Results: Kid's Birthday Parties

Both of my kids went to the YMCA for their after-school program, as I was working full-time. Most of their roommates had siblings, often there were dual events to attend for the kids. One year, two YMCA siblings, whose birthdays were close together, had a same-day birthday at McDonald's (Unbeknownst to me). One child was in my daughter's room, the other child in my son's room. I took both my kids down to McDonald's (walked). Only my daughter was invited to her peer's birthday, and my son was not invited to his peer's party; we found this out on arrival. So, there is my son, who sees all his class friends, but, he is not allowed to participate with them. Two teachers were there from the Y, and were just as disgusted as I was, and after seeing my son crying, told him to go play with the others and said they would talk to the parents hosting the dual sibling party. I can't imagine doing something so tasteless and classless, knowing that one child would witness the entire event; albeit left out. Have you ever experienced this on any level? (Parent of, being the uninvited person, etc)

When we hosted birthday parties, for my daughter and son, we required an RSVP, and when not getting one I would call to see if the invitee was going to attend. However, sometimes entire families would show up ... Dad, Mom, the invitee, their siblings, a grandparent living with them ... without notification to us (Our apartment was only so big). On the other hand, often parents would just drop off their kids, even though our invite said, that at least one parent would need to attend (Sometimes we had outside scavenger hunts). If you're a parent, if not pretend you are .. which would be more problematic for you ... having more people show or not enough (to watch their child)?

In another situation, we found that the parents were several hours late picking up their kids, so an afternoon party became us being the babysitters and providers for their dinners (siblings). Have you ever had this happen ... the kids not being picked up on time?

Eventually, we had a Chuck E. Cheese open up in our neighborhood. You can invite a ton of people, and have pizza and cake provided, cut up and served. If the parents needs more game tokens, or food, it's on them. Do you believe that places like Chuck E. Cheese (Family Fun Center, Restaurant & Arcade) are the answers to problems that can arise?

Regarding the situation in the first question, would you had said something to the couple who left out my son or not? (at the time)