Family of 5 shows up to 10 year old's birthday party uninvited, leaves when they're asked to pay entrance fee to the trampoline park: 'He wanted another parent to pay for his fun family day'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
May 17, 2024 8:00 PM EDT

Nothing is more humiliating than showing up somewhere you aren't wanted. I don't know what's worse: being told outright that you aren't welcome or experiencing that combined feeling of social awkwardness and dread that can only come from being unsure whether your presence is desired. Now that I'm an adult, I would much rather be straight-up told that someone doesn't want me somewhere than languish in uncertainty. 99% of being a teenager is hearing people around you making plans and hoping that because you're standing near them, they will remember to include you, too. By all accounts, that is torture, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. 

While being direct about someone not being welcome is preferable, it doesn't take the sting out of rejection. One father recently took four of his daughters to a birthday party they weren't invited to, and when the birthday boy's mom broke the news to them, she faced some criticism from other parents. 

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  • 01
    r/AmltheAsshole u/Outrageous_You_1219. 1d AITA: for telling a family they weren't actually invited
    via u/Outrageous_You_1219
  • 02
    So my son had his 10th birthday party at a jump place on Saturday. He wanted to invite 5 friends. We sent the invites early enough, all went well. Until a few days before the party he said his friend wanted to invite a girl. This girl is not very nice to my son so I told him no, let your friend know I said that wasn't going to work so it wouldn't look like my son was at fault. Lo and behold the day of the party the girl shows up with her dad and her 3 siblings. The dad let me know he didn't get
    via u/Outrageous_You_1219
  • 03
    and all that was written on the ripped paper was the place and time. I asked the girl who invited her and she told me the friend of my son - I let the dad know they were welcome to hang with the party and have cake and pizza but he would have to pay for their entrance fee as they weren't actually invited. He got his kids and left pretty fast. A few people think I was in the wrong but that would've been an extra $100 I did not plan for. So was I the ahole? Edit- it was a -
    via u/Outrageous_You_1219
  • 04
    scratch piece of paper he showed me, like ripped from a note book. The friend who invited her is in a separate class than my son this year. There was no gift or card. And the dad never seemed upset. The invite had each child's name on them, asked for an adult to come to watch said kid, my number, and let them know I would cover the child in the invite plus the adult
    via u/Outrageous_You_1219
  • 05
    AzureDreamer • 1d Definitely not the but I feel for that poor father. I am sure the situation sucked for him. 2.3k
    via u/AzureDreamer
  • 06
    2moms3grls • 1d Sort of. If I got that "invitation" I would have 100% reach out and check! Come on. Ripped piece of paper? 3 kids? ... ✩ 3.7k 3.7k
    via u/2moms3grls
  • 07
    Maleficent Theory818.23h Partassipant [1] If it was just him and his daughter, but to bring three extra children and expect OP to pay? One of the parents should have reached out to OP. 2.3k
    via u/Maleficent_Theory818
  • 08
    ΝΤΑ ReviewOk929. 1d Pooperintendant [60] 1. They weren't invited... 2. You extended the offer of cake which was nice 3. Wouldn't have done any differently, they weren't invited... 4. Who turns up to a party on the basis of a ripped piece of paper???? ... Reply 3.2k
    via u/ReviewOk929
  • 09
    Crswpg1.1d Who turns up with a party of 5 hoping the host will pay? NTA G ✩ 1.5k AzureDreamer • 1d I mean for all we know he intended to pay for everyone but the kid that was invited and chose to leave when he realized they weren't really wanted. 250
    via u/Crswpg1 & u/AzureDreamer
  • 10
    HyrrokinAura • 23h Who decides that because one kid was invited (and they weren't really invited, an unrelated kid who was invited decided they got to have a plus one,) they get to bring their entire family? He chose to leave when OP generously said they could eat - so that's 9 kids eating food meant for 5 - but wasn't willing to also pay at least 3 extra kids' entrance fees. He wanted another parent to pay for his fun family day. 273
    via u/HyrrokinAura
  • 11
    grckalck • 1d Aficionado [19] NTA. Friends dont get to invite their own friends. If they want a party with their friends, have their own party. Pretty simple. Reply 1.2k
    via u/grckalck
  • 12
    Dapper_Research_8268 1d • NTA - I think you handled it well. As a parent, I would have verified the invitation with you first before just accepting a note written on a piece of paper. Reply 612
    via u/Dapper_Research_8268
  • 13
    emanekaf2222. 1d Yeah... relying on 2nd or 3rd hand information from a chain of 10 year olds seems like a good way to embarrass yourself. Also 10 is right at the borderline of being old enough to know you don't get to invite people to other people's parties, it's probably worth letting the friend's parents know what happened. 216
    via u/emanekaf2222
  • 14
    _Tiberius Prime _ • 1d NTA. Sounds like the dad just wanted a freebie to get in. Reply 230
    via u/_Tiberius Prime_
  • 15
    angmac01 1d NTA they came uninvited and left when informed. Reply ✩ 41
    via u/angmac01
  • 16
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    via Karsten Winegeart

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Bounce House invitation birthdays things kids say kids birthday birthday party invitations uninvited trampolines trampoline family Party dad children
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