Well it has happened! My DD (who is 3 and a half) was just invited to her first birthday party. I am TERRIFIED. It is just all very new to me. I got the invitation from her preschool teacher who was handing them out for the Mom at pick up. The birthday is for a little girl in Lexi's class. She is turning 5, and Lexi idolizes this kid. My questions are:

The invitation doesnt say if parents go... Can I just call and ask? I would prefer to be there, as Lexi is only 3.5. and is it okay to ask what kinds of things the little girl is into? I just do not know the Mom very well, and with family i just call and see what they like.

I feel like this means she is growing up, and I am scared

Usually at that age, parents are welcome to stay...when you call to RSVP, I would just ask if it would be okay if you hung around, I'm sure the Mom would be just fine with that!

Don't take this the wrong way but what are you "terrified" about exactly? Just curious...

Haha, well... Just in general. The thought of Lexi going to a friends house. I am so overprotective. The whole growing up thing is what scares me.

I'm sure it will be fine if you stay. You could even approach it as wanting to help out. There is nothing wrong with asking what toys/characters the child is into. I'm sure the mother would much rather (if you bring a gift) it be something her daughter would enjoy/use.

It has also been understood that under age 5 parents are welcomed to stay. I always ask just to be sure.

I see your dd is the first. I can tell you what I'm terrified of and I've been though it twice already. I'm terrified my dd will grow up and not need me. Obviously that is the goal but those approaching firsts are HARD. Your baby is growing up and if that enough to scare the daylights out of me.

allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

It's Girl Scout Cookie Time

i always stayed with my daughter at that age and i still stay with her sometimes now and shes 9 LOL . the times i do stay is when i know the parents and want to help out and talk with the parents


i should add too even at 9 i give the parents the option to stay i alway say if u want to u can stay or go most go

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Wife to Marc , Mommy to Kayla

I did the same thing, I called the mother and asked her if I could stay, she was okay with it and in fact it was good for her, since she had a room ful of 6yr old boys and no other mom stayed. I helped her and she was grateful, plus I got to know her.

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We buy things we dont need,
with money we dont have,
in order to impress people
we dont like?
(Ramsey, D)

I agree, at age three the parents stay at the party.

Even when she is older, if you don't feel comfortable just dropping her off, just tell the parent(s) you'd like to stay and help. A party with a bunch of kids can always use extra helping hands, even if it's just to take pictures of the party.*

Cheers, from
SwampWitch

*If you do this, please make the birthday child the focus of all the pictures. (We had a friend take pics once, and she took as many pictures of each guest as she did the birthday girl... very dissapointing to only have a couple of our daughter at her party!)

I would stay, your daughter is only 3.5. It will be good for you to go and talk to other women, you may even make a couple of new friends.

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I'd definitely stay and I don't see a thing wrong with calling and asking what the little girl likes. I don't know that anyone would ever be offended by that question as it shows you are genuinely concerned about making the birthday girl happy!

I agree with SwampWitch too...it would be AWESOME for me to have someone help with everything. I can't serve food, cake, see her open gifts, etc. while I'm video taping or taking pictures. (Dh is not good at EITHER of those tasks...we might as well not have a video or any photos if that happens!!) I would sometimes LOVE to have another mom or dad offer to do the photos and video for us!!