There is a lot of variance in our circle of friends as to who gets invited to a child's birthday party. What do you do?

In this poll, you can select as many options as apply.

__________________
Homeschooling Mom to Daniel (13 Years), Andrew (10 Years), Stephen (8 Years) and Emily (4 Years)

Their friends they choose to invite.

__________________

we have 2 parties. One is a family party and one is a friend party.

The friend party they invite usually school friends.

The family party is their aunts/uncles/cousin and friends who are like family. some of the neighbors also come to this party.

__________________
allgirls, mom to 3 girls

This is us too. Some years my kids want just a friend or two...and sometimes they want all the boys in their class. It really just depends.

My kids don't have any cousins that are close in age...if we have a family event for their birthday, we usually just invite all our family that is in the area. Sometimes we do this and sometimes we don't...it just depends.

we USE to parties with their friends but now its either just grandparents or we do just family..the four of us...
the birthday kid gets to pick a morning activity( biking on the trails mostly)..we come home for lunch, after lunch we do another family activity( ds likes putt putt and dd likes 5 pin bowling...and if you show proof of the birthday then that kid is free at either activity here). then we have what the birthday person wants for supper( it could be out, or bbq or cereal and toast for supper) and we go to the library and borrow movies that we watch.they like this much more as they choose what is done.

We always do a party with all the family. I put on a huge feed for everyone and it is really a good time. Than the kids can have a party with their school mates, I make them invite everyone because I do not want anyone singled out. As they get older, their parties will all get smaller-family parties will probably just be the five of us and than party with friends will be like 2-3 friends from school.

__________________

Our family lives too far away, so we now do just friends (or relatives if they happen to be here) party. When we lived closer, we did relatives and friends together almost always...rarely seperate, as it simply costs too much! LOL

__________________

I agree, the big parties with all the family does cost a small fortune. Usually we have around 15 people for the kid's parties. That is a lot of people to feed, and these people like to eat!!! Luckily, everyone pitches in and does bring something (food, napkins, etc) but it is still pretty spendy.

__________________

we have always done our parties with just family and close family friends. when those children come over...it's ALWAYS WELL over 20 kids there! so they never ask friends from school to come over.

my daughter will be 9 years old in a few weeks and this school year is the first year she was interested enough to invite a school friend over to the house. now we and her friend's mom are really close...but other than that, all they really want is their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents over, and the friends of the family who've they've known all their lives (which aren't schoolmates).

__________________
wife, mom, doctor, lawyer, veternarian, friend, sibling, CEO, banker, advisor, chauffer, maid, interior decorator, artist, author, social worker, entertainer, video gamer, gymnast, gardener, scientist, genius, psychologist, psychic, sidekick, and superhero...all rolled into one!

I didn't add to the poll because every year is different. Next birthday he is having only close friends and a few people from school. It will be very laid back as he had his big party last year!