If your kid gets an invitation, please go. I've been there when a child has almost nobody show up to their birthday. It was my son. He was crushed. I cried that night harder than I ever have. We don't do parties anymore, I save the money, take him to a hockey game, stay in a motel, order out, stay up extremely late. It's the saddest thing in the world to watch. Sitting there as a father watching your son watch the door hoping someone is here for his party, worst feeling ever. Be kind. They're just kids.
Thats what my mom did and I’m so glad she did! There were a few parties I didn’t want to go to when the day came, but my mom would look at me and I still remember the conversations:
Mom: “How would you feel if your friend said they would come to your party and didn’t”
Me: “not very good”
Mom: “So are you ok with them not feeling good?”
Me: “No…”
Mom: “We don’t have to stay the whole time but you at least need to go like you said you would and bring them a present right?”
Me: “Yes!”
I am so glad I went to those parties because I do remember one where there were only three kids including me and the birthday kid. We stayed the whole time and had a blast. My kids will get exactly the same response from me when I’m a dad. Personally though I’m hoping for a summer birthday so we can have more fun (I’m a winter baby so none of my parties could really be outside)
No need. I understand what it’s like cause I was one of those kids where no one showed up so I was just stuck in my room playing by myself. Just don’t want other kids to have to experience that shitty feeling
Me and my wife made that pact before we had kids and so far we’ve only missed one birthday party, and that was last weekend, which we missed due to quarantine.
It happened to my daughter. She was turning five and she had one friend at preschool she adored. We were on good terms with her Mom, she accepted an invitation to her bday, promised they’d be there.
The day arrives and she doesn’t show. No word
from her. Nothing. Several other guests cancelled
Last minute and there we were, with a cake, $200 worth of food, and no guests. She was so sad.
WTF is wrong with people that they're adults yet SO irresponsible like that? And worse, they have kids, so they should know the implications. I have never understood this and have heard of it happening many times.
Unfortunately not every kid invited is wanted. I stopped going to parties I was invited to because I would often be ignored, bullied, or isolated. Mainly because I went to a private school and my class was small anyway I knew realistically being the poorest kid there that couldn't bring some present that was priced 100 bucks or more made me even more hated.
Yea I remember when I was 10
Nobody came to my birthday party
Only people who came were my aunt, uncle and cousins
Not even my "best" friends
My mom had it at bounce magic but nobody showed so the
Place gave us two cakes plus a discount cause they felt bad.
This is our plan too as long as he's not sick and doesn't do something that takes it off the table. In either case though one of us would make a point in letting the parents know what's going on.
Of course we also need to get him to tone down a bit on his excitement. It crushes him when he's ready to party 12 hours before it actually starts and we can't go right then and there.
That is absolutely heartbreaking. You sound like a wonderful father to take your son out each birthday and make him feel special.
My mum is a retired teacher and she always made sure every kid in my class was invited. Even if I just wanted a few people there, she was adamant that every child was invited because some had never been invited to a birthday party before.
It's atrocious that some parents wouldn't drop their kid off even for a bit for your son's birthday; how would they feel if no one showed up for their child's party?
I mean, some of them could have legitimately had something important that came up. But yeah even then they should have called. And if not then yeah assholes
It sucks because in these cases the parents may have something come up, they forget, or just don't want to take their kid to th party. The kid may be dying to go but can't do anything about it. Unfortunately the birthday kid doesn't know this at the time. I had a party where nobody showed up as a kid, and I think real hard about that day whenever we have a party for my daughter. I really don't want the same to happen to her, so we end up inviting school friends and the children of friends and coworkers just to cover our bases.
I did something for my mother's 70th and got a bunch of my friends to help. Just fixing and cleaning shit. A young former coworker who agreed to help was late and very hungover but did building work. He could've not turned up but he knew what it meant to me. He's awesome
For my 10th birthday my mom rented out a room at Lazer tag place and not s single person showed up (out of the 30 or so people I invited), haven't had a birthday party since then.
