I suck at birthday parties---Rant

Trostlegirl33

Just need to vent as my inner voices keep reminding me of everything that I did wrong at my daughter's birthday 3rd party yesterday. Bouncy house-check, cupcakes and cake-check, pizza--check but was a little later than would have liked, tinkerbell game-check. Started off ok, and thought I had it under control but then spilled a crock pot full of cheese dip in my car right as I pulled up to the clubhouse...cheese dip and chips--no check. I think it really ended up being fine, but everyone's a critic. I admit, I am very scatterbrained and get easily flustered when stressed. Doesn't help sometimes that those around me choose those moments to "pick" on me. I know that sounds whiney, but I am emotional and trying to spew this crap out so I can move on.

Here is where I screwed up. My daughter drinks water..all the time. I brought her thermos and had soda's to go with the pizza, but didn't bring bottled water or juice for the kids...there were 6. A few are not allowed soda. I blanked..just completely didn't bring juice..or water. I didn't even think about it. So we are at a clubhouse and a friends asks if I brought water...I looked blank and said I am sorry no, and I could tell she was irritated, so she gets water from the faucet..which is fine (we had ice)? I guess...but I guess not because her daughter doesn't want to drink faucet water so she keeps saying she is thirsty. I got to work today and my "friend" who really is a friend (but a control freak of sorts that prob wouldn't forget a thing), says so the party went okay.....and drew it out. Then says the kids were fine and great and they didn't notice anything (pizza late I guess she meant)....but then added...well except Anna was thirsty and kept saying she wanted something to drink. I told her I suck please put it down in the book and tell me what she would like to have next time. I admit I should have brought juice. I am not very good and organizing these kinds of things I admit. However, I do think I would have tried to be gracious enough in that situation to say oh the kids had a nice time and move on.

spade117

her daughter doesn't want to drink faucet water so she keeps saying she is thirsty.

#FWP

salembambi

not every party can go perfectly , you did your best and she can just stfu

Jgal8123

Don't sweat the small stuff, which includes petty complaints from your friends. This birthday party was for your daughter...as long as it worked out for her that's all that matters

askeates

We all have moments like that... planning bday parties for the kids NEVER goes perfectly! If she won't let it go, that is her problem.... I'm sure the kids had a great time even with tap water.

I'm an over-planner, and tend to have lists upon lists of different things, and even with the over-planning and the list upon list, things get missed or forgotten.

fallenoaks50

Sounds like your friend missed an opportunity to teach her daughter how to be a gracious guest and drink what is offered. I certainly would not have let me kid keep complaining about beverage selection. Geez.

mccindy72

Just need to vent as my inner voices keep reminding me of everything that I did wrong at my daughter's birthday 3rd party yesterday. Bouncy house-check, cupcakes and cake-check, pizza--check but was a little later than would have liked, tinkerbell game-check. Started off ok, and thought I had it under control but then spilled a crock pot full of cheese dip in my car right as I pulled up to the clubhouse...cheese dip and chips--no check. I think it really ended up being fine, but everyone's a critic. I admit, I am very scatterbrained and get easily flustered when stressed. Doesn't help sometimes that those around me choose those moments to "pick" on me. I know that sounds whiney, but I am emotional and trying to spew this crap out so I can move on.

Here is where I screwed up. My daughter drinks water..all the time. I brought her thermos and had soda's to go with the pizza, but didn't bring bottled water or juice for the kids...there were 6. A few are not allowed soda. I blanked..just completely didn't bring juice..or water. I didn't even think about it. So we are at a clubhouse and a friends asks if I brought water...I looked blank and said I am sorry no, and I could tell she was irritated, so she gets water from the faucet..which is fine (we had ice)? I guess...but I guess not because her daughter doesn't want to drink faucet water so she keeps saying she is thirsty. I got to work today and my "friend" who really is a friend (but a control freak of sorts that prob wouldn't forget a thing), says so the party went okay.....and drew it out. Then says the kids were fine and great and they didn't notice anything (pizza late I guess she meant)....but then added...well except Anna was thirsty and kept saying she wanted something to drink. I told her I suck please put it down in the book and tell me what she would like to have next time. I admit I should have brought juice. I am not very good and organizing these kinds of things I admit. However, I do think I would have tried to be gracious enough in that situation to say oh the kids had a nice time and move on.

good lord, seriously, if parents want to be picky and their children have certain drink requirements, they should just bring it themselves and not expect you to do it. It's a birthday party for children, not a high-end soiree. And how is the pizza being late your fault? Just ignore your haters (obviously they are not the best of friends if they are so judgemental about something so small). There are bigger things going on in life than what some parents think about how a party went for their children.

