xp: invite reciprocity ? -- WWYD

Pesky

So far, DD, me and the rest of the fam have been invited to two birthday parties.  For both of them, the moms are women I know and occasionally socialize with but our kids don't hang out or really interact.  One bday party was for a little girl DD's age but even at the party she and DD had little to nothing to do to each other which is par for the course -- they don't seem to hang out much when thrown together.  The other was for a little boy's 1st bday and DD had met the older brother once when she was about 15 mos and that's it.  DD and I were the only ones at both (DS was sick and stayed home).

FF to now.  I am planning both DS's bday and DD's.  DS's is going to be a combo 4th of July BBQ/1st bday celebration.  I was keeping it small and making it primarily just family.  DD's bday is her first bday where she is inviting friends and I was inviting her core group of friends from DC (and their families) and again trying to keep it small as DD gets overwhelmed in larger groups and with people she doesn't know. 

Am I at all obligated to invite the kids of the other bday parties and their families to our shindigs?  I don't want to be rude but at the same time, inviting them doesn't seem to fit the kind of shindigs I'm having.  I would be more inclined to invite them over for the 4th BBQ if anything and am just waiting to see what kind of attendance I can expect from family and neighbors. 

WWYD?

KD288

I don't think you need to invite them, especially because of the type of family functions your having.

rsd12

Definitely not & our friends seem to understand!  I would love to invite all of our friends to birthday parties - but we have 2 winter babies & a small house - we could not fit everyone. 

I do want to plan a bigger 1st birthday for my little guy - but that is more for us & finally hopefully an outside party & we still can't invite everyone that has invited us to birthday parties.