Should You Go to Birthday Parties?

[Blackcat31]

I always "have plans".

The weekend is just too short for my husband, and my four kids to also spent some of that valuable time with a dcf too. Maybe that's a little harsh but it's how I manage my business with my personal life.

NEVER in 20 years have I attended a birthday party for a daycare child, a dinner invite, backyard BBQ or Pampered Chef/Party Lite type party hosted by daycare families.

I don't mix business with personal. period.

My parents know this up front (and my reasons why) so it has never been an issue.

Also I LOVE my weekends and evenings to be "work" free like anyone else.

A few years ago, my friend who is also a daycare provider went to a DCK's 4th birthday party. She said it was the worst experience of her life!!

Because she was the daycare provider, and several of the kids at the party went to her daycare, guess who ended up watching and caring for the kids the entire party while the other adults sat back and mingled while she "worked" (for free)......??

Um, yeah, thanks for the invite but no thank you....

[saved4always]

NEVER in 20 years have I attended a birthday party for a daycare child, a dinner invite, backyard BBQ or Pampered Chef/Party Lite type party hosted by daycare families.

I don't mix business with personal. period.

My parents know this up front (and my reasons why) so it has never been an issue.

Also I LOVE my weekends and evenings to be "work" free like anyone else.

A few years ago, my friend who is also a daycare provider went to a DCK's 4th birthday party. She said it was the worst experience of her life!!

Because she was the daycare provider, and several of the kids at the party went to her daycare, guess who ended up watching and caring for the kids the entire party while the other adults sat back and mingled while she "worked" (for free)......??

Um, yeah, thanks for the invite but no thank you....

Me, too...love my weekends and evenings too much to give up any of the time to spend with a bunch of people I don't know, especially since my kids are all older and are not "friends" with the dck's. It has also crossed my mind that I could end up watching the kids at the party, cuz I am the "sitter" , so I would obviously want to be with the kids. So, I just always have "plans".

[emmajo]

I do mix friendship and business. In my experience, the families I've become friends with have been the most generous and thoughtful toward me. I am still good friends with several former families and have been to their kids' birthday parties. Present families and I socialize and belong to many of the same groups - book groups, church, etc. It's a small town and we all know each other. In my opinion, the friendships enhance the business relationship. But I'm also not as strict as many on here about late payments or whatever - I know my families and I know they'll pay me next time they arrive, know that if they're late picking up there's a good reason, etc. I think the friendliness just makes for an all-around happy experience for all of us - especially the kids.

[Crazy8]

I can count on one hand how many I've been invited to in the 11 years I've been doing daycare. I have gone to 2-3, was earlier when my own children where the age of the kids I watched and it was more that they were invited to their "friends" party. My DS still goes to one DCF's parties - the boys are still friends. Now we really are so busy on the weekends that I probably wouldn't be able to go to their parties but would take it on a case by case basis if I was invited (most likely not going because I'm not that social).

[Kiki]

Because she was the daycare provider, and several of the kids at the party went to her daycare, guess who ended up watching and caring for the kids the entire party while the other adults sat back and mingled while she "worked" (for free)......??

Oh no way! As soon as I noticed the parents weren't paying attention to their own children, I would say goodbye to all of my DCK, tell the parents 'Thanks for the invite, great party, see you on Monday!' and head out.

I have been invited to a few parties, but I have never attended, I would just feel uncomfortable only knowing the parents, the child, and maybe a grandparent that did a pick-up once or twice. (I'm fairly certain the ONLY reason why I've been invited is for my own children.)

My own children are younger though and home all day with me and the DCK. (3,5,8) So my two little ones that aren't in school have bonded with them, and have invited them to their own parties. The parents have always came and they have been nothing but respectful every time, didn't treat it like another day dropping off at the day care, they stayed and enjoyed the festivities with their kiddos.

[countrymom]

For me personally, I don't consider it mixing business and pleasure because I go to the party for the kids-not the parents. The kids' faces light up when they see that I have shown up. I don't stay the whole time, maybe a half hour or so.

this!!!! I'm rarely invited, but you should see how happy the children are. You don't have to stay for the whole thing, but I would make an appearance. Oh, the last party I went to, the little dcg had to come and show me every little thing she got. They all laughed because the little girl thought so highly of me, and she is my favorite girly.

[MizzCheryl]

Well you all have good points. The kids faces do light up when you come and they made me sit with them just the whole time. I think a Mom or 2 were a little put out cause the child wanted to be with me the whole time and I would end up feeling a little guilty. Then sometimes the DCKs act horrible like Daycare said and everyone sees an awful show.

One parent got mad at me cause I could not make it to her childs Bday party. My Dog got run over that weekend and I was nursing her as she was hurt very bad.

I just kinda had hesatations about after I had so many bad experiences with becoming too close to the parents.

Seems people just LOVE you when you are doing what ever they want you to.

But if you can't accomidate them later on for some reason you are a B word.

[SunshineMama]

I do not go to bday parties and I don't invide the dck's to mine. My fear is that they will judge me for how my kids act, since we all know that our kids always pick the worst times to act up .

[wdmmom]

I've never been invited to a birthday party, a family bbq, anything.

I have been invited to attend a church (dcb's grandfather is the minister and the family is very religious. Mom always brings me in little cards for vacation bible school, etc. I smile and accept them but I've never gone.

The only other party I've ever been invited to was a Signature Homestyles party a couple months back. It was over a weekend that I was out of town so that was my excuse for not going but I did buy something.

The only other time I have been to any of my families homes was to drop off a blanket that a DCB left here and DCM was waiting for the repairman to come and asked if I could drop it off. (She knew I was going to be out and about anyway so I did.)