What to do when your child wants to exclude someone from their birthday party

It can happen.

For one reason or another, sometimes your child will just not get along with another kid. Whether they fight or simply aren't into the same things - it can happen and you generally don't really have to think about it. Until your child's birthday party. Many mums feel bad if their child wants to exclude one person from the class - but what are you supposed to do? This mum took to Mumsnet to ask its users how to handle the situation. She wrote:

"DS's 10th birthday is coming up and he's decided he wants a whole class party with the exception of one child. They've never gotten on, the boy has always teased DS, tried to turn his friends against him, the other week he was throwing stones at DS whilst he was on his way home from school. "I can understand why he wouldn't want to invite him but it may cause more problems in the long run between them. I can only imagine what his parent's will be like if their son is the only one not to be invited. DH thinks it would be cruel not to invite him despite how he treats DS, would I be being unreasonable to let DS do this?"

Many mums replied to the post, saying that it should be their son's decision, and if the boy is so mean to him, he shouldn't be invited. One said:

"I don’t think any child should be required to invite someone they don’t like to their birthday party - if his parents don’t like it explain why."

However, another wrote the it would reflect badly on the family:

"Leaving out one child is unacceptable and wouldn’t reflect well on you or your son. If he doesn’t want the child there then he should have a smaller party. Have you tried to rectify these issues with the child at school?"