Ever since I was a child, I loved my birthday parties! Seeing my friends, having fun with them, and eating all the candy I wanted was a truly special day for me.
Oh, and do not forget the presents and attention! My God, was I happy.
So, when I got my own children, I tried to make it the most fun day for them as well. I love to plan and organize their birthday parties as they bring me back to my childhood as well.
Also, seeing them so happy and excited when I bring out the cake they wanted is truly one of the most special days for me too.
However, there are some things that make all of this quite complicated. And I am not talking about planning everything out on my part.
It is the one thing that guests I invite do – or rather not do – that can make this whole process so hard and stressful.
It is the parents who fail to RSVP!
What Is RSVP?
RSVP is a French term ‘répondez s’il vous plaît‘ which basically means ‘please respond‘.
It is an act of responding to an invitation of any kind. In this case, it is responding to a birthday party invite for your child, and you as a parent should ALWAYS do it.
Why? There are many reasons, and I will list just some of them.
Why You Should Always RSVP
When I plan my kid’s birthday party, I am sure I will do everything right on my part – or at least try to.
But one thing that is out of my hands is others coming or not coming to the party.
Sometimes, not responding to the invite may put me in a difficult position as it might mean both things: the birthday party will be packed, or nobody will show up!
Here are several reasons why you should always RSVP.
1. Event Planning
When you confirm that you are coming to the party, the host will know how many seats should be reserved, how much food should be included, and which games will be appropriate for that amount of children.
We do not want to have a lack of seats because it may be uncomfortable for both your child and you.
Food needs to be planned in advance, so even the cake size depends on how many children will be there.
Also, it is a totally different vibe if there are three guests – or fifteen.
2. Courtesy To The Host
Just like you do not love it when someone leaves your message on read, parents who invited you and your child to a birthday party do not like to be ‘ghosted’.
It is polite to answer any kind of question, especially a question that concerns a lot of planning, and a child’s favorite day of the year.
3. Accommodation
When it is confirmed that there will be many children at the party, a parent knows how much space they need, and they can book a venue accordingly.
There are many instances where many children are invited, but only a few show-up.
This creates distress to a parent, because venues are not really cheap, and children feel the emptiness of a large venue.
4. Waste
If I plan on fifteen children coming to the party, and only a few show up, it will create a lot of waste when it comes to food and drinks.
Not knowing the correct number of children is always frustrating because you cannot be sure whether you will have too much or too little drinks or food.
6. Respecting The Parent And The Child
When both a parent and a child know who is coming to the party, it is easier to plan everything smoothly without any trouble.
I have experienced a child being excited about their best friend coming, and in the end, they never do.
It is probably one of the most heartbreaking moments you can witness as a parent. This is why parents need to RSVP because it can really help everyone involved.
Exceptions
There will always be exceptions and unpredictable situations that may prevent you from coming to a party.
Last-minute calls and cancellations can be frustrating, but the host will appreciate and understand if it is something that really cannot be changed.
Some of these situations are:
- the child becomes ill
- your car breaks
- there is traffic and you might be late
- a parent does not feel well
- there is a family emergency, etc.
These are situations that the host will understand and they are unpredictable.
But, it is important not to use them as an excuse for something else. If you promised you would come to the party, try to stick to it and respect the child’s special day.
It will make everything easier for both the parent and the child.