My son was the only child to go to this poor kids birthday party

@shaggin (71678)
United States
November 14, 2015 5:28pm CST
My son is very nervous, shy and emotional. It is very hard for me to get him to go to the birthday parties he gets invited to. He was invited to one today and was crying and did not want to go. I had already RSVP'd and bought the boy a present so there was no backing out. My son is not really friends with this boy but it is one of his classmates so he was invited to the party. Even if it was a good friend my son would still likely not want to go. He is just so shy that way even though I stay at the parties with him. He was very upset. I told him to put himself in that little boys shoes and if no one showed up to his party how sad he would feel. I told him that I never want to see someone sad like that so I always try to go to things that I am invited to. I am thankful that we went. My son had a pretty good time bowling and he was the only child who went. NONE of the other classmates or friends showed up. He had his parents there, 4 adults and two older kids but that was it. I hope that it made him happy that we came and I hope he isn't to sad about the poor turn out.
7 people like this
7 responses
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
14 Nov 15
I hope your son feels better now that he went. If he hadn't, what a sad child his friend would have been.
2 people like this
@shaggin (71678)
• United States
15 Nov 15
I agree I am so glad that we went. I know how I would feel and my son would feel if we were in that little boys shoes so I am just glad that we went so at least there was one child there for him.
@much2say (53941)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Nov 15
Perhaps that was a good thing - less social pressure with having too many kids around! sounds like he had a great time and maybe he'll actually look forward to the next one! Earlier this year we went to a birthday party of an acquaintance - and it turned out we were the only guests to attend too! It was quite awkward - and I know they spent some money for it as it was one of those game places. But the kids had a great time, and it was the birthday boy's favorite place in the world apparently - so it all worked out - I think!
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71678)
• United States
15 Nov 15
Aww that is wonderful that you showed up as well when no one else did. I don't think the family spent to much on this party as they didn't have a lot of food or decorations or anything. I'm glad for their sake they had a nice simple party or it would have been a total waste for no one to show up.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
15 Nov 15
That is really sad, I wonder how many children didn't come? I hope it wasn't people who said they were coming and didn't, that would cost the parents money since you pay for a certain number of kids. Could it be this other kid is very shy and didn't ask anyone else? Perhaps this may help your son form a new friendship and help him with his shyness.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71678)
• United States
15 Nov 15
This boys father actually called me and told me his son would be at my sons birthday party a few weeks ago and they didn't show. I thought maybe the boy got sick and couldn't attend so I didn't hold it against them. He invited the whole class which is mandatory in our school if you pass out invitations everyone has to get one. There are 19 students in my sons class and my son was the only one who came to this boys birthday party today.
@jstory07 (135149)
• Roseburg, Oregon
14 Nov 15
At least your son showed up. The poor boy was he sad?
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71678)
• United States
15 Nov 15
The boy didn't really seem bothered by it. It broke my heart though seeing how we were the only ones who showed up. I know people are very busy and my children and I are to but I really try to attend what I am invited to. I sure am glad I was able to this time! My son liked bowling the first game. He won. The second game he accidentally threw the ball backward and got embarrassed and started crying and wanted to go home. I took him home as it was only a half hour early and I know when he gets upset he has a very hard time calming down.
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Nov 15
How terrible for the boy and his parents that everybody else let them down.
@shaggin (71678)
• United States
16 Nov 15
Yes it was very sad. The party started at 3pm. The grandmother came over to me at about 3:15 and said that she guessed my son was the only child who showed up. She said that the school requires that if you send in invitations it has to be to the whole class so that is what they did. There are 19 kids in my sons class and my son was the only one who showed up at the party. I have a van so if someone had asked if their child could ride along with me I would have let them ride with us.
1 person likes this
@kizzyB (176)
• United Kingdom
14 Nov 15
You never know, the birthday boy may have been glad numbers were small. I've never been a party animal, and dislike the pressure of feeling I ought to be enjoying myself.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71678)
• United States
15 Nov 15
I think the boy would have probably rather had a few other children attend rather then just my son. But I hope that he did have a good time and is not to sad that we were the only ones there. My heart feels so much sadness thinking about this little boy having such a bad turn out for his party.
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
15 Nov 15
I hope that your son enjoyed himself too. Maybe the smaller than expected party suited him
@shaggin (71678)
• United States
15 Nov 15
My son is very timid so a smaller group might have made him less nervous. Then again he might have felt more comfortable and had more fun if some of his other closer friends had showed up as well. Hard to say really.