SayWhat? asked:
My husband and I host several dinner parties and cocktail parties a year. I have certain friends who always bring their children even after I’ve dropped several hints for them not to. Their attitude seems to be, “Love me, love my kids.”
My husband and I host several dinner parties and cocktail parties a year. I have certain friends who always bring their children even after I’ve dropped several hints for them not to. Their attitude seems to be, “Love me, love my kids.”
Tags: Attitude | Cocktail Parties | Kids Names
May 25th, 2010 at 6:50 am
It’s okay to be more specific and add on the invitation “No children please.” Some people don’t pick up hints as well as others.
May 27th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
All I can suggest is adding on the invitations at the bottom is “No children please” or something similar.
May 29th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Don’t drop hints tell them this is for adults only, no children allowed. Also you do have to understand that when people have children in order to go somewhere they have to hire a babysitter for them and sometimes that is not as easy as it seems or maybe they can’t afford a sitter
June 2nd, 2010 at 3:50 am
Since subtle hints have never worked, maybe you should send out invitations that specifically state that kids are to be left at home. I’ve seen several invitations like this (mostly for company parties and such), and I can’t recall how they worded it, but it did not come off as snobbish. Surely people should be able to understand that there are such things as adult only parties, and that there is a time and a place for socializing with the whole family. If they still bring their kids despite the fact that you explicitly stated that they weren’t supposed to, maybe you should just leave them at home as well.
June 3rd, 2010 at 9:05 am
Add to the invitation. “Adults only.”
June 6th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Hints do not work. “ADULTS ONLY” works better
June 6th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
I think its user error.
This is all on you. When I have parties (this coming from somebody with no kids) many if not all of my friends have kids. I either put on the invitation, “This is a KIDS FRIENDLY party”, bring the kids they will have lots of fun. Or I will say “This party is for ADULTS ONLY so plan in advance”.
Please RSVP so I have a number of people.
Its not that hard, its all on you, if you are not telling people they dont know. If they dont want to show up because they cant bring their kids, then they dont show up. Parents dont care, they go to parties all the time where they cant bring their kids, seems like you are the one not getting it. You are probably the only person that doesnt specify if kids are welcome or not.
June 10th, 2010 at 4:15 am
I surprized they returned after you HINTs
I sure wouldn’t.
June 12th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Simply…put in the bottom of the invitation…”ADULTS ONLY”..or “Leave the kids with the sitter”..trust me they will get the hint!
June 16th, 2010 at 5:29 am
Because people no longer have manners or shame or common sense. So many things. I would let them know, b/c children should not be at adult events and the parents should know better.
June 18th, 2010 at 5:00 am
That *****! What if you politely told them your dinner and cocktail partys are for adults only. Explain to them that you love them and their children, however, you think that as adults you need an evening to relax and not worry about what they are doing in the other room or under the table or have more messes to clean up than anticipated. If they don’t agree with YOUR rules for YOUR party, then they shouldn’t attend (or be invited.)
As far as why they attend with their children, that only they can answer. I could always assume that they dont want to hire a babysitter for the evening, or they feel that their kids are special and when they received the invitation to attend it didn’t say adults only. Maybe they didn’t understand the hints you say you have dropped. Some people need to be told things-yes that applies to adults as well as children. If after you explain to them you would love to spend time with them just not on the evenings you plan for adults,they still insist on showing up with the kids, then you should consider not inviting them. That is a hint that they will have to get!
June 19th, 2010 at 8:45 am
If they show up with thier kids, they probably need you to suggest a babysitter. Finding a sitter isnt always easy so it often means getting a sitter or not going. PErhaps they think you would rather have them present at the party with thier children than not at the party at all. Make sure the invitations are sent several weeks in advance for those who need to plan accordingly. Also, perhaps some of these people who you are inviting are asking eachother if they are bringing thier kids or not, and if one does bring thier kids, then the other will think its ok to bring kids as well. You really do need to be specific about an Adults only party. Tell them that you would really like to enjoy adult conversation without anyone having to chase thier kids or be preoccupied. It’s much easier for adults to relax and enjoy themselves with out parental duties at the same time. I would not feel offended by this as I have four children and would love and adults only invitation!!!
June 22nd, 2010 at 8:15 am
either state on the invite adults only party no chilren or don’t invite them. if you speak to them state this time around it’s adults only we’re going to try this without the kids party.
then apologize politely, and ask, you’re coming right?
June 24th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Include in the invite please no children.
June 26th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Be nice, On the invitations at the bottom list if its a kid friendly party, or adults only. I have a child, and my husbands boss has dinner partys all the time most of them are don’t bring your kids, this is an adults only partys, besides why would someone want to bring thier kids to a cocktail party! If theres drinking, I do not bring my child…now at a bbq, where theres other kids and drinking is some times ok, depends on the group of people. Just put it on all the invitations, from now on. be sure to state it nicely and put it all the time, so no one feels like its just them your talking about.
June 29th, 2010 at 3:32 am
i know i really **** when that happens because you have alll the things for the party and then the kids come and then you don’t have enough food to give to them i thinks is because when you send the invites they say ”oh is a party” and you know the kids like the parties because they can eat alot or play..
July 1st, 2010 at 8:19 am
Unless u specify no children then that is why they show up with their kids since this happens alot and u dont want to step on peoples toes either put on the invites no children please or make a special place like up stair or somewhere and hire a reliable babysitter and get some videos and games and give them their own special party with pizza and chips and stuff like that … that will not ruin your party and the kids will enjoy it too…
July 4th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Next time you invite them, tell them straight out when the rsvp that it’s an adult only party. Stop hinting, since it clearly isn’t working.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I know it is very annoying and seems to be something that is a problem more and more. I think you have to be very specific when you are inviting people. Tell them it is “an adult’s only” party and don’t give in to pressure. Hints do not work with people who break this rule all the time. Children should not be at parties where alcohol is being served and they should usually be in bed before those parties are over. Personally, I think the children enjoy being home more than they do being in the presence of many adults. If they can’t hire a babysitter, then they need to give their regrets and stay home with their children.