Nobody came to my 7 year old nephew's birthday party

[Minstrel]

Oh, I see...the kids actually do gymnastics. I didn't realize that, I thought it was just for the space.

That's cool.

 

[mook]

Oh, I see...the kids actually do gymnastics. I didn't realize that, I thought it was just for the space.

That's cool.

Yeah, inflatable castle, rope swings, climbing walls, lots of stuff like that.

 

[maxiep]

How many kids RSVP'd and then didn't show? That's a bullshit move.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

When I was 7, I had my birthday at an ice skating rink, invited everyone in my class, and had everyone make a donation to the Make a Wish Foundation in my name as my present.

 

[huevonkiller]

Wow that's messed up. Hopefully it just makes everyone tougher mentally.

 

[MickZagger]

When I was 7, I had my birthday at an ice skating rink, invited everyone in my class, and had everyone make a donation to the Make a Wish Foundation in my name as my present.

What a jolly good fella.

 

[Ed O]

When I was 7, I had my birthday at an ice skating rink, invited everyone in my class, and had everyone make a donation to the Make a Wish Foundation in my name as my present.

Wow that's messed up. Hopefully it just makes everyone tougher mentally.

I think that it probably did, in spite of the trauma of charitable giving.

Ed O.

 

[jlprk]

Nothing breaks your heart more then 2:10pm, your boys 7th birthday party starts at 2:00pm, and no one shows up.

My dumb ex-wife rented the kid's field at the indoor soccer arena for a Saturday afternoon birthday party when my son was about 7 to 10. He's 19 now. I kept telling her, all those boys (including ours) have Saturday morning soccer games, they'll be too tired to come, hold it the day before or after. Nooooo...she knows everything, so she spends a lot on it.

Well one kid shows and to have a game, she has to play (new hubby arrived halfway through and played too). As I barely recall, she passed out trying to keep up with the two boys, who liked it. They weren't the ones who suffered (heh heh). As the TV show would be titled nowadays...Real Father Knows Best.

 

[huevonkiller]

I think that it probably did, in spite of the trauma of charitable giving.

Ed O.

I'd hate to waste my liquor money on charity.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I raised about $250.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Gymnastics places are a major improvement over the pizza places/Chuck E Cheeses of my childhood. Much more exercise and interaction between the kids, instead of staring at video games and being stuck at the table. Also, because you rent a time slot, you have to be done in 90 minutes with the whole thing, meaning it can't string on interminably. At 90 minutes, you shrug and look at the other parents and get the fuck out of there.

I just wish they served beer to the adults there.....

Sounds mightly lame.

Organ Grinder
Chuck E Cheese
Wunderland
Sunshine Pizza Exchange
Fuddruckers
the old water slides at washington square

those were my bday parties of my youth. fucking loved them. Gyms just seem so lame and corporatey.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

oh yeah, skateworld too. and bowling.

 

[huevonkiller]

Some guy had his Birthday at Hooters in eighth grade.

In my youth parties were at pretty normal places otherwise.

 

[Rodolfo]

Sounds mightly lame.

Organ Grinder
Chuck E Cheese
Wunderland
Sunshine Pizza Exchange
Fuddruckers
the old water slides at washington square

those were my bday parties of my youth. fucking loved them. Gyms just seem so lame and corporatey.

Think I had a bday at the Organ Grinder way back. Unique place. Think it closed back in the mid 90's.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I feel bad for your nephew. My little girl is 8 months old, so I'm not in the loop for how parties should go, but I didn't really have any "class parties" as a kid (birthday in July takes care of that) and it was more just family getting together.

then again, my wife was telling me about this "Sweet Sixteen" show on MTV where girls spend more on their birthday than on most weddings, so I could be way off with today's culture.

 

[mook]

I would tell him to concentrate on just making it a special day. When I was growing up, I could sense when my parent's tried too hard and it ruined those occasions for me. The few times I had non-family at birthdays or overspending for Christmas come to mind. The times I cherish the most were the birthdays with my family and little things like my mom bringing cupcakes and cider to school. Had a big family, so just seeing cousins that I infrequently got to see was enough as was seeing my mom during school hours.

Your post really got me thinking about my brother. My brother is highly extroverted, and so are his nephews. So I think he thinks a big party with lots of other kids is what the kid needs.

But that kid is actually really shy, much like I was at his age. I'd have been terrified if somebody had thrown a big party for me at that age. I'd hate it if all the kids showed up (too much pressure to be social), and I'd have hated it if they didn't (too disappointing for my parents).

I relayed your advice to him. I think it's pretty solid. Thanks.

Of course now I have the whole issue of me telling my brother that he's a lousy dad for trying to make his kid something he's not. But oh well. I tried to be diplomatic.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

10 minutes late is considered on time when my wife is involved.

 

[Eastoff]

Think I had a bday at the Organ Grinder way back. Unique place. Think it closed back in the mid 90's.

Man I remember going there one or twice when I was a kid. But that's about all I can remember. I think I got some of it confused with memories of the Old Spaghetti Factory.