed because it would have been cheaper and nicer is a smaller different place but i was expecting a different amount of people and type of party with more.

however, cousins are friends or can become friends and 1 friend is really all you need. so he has his 1 friend plus 2 extra. if you put on a happy face and act like everything is fine and this party is for him and look your best friend is here or whatever... he will only get that positive and not realize any negative.

it'll be more upsetting down the road to have had a cancelled birthday and being told no one wanted to come then to have it and have him try to enjoy it by himself!

Re: What do I do?

I feel so bad - that would break my heart as well. I wouldn't cancel, but maybe you can invite the siblings of those that are coming. You said he is school aged - maybe you can ask him if there are people that he didn't invite that now he would consider inviting b/c you have more room?

What do I do?

I think I may attempt to reschedule. I would call the place and check the policy and availability. Then call the three that are coming first. Seems like a bit of work, but could prove to add a bunch of kids.

Re: What do I do?

We had something similar happen last year for DS 4th bday party.

I booked Bounce U for I believe 15 or 20 kids and I want to say less than 10 showed up.

He honestly did not even notice.

I was annoyed though because a couple people who said they were coming did not show and I also had a ton of food leftover.

I wouldn't cancel but I would call the place and see if there's anything they can work out with you. Also like me, if you ordered food, maybe see if you can reduce some of the order.

A lot of what I ended up with were extra pizzas that ended up going into the garbage.

I also tried inviting a few people last minute (i.e. grandkids of people I worked with), but it did not end up working out with them coming either.

Message edited 9/19/2013 5:39:12 AM.