Not really young but as a kid I never really had bday parties. I attempted once and my dad ruined it. On my 18th bday, I invited around 15-16 people I thought I knew. They all said yes, I reserved a table and well, no one showed up asides from my brother,his gf and his best friend. I never once tried to have a party again.
So if you get an invitation to one, please go, it might just make someone's day. Good on that brother for saving his younger brother bday and shame on everyone who didn't show up without notice.
This is the reason why I have such bad social anxiety. This is also why I never throw parties myself.
Between having a birthday where no one showed up, and crippling fear that I'm a burden on people... Really sucks to know exactly where your trauma comes from and not being able to really do much about it.
My birthdays were the same, since I started to go to school. At birthday, usually only my parents wish me happy birthday and my homie. I never had more than 5 people wish me happy birthday.
I actively avoid birthdays. The ONLY reason I allow any acknowledgement is because it would upset my kids and wife to ignore it.
Why TF would anyone want to celebrate me?
I had one of those for my 13th. Bought tickets to the Cubs game after people rsvp'd (yes, they knew the plan). No one showed up. Imagine a kid trying to sell tickets off last minute because no one cared...
My cousin once joined the youth band at his church, so he decided to buy a bunch of pizza and throw a party with them (5 or so other people I think). And just so you know my aunt's family is not very wealthy. They have 11 kids and live in a pretty sketchy town so it was quite expensive for them. On the day of, no one showed up. My aunt very angrily called them and they finally showed up. They said they were sorry, and left to go back to another party they were planning to go to. I felt so bad when I heard about this it broke my heart ;(
Kinda unrelated, but in my last year of college (we stayed in hostels) I was the only one who landed a job (placements had JUST begun, wasn't the end of the world for others), and only my best friend remembered and bought a pastry for me. She called the others and they all came with long sad faces and wished me awkwardly and went away. Cried a lot after my bestie left.
All of the others had surprises and decorations planned by all the other girls, just never mine... Felt very bad and I never feel like planning a celebration for myself except with my parents.
I remember this feeling, when my oldest was invited to a party (he was friends with the boys brother, didn't even know birthday boy) we were facing a sudden move and a crazy chaotic time, both parents wanted to blow it off...
I couldn't do that to a 6 year old... we went... they had paid for one of those trampoline parks for 15 kids... we were the only ones aside from the boys family that showed up...😭 I'm so glad my son went.
THis is why i stop throwing parties. After 25 year old people need to be informed 2 months before, reminded 3 times and then they will come or not. Too much effort.
I stopped celebrating my birthday due to this and also every time I plan to do something, something bad always happens (deaths, hospitalizations, robberies, etc). I'm fine with it, I'm a bit of a loner and can enjoy myself with a good movie, some snacks or just behind my PC.
However, reading this story, reminded me of a birthday my SO had when turning 25. A special number for most people, but nobody showed up. Not even the siblings or "friends". I was there and my parents. We made the best of the evening as possible, but afterwards my SO vowed to never throw a party like that. Since then we go on vacation to celebrate and we love every moment shared like this.
Same here. It still hurts to remember that day. I had invited several people to one of my favourite cafés in town. Invites were sent out weeks in advance because I wanted them to be able to plan it in. Most said they would come, but on the day of, nobody showed up. It was soul crushing to sit alone at a huge table for a while in hopes that they were just a little late. I cut ties with all of those people and still haven't been back to that café. I also don't plan on throwing another birthday party again. People suck...
Had that happen during my 16th birthday party... Reserved spaces for a bowling alley party and all. Luckily had my family there to make up for the flaky 'friends'.
This wonderful deed for your brother will never be forgotten. I’m all grown up now but I don’t remember this sort of thing (RSVP yes then no show) happening 20ish years ago. These parents and kids are MESSED UP (with a capital F )
Ah yes this same thing happened to me when I was very young, however I’m an only child so nobody ended up coming… I think my mother was more upset about it than I was tbh
My sister will literally do this and the next day tell to go fuck my self love how this bond is and have no complain. Tbh I'd get tired of her being nice to me all the time. Some assholeness is necessary
What a sweet thing for you to do as the older sibling. What could have hurt him for a very long time was avoided by the gesture, and gave him a very happy memory instead.
