Comments on: Birthday Party Etiquette

By: Brigitte

Brigitte — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:05:56 +0000

It seems to be the new norm for the younger ones, anyway. I’ve felt trapped and confused myself, so on my invitations for my daughter’s upcoming birthday, I stated it was an option (so long as we had a way to reach them in an emergency)!

By: Miriam

Miriam — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:07:22 +0000

I think birthday parties are a mix. It seems that the switch from stay there to drop off happens around the Kindergarten/1st grade age in our area. Last year we had 18 7-yr old boys running around our house for a “drop-off” party. I put a sign up sheet near the door so parents could leave an emergency phone number and then be on their merry way. They were welcome to stay, but when most found out they didn’t need to, they signed the sheet with glee and left for two hours.

By: Lucinda

Lucinda — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:14:49 +0000

I leave my kids every time I can. And I’m in the NW. I also tell parents up front that they can just leave their kids. I think many times parents stay because they are not sure if it’s ok to leave.

By: Claire

Claire — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:47:04 +0000

I have had the same situation with mixed results. Only if I feel the Mom is overwhelmed (10 kids – 1 mom) do I stay to help out. If I stay, I consider myself a helper, not a guest. I am a New Englander, so maybe it is a CT thing.

By: divrchk

divrchk — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:41:52 +0000

On your daughter’s invitation, write that it’s a Drop-Off. I love seeing that on an invite. That way it is clear to the other parents that it is OK to leave.

By: Kathy from NJ

Kathy from NJ — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:15:29 +0000

Next time ask the hostess & blame it on the northeast. “When I lived in CT, the parents dropped off the kids and picked them up 2 hrs later. Is the custom different in Texas?”