So, I have cleared out and I am beginning anew. The older posts are archived for personal viewing but are no longer to be read here. It just seemed time for a fresh start...

Today I brought DeDe to Scoops (which is a local ice cream parlor/candy shop, but that description doesn't really do it justice - stepping through the doors of Scoops is akin to entering Willy Wonka's Chocolate Room, although nothing is free for the taking). My intention was to let him pick out a treat (one of their oversized, chocolate dipped ice cream cones or jumbo cupcakes) and sit with him while he indulged. When we arrived, however, there was a birthday party going on in the back room. A little girl came running out calling my son's name and pulled him by the sleeve into the party room. It all happened in the blink of an eye while the birthday girl's mother and I stood open-mouthed at the door. Apparently Emily was having her birthday party there this morning, and the way it works here is that we are permitted to invite either all of the girls in the class or all of the boys in the class or the entire class to a party, but not to choose which children specifically we would like to invite. So even though Emily and DeDe are friends, I had no knowledge of this party because she had invited only girls. Another custom here seems to be ignoring the request for R.S.V.P on invitations because Emily's mom welcomed him, telling me that she had several no-shows and elaborating that she had received only one RSVP call prior to sending out an e-mail to the parents of the invitees two days ago. And even then only a couple of people responded... Really? Why is this acceptable?

In actuality this did not come as a complete surprise to me. Over the past couple of years we have been to a few parties where this was the case. Once I showed up to drop off my youngest son for a party at his friend's home to find that he was the first guest to arrive. The birthday child's mom was gracious (and generous) enough to invite all three of my other sons to stay for a few minutes and use the bounce house they had rented while they awaited the arrival of the other guests. Can you believe that NO ONE ELSE SHOWED UP? We ended up being the party. I was and am amazed at how commonplace this kind of rudeness (sorry to be judgemental, but it is what it is) has become.

I would like to say that this is the reason that I do not host birthday parties for my sons. I would like to lay the blame on the fact that I just refuse to deal with the lack of consideration that seems to run rampant when it comes to parents responding to invitations for their children. It isn't due to financial concern or lack of planning (although don't those holidays seem to just sneak right up on you every year?) or disorganization... I'd like to say that, but...

Well, let's just say that and move on. :-)