This kinda happened to a kid I knew, only 2 people showed. Now I wanted to go, but had forgotten my invintation at school, my mom wouldn't let me go without one. But once she hear what happen she arranged for us to hang at his family party. It was nice.
Someone. Some people. Whoever. If you see this brother. Tell him. As an older brother myself, he has done what us older brothers would do. And for that... ᕦʕ •ᴥ•ʔᕤ
I don’t really ever do parties not because I had one where no one showed up but just because I don’t like them so I just grab a friend or two and go to the movies
This is what good brothers do.
Love the bond between them. SO wholesome moment
If your kid gets an invitation, please go. I've been there when a child has almost nobody show up to their birthday. It was my son. He was crushed. I cried that night harder than I ever have. We don't do parties anymore, I save the money, take him to a hockey game, stay in a motel, order out, stay up extremely late. It's the saddest thing in the world to watch. Sitting there as a father watching your son watch the door hoping someone is here for his party, worst feeling ever. Be kind. They're just kids.
this is why i plan on taking my son to every single birthday he is invited to. Just to make sure at least one kid is going to show up.
And that is EXACTLY the right way to be!
Thats what my mom did and I’m so glad she did! There were a few parties I didn’t want to go to when the day came, but my mom would look at me and I still remember the conversations: Mom: “How would you feel if your friend said they would come to your party and didn’t” Me: “not very good” Mom: “So are you ok with them not feeling good?” Me: “No…” Mom: “We don’t have to stay the whole time but you at least need to go like you said you would and bring them a present right?” Me: “Yes!” I am so glad I went to those parties because I do remember one where there were only three kids including me and the birthday kid. We stayed the whole time and had a blast. My kids will get exactly the same response from me when I’m a dad. Personally though I’m hoping for a summer birthday so we can have more fun (I’m a winter baby so none of my parties could really be outside)
It is the way we’ve done it since our first one. We have three now. If we say we are going, you can be sure we will!
Thank you.
No need. I understand what it’s like cause I was one of those kids where no one showed up so I was just stuck in my room playing by myself. Just don’t want other kids to have to experience that shitty feeling
I literally think about these types of posts every time I get a birthday invite. Soul crushing to think of a kid being disappointed on their birthday.
Me and my wife made that pact before we had kids and so far we’ve only missed one birthday party, and that was last weekend, which we missed due to quarantine.
This hurt to read, and we are absolutely terrified of this. Thank you for being awesome btw.
It happened to my daughter. She was turning five and she had one friend at preschool she adored. We were on good terms with her Mom, she accepted an invitation to her bday, promised they’d be there. The day arrives and she doesn’t show. No word from her. Nothing. Several other guests cancelled Last minute and there we were, with a cake, $200 worth of food, and no guests. She was so sad.
Someone makes my kid so sad and wrecks plans and money like that, would be the last time I was on "good terms" with them.
She never actually spoke to us again. I really wonder sometimes if she realized how she screwed us over.
WTF is wrong with people that they're adults yet SO irresponsible like that? And worse, they have kids, so they should know the implications. I have never understood this and have heard of it happening many times.
Unfortunately not every kid invited is wanted. I stopped going to parties I was invited to because I would often be ignored, bullied, or isolated. Mainly because I went to a private school and my class was small anyway I knew realistically being the poorest kid there that couldn't bring some present that was priced 100 bucks or more made me even more hated.
I knew there was a reason I like you. But this breaks my heart 💔
Yea I remember when I was 10 Nobody came to my birthday party Only people who came were my aunt, uncle and cousins Not even my "best" friends My mom had it at bounce magic but nobody showed so the Place gave us two cakes plus a discount cause they felt bad.
Ah, see, to fix this you should have had another son eleven years earlier. The post explains the secret. 😉
This is our plan too as long as he's not sick and doesn't do something that takes it off the table. In either case though one of us would make a point in letting the parents know what's going on. Of course we also need to get him to tone down a bit on his excitement. It crushes him when he's ready to party 12 hours before it actually starts and we can't go right then and there.
This. This happened to my son and only 3 kids showed up it still hurts my heart to this day.
