Parties

Just would like your suggestions and advice.

Message edited 8/4/2007 2:00:43 AM.

Re: How to tell someone no kids to an adult party?

We just attended a big birthday party in a loud restaurant with no room for a stroller and it was not fun for us or DDs. I wish the hosts would have told us to leave them home. I guess there is no easy way to say it. Are you sending out invites? Can you just put Mr. & Mrs.?

Re: parties

Message edited 11/3/2007 2:30:22 AM.

Re: How to tell someone no kids to an adult party?

i would just write on the invites
'adults only please' they may get insulted but you will get your way. But in turn don't be insulted if they cannot come.

Re: parties

Message edited 11/3/2007 2:30:41 AM.

Re: How to tell someone no kids to an adult party?

can't you mention it in a roundabout way when you invite them, like saying, "I'd love for you to be able to make it, do you think you can get a sitter?" or, "I wanted to give you as much advance notice as possible so you can get a sitter."

I hate it when people get offended that kids aren't invited. I am going through this now, with people saying, "Oh, you mean I can't bring the kids?" People are allowed to have an adult event if they want to! If someone doesn't want to leave their kids, then unfortunately I guess they won't come.

Re: parties

I never know what to do.

Sigh

Message edited 11/3/2007 2:31:13 AM.

Re: How to tell someone no kids to an adult party?

just wanted to add that my DH and i have plenty of friends that have no kids and we never get insulted at the NO KIDS PLEASE.. just saying that for some people its hard to get babysitting.

Re: How to tell someone no kids to an adult party?

Now that I have a kid, I do realize that I'll be missing certain things if I can't get a sitter - my mom is the only one and she watches him during the week, so sometimes I don't even want to ask. However, I don't get annoyed with the person having the party for not letting me bring my child, and I don't think they are rude. To be honest, if it was the kind of thing where it was mostly adults having a nice dinner somewhere, it would be difficult to enjoy myself anyway if I had to worry about changing him/feeding him/putting him to sleep/keeping him quiet, etc.

Re: How to tell someone no kids to an adult party?

I would just simply say or write in email You are invited to an adult party only for...... for email and for verbal, We are having a party for .... and it is an adult party only at.....place... date and time... and we would love it if you and say significants name only could make it. I bet some of these parents would love a night out without the children.

Re: How to tell someone no kids to an adult party?

I would say it exactly as you wrote it. I am sorry but this is an adult only event. Please get a sitter and join us if you can. We would love to see you both.

Re: How to tell someone no kids to an adult party?

I would put "Adults Only party" on the invite.

Separately, I would send them an email & say "I know getting a babysitter is difficult, so i wanted to give you as much notice as possible. I truly hope you can make it"

Re: How to tell someone no kids to an adult party?

Send an evite.com invitation and write "Adults only please" on the invite

Re: How to tell someone no kids to an adult party?

I'm the one who usually falls on the other side of the fence on this debate, arguing that parents should have the choice to bring their kids anywhere they want, but I'm also reasonable, and anytime I get an invitation for a party or dinner for friends at an upscale restaurant after 8pm-ish, I have enough sense to hire a babysitter, and if I can't, we just don't go. So, I'm assuming if you send out the invite and on it you name the restauarant, which is upscale, and the time of the party, presumably later in the evening, the parents of young children will have enough sense to understand that they should probably hire a babysitter.

Re: How to tell someone no kids to an adult party?

My only thought is that if they are the only people invited who have children that you should speak with them directly and not put adult only on the invitation when that message is meant for just one person. Don't focus on the waiter's well being or other diners in the restaurant -- thats a cop out. Be direct -- either way they may be a bit insulted but at least they will feel like you were honest. No matter how you say it you are telling them that their children aren't well behaved enough to attend even though they have been included in the past.

And just so you can be sensitive, its not just about a babysitter being hard to get for many families. At many large gatherings having children present is welcome as they are seen as entertainment for the crowd and not a nuisance.