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Big Kids

01st Feb 2019

What do you do when your child’s friends all back out of their birthday party?

Olivia Hayes

All children are different and some have more friends than others.

However, when it comes to celebrating birthdays, for those who don’t have many friends it can be a bit of an ordeal.

Who will they invite? Who will attend? Will they be left disappointed?

This mum posed a question to Mumsnet and asked if she should feel sorry for her daughter since her two friends seem to be flaking on her birthday plans.

The mum wrote:

“Poor DD almost 14 has had a tough year and a half of it with her peers at school. Brief background isn’t into the usual showing off her body, boys, make up, pop, posing, pouting and popularity contests etc etc. Preferring comfy clothes, no hassle, honesty, loyalty, animals, laughter and chocolate.

“But in the last couple of months she has got more friendly with a couple of girls from school. This year she asked if she could go out for a pizza with two friends from school and then have a sleepover which we agreed to. Last week one of them said she couldn’t sleepover now as her mum was away and she had to look after the dog at her grans but she could probably just come for the pizza.

“This morning the other one who was coming for the sleepover and the pizza has messaged DD to say she isn’t allowed to come to either now as her gran is ill.

“AIBU to be disappointed on DD’s behalf. WWYD would you still carry on for a pizza with hopefully one friend or reschedule when they are both free?”

Many users replied and asked if they could rearrange for a different day:

“In your position, I’d cancel and rearrange. I’d then take my DD on an overnight or weekend break somewhere-cost permitting.”

While others said to just cancel it altogether:

“I wouldn’t go ahead just in case the friend who can only make pizza cancels and your daughter ends up with no one coming.

“I also wouldn’t rearrange just in case these friends are being flakey and maybe aren’t that invested in the friendship and cancel again which would be even more upsetting for your daughter.

“From what you’ve said they’re new friendships still in the early stages of developing so not rock solid friendships yet.”

What would you do in this situation?

Topics:

birthday,friends