Capt_Apollo

if parents have children that are particular or fussy eaters, then they should volunteer to bring something and help out.


also, you should learn to ask for help.

wolverine66

i did the SAME THING a couple months ago for my son's 3rd birthday. I got soda but no water/juice for the kids.

thankfully a friend of mine who was at the party did have some bottles of gatorade in his truck. Not exactly juice, but better - in some minds - than soda.

kittenful

If her daughter has such particular tastes, then she should have taken measures to see that they would be met, not relying on someone else, especially without prior acknowledgement. Seriously. This is irritating. You did fine! It's not your fault that the pizza was a bit late. The kids had a great time, and that's what matters.

SakuraRose13

Well lets put it this way you threw the party for a bunch of young children and you did not have to , she should just suck it up buttercup , sorry I had a party for my oldest daughter who is 3 there were no kids at ours though just adults a lot easier anyways don't be heard on yourself you managed to remember everything else , heck I have two girls ages 3 and a 22 month old am lucky if I remember to get milk or snacks for them , lol let alone plan a birthday party , why wouldn't a little girl drink water from a faucet you have to joking , I have never heard of a child only drinking water from a bottle where does she think water comes from that's in the bottle ?

reality_girl

Your friend is kind of a dilhole.

Trostlegirl33

:drinker: I toast you all...thank you for cheering me up. :flowerforyou: I hate dwelling on crap like this, because my daughter would have had fun with just us and I know she had fun. It's a kids party right? And they were happy! Thanks again for the responses~!

sillygoosie

If her daughter is too precious for faucet water, she should carry her own bottled. It's not your duty to know the requirements of every child there.

If your daughter had a good time, then your party was a success. The end. :flowerforyou:

Kamikazeflutterby

Bah, don't worry about the water. Toddlers go nuts over weird tiny things because they're toddlers--you can't plan for them all.

As for the Mom, well, she either needs to plan on her kid only drinking bottled water at all times, or she needs to teach her to drink tap water from a cup. Hell, many bottled waters are just municipal (re: tap) water anyway.

Trostlegirl33

if parents have children that are particular or fussy eaters, then they should volunteer to bring something and help out.


also, you should learn to ask for help.

Agree completely about asking for help more.....working on that one! Live and learn and maybe by the next birthday I will recruit a loved one to help me manage ; )

neandermagnon

woah sounds like a major feat of organisation.... my daughter's 3rd birthday she had what food I scraped together, party stuff from the supermarket at the last minute and a couple of little friends, and her birthday gifts. I've got it all on video and it was a great party. She's too young to care much about my lack of organisation. It's the people that make the party and fun times, not expensive things, that make memories, but it sounds like you didn't have very good people (I'm talking about the adults) if all they can do is pick on you over small things to do with organisation. If the parents were so adamant about their kids not drinking soda, maybe they should've said so prior to the party, so you could get some juice in. I don't usually let my kids drink very sugary drinks but parties are an exception (not the only exception, everything in moderation). My 3 yr old has allergies, if she goes to a party, I'll give the person doing the party a list of her allergies and offer to send her to the party with food that she can eat.

Also, some of these parties... who's it for? It's for the kids. the other parents should butt out and quit criticising any organisation fails (we all have them!) and focus on what matters for the kids, i.e. friends + fun and games + something to eat + presents for the birthday girl (+ if they're anything like my girls, a chance to dress in pretty clothes.)

lighteningjeanne855

I'm sorry your 'friend' made you feel badly about the party,
instead of doing something constructive about the kids' thirst,
such as making a run to the 7-11 (or its equivalent)
and bringing back a few gallons of water and a stack of cups.
NO party is ever perfect--you just learn how to plan better for the next one.
Also, ask a few moms to help out.

EyesOnSize8

OMG...may I suggest you take a step back? You are beating yourself up really hard for a dumb little thing. I say that bratty mom and bratty daughter deserve a good slap upside the head!!! Please do not cut yourself down over this! Maybe better to ask why we even get sucked into doing these big parties for the kiddos in the first place! What ever happened to "invite grandma over and have the neighbor kid join us for dinner???" (My own rant!) Or maybe another good approach is to next time bring water for everyone and save the adults also from the sugar, etc. of soda

favoritenut

Sounds like your friend missed an opportunity to teach her daughter how to be a gracious guest and drink what is offered. I certainly would not have let me kid keep complaining about beverage selection. Geez.

^this!

Greytfish

If your child can't or won't eat what might be offered at a party, you send along or bring what your child can/will eat. Period. I was not allowed soda as a child (thank you mom!) and could not drink fruit punch because of a pineapple allergy. I drank water from a tap or brought my own juice/milk/water.

It's nice if you want to accommodate different tastes, but should not be expected.