XP: birthday party options - WWYD?

sunnydays99 · September 2014

I posted this on the school aged board as well...

DS has been asking to have his upcoming birthday party at the ymca for months now! They have 2 party options; one with gym time (bouncy house and sports equipment) and party room, the other with gym time, swimming pool and party room. He has his heart set on swimming and that is his main reason for having a party at the Y.

My dilemma with having the party there is that we would then have to ask parents to stay and swim with their kids. He wants to invite a few friends from kindergarten and it feels weird to ask random adults to come swim at my kids party! Lol I'm probably way overthinking this, but I was really hoping to have a "drop off your kid and go" party this year.

I've suggested still doing the party at the Y and just do the gym then party room, but the only reason he wants to go there is for the swimming. Should I "suck it up" for his happiness or would you think it was weird to have to go swimming at a kids party?

Our alternative is an art party at our local gallery. He said he'd prefer to do that if he can't swim.

sunnydays99 · September 2014

LalaMama81 said:

Eh, I wouldn't be crazy about a swimming party for a group that potentially has non-swimmers. If it was an outdoor pool in the summer? Maybe. But I'm assuming you mean an indoor pool?

Is he interested in the art gallery party?

FTR I don't think pool parties in general are weird - I just wouldn't want to worry about non-swimmers at a friend party like this. If it was a family orientated party or older kids, sure. And if you wanted it to be a drop off party, even though DD an swim, I probably wouldn't drop her off for a pool party at her age.

Yes, it would be an indoor pool. It's a deep pool too and there isn't even an area that kids could stand up and play if they aren't into swimming. Also, it is the Y's policy that any kid under 7 regardless of swimming ability have an adult with them even though they have life guards there. That's why I feel awkward about it, because I'm basically forcing parents to stay for the whole party AND making them swim!!

He is interested in the art party for sure. I told him that we'd check to see what was available at the Y and that I wasn't sure if they still did pool parties (I know I'm a horrible person!). He said if there was no swimming he wants to do the art party instead.

I guess I could tell parents they could come an hour later and skip the swimming part if it makes them uncomfortable....

notkateanymore · September 2014

I would just do the art party. At his age, I wouldn't expect a drop off party though, FWIW. I would have planned on staying at that age, especially for a swimming party.

sunnydays99 · September 2014

I want the drop off aspect to be an option. I don't expect everyone to be okay with it....especially new kids he's just meeting at kindergarten. For his long time friends I know their parents would be fine with it (a lot of friends were just dropped off last year even, but that party was at our house which is very different). A swimming party voids that option completely, obviously, which is my hesitation with it.

Eta: I had to lol at my "long time friends" comment when I proof read it! The kids just turning 5! Hahaha

littlemermaid · September 2014

I would not do the pool, especially since there is no zero entry spot for the kids to play. It just sounds like a pain for the parents of non-swimmers. I would do the painting party.

Aussie45 · September 2014

Eh, this is tough. You want to make him happy for his party, but with a pool like that it seems really limited ya know? It sounds just like a regular pool so kids would for sure have to be in there with their parents. I don't know about you guys but I hate being in my swimsuit around a bunch of other people.

I would do the art gallery, especially if it's something that he would equally like. Once he's a bit older, pool parties could definitely be an option, but I really like the idea of older kids at pool parties rather than younger kids. The whole having to swim with them aspect turns me off to it a lot.

orangegoggles · September 2014

I wouldn't do the pool party. As a parent I would be annoyed (not enough to skip it but enough to fight over who would bring him with DH). It does kind of put the parents on the spot, especially without the entry point. As you said, you don't all the parents well either.

I honestly think your son will be happy to just have a party. Its so exciting to have your friends all in one place, with cake, presents, etc. that he won't be complaining about not swimming.

spring_time · September 2014

I don't think it is weird to go to a swim party. I have been to a few and all the parents got in the water. I can't say I was thrilled at 8.5 months pregnant, but we went and had a good time. However, I think you should just go with the art party. A swim party is appropriate for older kids as well, so it isn't like it is a time sensitive party idea that he will outgrow. I would expect for parents to stay. As much as I like the idea of drop off parties, I have noticed that parents are still sticking around for 7 year olds.

cactus5 · September 2014

I would do the art party as well. I do stay with my 4 and 5 year old at birthday parties, but I wouldn't expect to have to swim with either of them at a pool party.

sunnydays99 · September 2014

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm glad that others agree that the swimming is just not ideal at this age....I feel less crappy about it now!! We talked this morning and I told him it would be better to have a swimming party when he and his friends are older and can all swim by themselves. He seems to be fine with that and still chose the ymca party anyway so we'll just stick with that!

bumpuser8448316 · September 2014

Dos the parent have to be IN the pool or just at the pool to supervise? We went to a swimming party over the summer and the kids really had a blast. They were all 4-5 (bday kid was turning 5).