ACK!
We're an Army family stationed at Ft. Eustis, VA, and I'm stumped!
Our youngest child turns 4 next month. All of her friends went away recently. One is an Officer's daughter whose mom (I thought my good friend) decided last month to cease all communication. I'm still completely clueless as to why, but she stood us up at a playdate and hasn't called or returned my calls since. Of course, this hurts me, but my bigger worry is that her daughter was my daughter's closest friend (they're 3).
My toddler's other friends have either moved away in the last 2 months (military), or the other child's parents are divorcing and both 'adults' are acting like spoiled children.
How do I throw a party for a 4 year old when none of her friends will be here?
I had even bought all the goodies, party ware, etc. already.
I'm totally at a loss. I know she's still little and probably won't remember it later, but how do I pull this off???

Get your immediate family to celebrate, invite neighbors or family friends. It does not matter if they are her age or not. If everyone plays with her, I bet she will have a great time!

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~Happiness is a large family~

I agree w/ Happymom. Ya know, my boys have only had one party with friends over. They prefer to have just family (us and the grandmas) me too

Kids don't have to have a 'kids' birthday party every single year. I'm often in the same position because DD's b-day is early in Sept. We don't feel much like inviting kids from her previous school if she isn't going to see them next school year and we don't know the new kids in the new school well enough yet. I can't wait until she's in regular elementary school so she'll be with the same kids year after year.

Anyway, I recommend a special "Mommy and Me" or "Family" birthday party. Let her chose the event. Maybe you can explore someplace in your area that you haven't had a chance to visit yet - the zoo, an amusement park, a get away location, etc. Take her out to lunch or dinner someplace where the waitstaff gets together to sing "Happy Birthday" and call it good.

If DD's party turns out to be a bust this year, she and I will go to a local kids salon and have a 'fashion day' - let them put up our hair and do our nails. She'll love it. If you only know one kid who will go with you, invite her special friend to come along.

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

I would recommend having the family party as mentioned but at a McDonald's playland, Chuck E. Cheese or somewhere like that. That way there will be kids there to play with.

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

I'd make it all about her. Whatever she likes to eat, wherever she likes to go, whatever she want to do....its her day. I wouldn't even worry about no kids attending (DD is three and it has always been just us or very immediate family in attendance).

If she loves french fries, have a french fries for breakfast. If she loves going to the playground, have everyone dress in her favorite color and have a parade to the playground. You can do easy, fun and cheap stuff and your DD will be thrilled.

There is plenty of time when she is in her teens when you will have lots more to worry about when planning birthday parties.

Thanks guys... I kinda needed a little reality check there.
I think that between family and her babysitters, if it's HER day, she'll be fine.
Now if I can just get Corbin Bleu (her BIG crush) to arrive in time for the party. *lol*
She's informed us that there's going to be a problem getting her carseat into the back of Corbin's pink Volkswagen Slugbug (yes, I am aware that even for 3, that IS an overactive imagination! *LOL*). Pink is her favorite color, and she thinks Slugbug cars are cute, but trying to imagine him in one is too far a stretch, even for me! *chuckles*
Ah well, at least we have High School Musical 2 to look forward to watching every day till the dvd 'accidentally' breaks.
Thanks again!
TANKmom