What happens when no one turns up for your child’s birthday party?

I feel a bit sick even writing this.

The thoughts of my son spending weeks looking forward to his birthday party, only for nobody to show up, might actually break me. Can you imagine? This is exactly what happened to TikToker @dawners86@dawners86 this week. After inviting 22 guests to celebrate with her little boy at a local park, she packed up the decorations and cupcakes and headed out for what she hoped would be a fun day. 30 minutes after the party had started, she came to the crushing realisation that nobody was coming.

@dawners86heart broken. ##heartbroken ##sosad ##hurt ##wow ##lonely ##poorguy ##sadboy ##birthday ##happybirthday ##omg ##cry♬ SAD - Instrumental - Nhím Stone

Devastated, she watched her son play alone, wondering where his friends were. The desperate mother did what any of us would do and got straight on the phone to rally some troops. She thankfully managed to gather six people to come the park - not exactly the birthday bash her kid had in mind I'm sure.

@dawners86Answer to @mikejonesbackthen ##answer ##replytocomments ##birthday ##donate ##donation ##kids ##childrenshospital ♬ original sound - dawners

Her followers were, understandably, upset for her with one saying:  "My mamma heart just broke. I have questions, what is he into right now? Where can I send him gifts? I am dead serious." In a follow up video, she thanked her followers for their response and asked generous offers of toys and gifts instead be donated to her followers' local hospitals on her son's behalf. My son is only one, so birthday party politics is all ahead of me, but this has rattled me to my core! Does this happen often? What would you do in this situation?