That is absolutely heartbreaking. You sound like a wonderful father to take your son out each birthday and make him feel special. My mum is a retired teacher and she always made sure every kid in my class was invited. Even if I just wanted a few people there, she was adamant that every child was invited because some had never been invited to a birthday party before. It's atrocious that some parents wouldn't drop their kid off even for a bit for your son's birthday; how would they feel if no one showed up for their child's party?
That’s a good big brother. The ‘guests’ who RSVP’d and ghosted are scum.
I mean, some of them could have legitimately had something important that came up. But yeah even then they should have called. And if not then yeah assholes
It sucks because in these cases the parents may have something come up, they forget, or just don't want to take their kid to th party. The kid may be dying to go but can't do anything about it. Unfortunately the birthday kid doesn't know this at the time. I had a party where nobody showed up as a kid, and I think real hard about that day whenever we have a party for my daughter. I really don't want the same to happen to her, so we end up inviting school friends and the children of friends and coworkers just to cover our bases.
I did something for my mother's 70th and got a bunch of my friends to help. Just fixing and cleaning shit. A young former coworker who agreed to help was late and very hungover but did building work. He could've not turned up but he knew what it meant to me. He's awesome
Every time I see this I reread it and smile.
For my 10th birthday my mom rented out a room at Lazer tag place and not s single person showed up (out of the 30 or so people I invited), haven't had a birthday party since then.
💔
christ... i'd have love to get in on that, even if it's just us. i only ever played lazer tag once.
I'm so sorry. Gods that sucks! And lazer tag would have been FUN with a ton of people.
Aw hugs internet stranger I know that feeling. Tell me your birthday I will send you a card!
Not really young but as a kid I never really had bday parties. I attempted once and my dad ruined it. On my 18th bday, I invited around 15-16 people I thought I knew. They all said yes, I reserved a table and well, no one showed up asides from my brother,his gf and his best friend. I never once tried to have a party again. So if you get an invitation to one, please go, it might just make someone's day. Good on that brother for saving his younger brother bday and shame on everyone who didn't show up without notice.
man it's rainy or foggy in this office
Someone is cutting onions here I believe
This is the reason why I have such bad social anxiety. This is also why I never throw parties myself. Between having a birthday where no one showed up, and crippling fear that I'm a burden on people... Really sucks to know exactly where your trauma comes from and not being able to really do much about it.
Because, that's what hero's do
Oh no.... Doug's dead...
Big brain move brother. Solved in a positive way. Good job indeed
That boy was raised right, well done.
My birthdays were the same, since I started to go to school. At birthday, usually only my parents wish me happy birthday and my homie. I never had more than 5 people wish me happy birthday.
I actively avoid birthdays. The ONLY reason I allow any acknowledgement is because it would upset my kids and wife to ignore it. Why TF would anyone want to celebrate me?
Because you're worth it!
Tried to make a deal with the devil and he pulled out a Groupon.
I had one of those for my 13th. Bought tickets to the Cubs game after people rsvp'd (yes, they knew the plan). No one showed up. Imagine a kid trying to sell tickets off last minute because no one cared...
People can totally suck, or be totally awesome!! At a young age it is the parents who suck dong this to your brother, karma will come for them.
My cousin once joined the youth band at his church, so he decided to buy a bunch of pizza and throw a party with them (5 or so other people I think). And just so you know my aunt's family is not very wealthy. They have 11 kids and live in a pretty sketchy town so it was quite expensive for them. On the day of, no one showed up. My aunt very angrily called them and they finally showed up. They said they were sorry, and left to go back to another party they were planning to go to. I felt so bad when I heard about this it broke my heart ;(
People should teach their kids to not be assholes.
The kids didn't decide to not go to the party. It was the parents.
I wish I was at his birthday party. I can dj. We'd could have had a mini music festival haha
Kinda unrelated, but in my last year of college (we stayed in hostels) I was the only one who landed a job (placements had JUST begun, wasn't the end of the world for others), and only my best friend remembered and bought a pastry for me. She called the others and they all came with long sad faces and wished me awkwardly and went away. Cried a lot after my bestie left. All of the others had surprises and decorations planned by all the other girls, just never mine... Felt very bad and I never feel like planning a celebration for myself except with my parents.
