AITA - Bday & Mother’s Day plans

Should people bring other people or kids when invited to an event that’s not geared towards them? I invited 9 of my daughter’s friends (all girls) to her birthday party & told my husband & couple family friends that it’s a girls party, so if they have to bring their sons that’s fine but they might be bored at a pink party watching a bunch of girls doing girly activities. Is that wrong? Feels weird to have older boys & her younger brother hanging out. I made it clear to everyone that “Emily is invited”. Then my best friend & I organized a Mother’s Day brunch at a restaurant. We invited a few mom friends & told them they can also invite their moms, MIL & daughters if they want to. My good friend said she has to bring her 10 year old son to both events as her husband’s working. First she said hope that’s ok, then another day she said if it’s not ok that’s fine. But I feel awkward addressing it, like what is she going to do with him if I say it’s not ok?? Is she just not going to come? She was also bringing her daughter & mom, but not her MIL who lives with her, so I’m not sure why she won’t leave her son at home with his grandma, as she used to when they were younger. Also my mom just told me that my aunt is visiting from another country to visit our sick uncle but she can’t stay with them right now for some reason, so she’ll be staying with my mom for Mother’s Day weekend, so my mom told me I “just need to add another seat for her at brunch because she has to be with me”. My aunt is not a mother. She was single her whole life. On the one hand I feel bad because I know what it’s like to not have someone to watch your kids & I’m usually all about inclusion. But on the other hand, some events aren’t for everyone. I wouldn’t expect my daughter to be invited to my son’s friend’s birthday party, or to want to be there, unless it was ok by the parents. I also never went out to Mother’s Day events before I became a mother, unless it was just brunch with my mom & I wouldn’t expect to be included because I wasn’t a mother, same as Father’s Day events. Some days are just for some people not everyone. But then I feel like a jerk saying that. My aunt flew in from far, what’s the big deal if she comes or my friend brings her son? Well I do worry what my best friend will say or think, as we agreed not to bring our own sons or husbands & told others not to do the same thing & we didn’t invite anyone’s childless aunts either. So there will be 15 moms & daughters, then my aunt & 1 boy 😑 I’m thinking of offering my friend to leave her son with our husbands & sons on Mother’s Day, but not sure if she’ll be ok with that. I can also ask my mom to leave my aunt with them so she’s not at the house alone, but again, afraid to offend anyone 😔 What do I do?
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You could phrase it like “if you want, your son might have more fun hanging out with the guys rather than coming to a girls bday party”? I don’t really see the issue with your aunt coming to the Mother’s Day event though tbh, I don’t think you could put that any way without offending her.

I'd imagine a 10 year old will bring their own entertainment so I don't see the harm in him being there. You also say you said if they wanted to bring sons that's fine? There could be any number of reasons your friend doesn't want to leave him behind. I don't know maybe we're just different but to me just because something is pink doesn't mean a boy can't be there. Not every girl likes "girly" things either. I think you could offer the option for the 10 yo to stay with the men on mother's day as phrased above. But I wouldn't say the aunt can't come. Just because you aren't a mother doesn't mean you can't celebrate the mothers in your life! I think maybe you put a lot of expectations on 'special days' but you've organised some lovely events, try not to stress too much about the guest list and it not being quite what you imagined and just enjoy the days rather than trying to uninvite people now!

Do you know why your aunt doesn’t have children? Do you know if she longed to have children but struggled? It’s really not ok to exclude her because she does t have any children. I feel like this is not an appropriate reason to exclude a family member from eating brunch with other family members. With the ten year old son, if the husband is working it’s a case of do you want the others there or not, I do also think why can’t a boy enjoy a girlie/ pink party? Why can’t they join in? Honestly the world has moved on from girls and boys and you should absolutely be more inclusive in your plans. I feel sorry for your aunt flying in from far to be excluded from a family event. Mother’s Day is celebrated by men too, because they are celebrating their wives and mothers - it’s good to be more open and relaxed about these things x

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