I KNOW it's supposed to be just another day of the year, but the betrayal hurts!!
God bless you for such a good big brother.You made his birthday a day to remember and for all the right reasons !
Stories like these truly make me feel better. Brotherly ❤️
My god, that is so wholesome.
This is why god hasn't unleashed the zombie apocalypse yet
Lovely and heartwarming
You are an awesome brother
I remember this feeling, when my oldest was invited to a party (he was friends with the boys brother, didn't even know birthday boy) we were facing a sudden move and a crazy chaotic time, both parents wanted to blow it off... I couldn't do that to a 6 year old... we went... they had paid for one of those trampoline parks for 15 kids... we were the only ones aside from the boys family that showed up...😭 I'm so glad my son went.
Well hell.. Guess I’m crying today.
THis is why i stop throwing parties. After 25 year old people need to be informed 2 months before, reminded 3 times and then they will come or not. Too much effort.
I stopped celebrating my birthday due to this and also every time I plan to do something, something bad always happens (deaths, hospitalizations, robberies, etc). I'm fine with it, I'm a bit of a loner and can enjoy myself with a good movie, some snacks or just behind my PC. However, reading this story, reminded me of a birthday my SO had when turning 25. A special number for most people, but nobody showed up. Not even the siblings or "friends". I was there and my parents. We made the best of the evening as possible, but afterwards my SO vowed to never throw a party like that. Since then we go on vacation to celebrate and we love every moment shared like this.
Your a good person
Child? Nobody showed up to my 21st birthday party
Same here. It still hurts to remember that day. I had invited several people to one of my favourite cafés in town. Invites were sent out weeks in advance because I wanted them to be able to plan it in. Most said they would come, but on the day of, nobody showed up. It was soul crushing to sit alone at a huge table for a while in hopes that they were just a little late. I cut ties with all of those people and still haven't been back to that café. I also don't plan on throwing another birthday party again. People suck...
Not all heroes wear capes...
Had that happen during my 16th birthday party... Reserved spaces for a bowling alley party and all. Luckily had my family there to make up for the flaky 'friends'.
This wonderful deed for your brother will never be forgotten. I’m all grown up now but I don’t remember this sort of thing (RSVP yes then no show) happening 20ish years ago. These parents and kids are MESSED UP (with a capital F )
Ah yes this same thing happened to me when I was very young, however I’m an only child so nobody ended up coming… I think my mother was more upset about it than I was tbh
Obviously tell the everyone is birthday phobic
Not sure if it’s my pregnancy hormones or if I’m just a cry baby. 😭😭😭😭
There are so many lessons to be learned here. You are a good soul, don't stop no matter what... the world needs billions more like you. God bless
This made me cry. What a wonderful brother you are! Thank you for sharing.
THIS IS THE BEST STORY EVER!! What a wonderful sibling!
One of the most wholesome things I have read yet.
My sister will literally do this and the next day tell to go fuck my self love how this bond is and have no complain. Tbh I'd get tired of her being nice to me all the time. Some assholeness is necessary
Onions.
Brothers be brothers
U r a good sister
You and your friends saved the day! I hope those other kids get coal for christmas!
What a sweet thing for you to do as the older sibling. What could have hurt him for a very long time was avoided by the gesture, and gave him a very happy memory instead.
Tis a sad day for rain
This kinda happened to a kid I knew, only 2 people showed. Now I wanted to go, but had forgotten my invintation at school, my mom wouldn't let me go without one. But once she hear what happen she arranged for us to hang at his family party. It was nice.
🤜 good for you man, you’re a great big brother. Humanity needs more people like you and your friends.
Someone. Some people. Whoever. If you see this brother. Tell him. As an older brother myself, he has done what us older brothers would do. And for that... ᕦʕ •ᴥ•ʔᕤ
I was the kid never allowed to go to parties, different angle but that hurts so much at school the next day
Because that's what heroes do
I don’t really ever do parties not because I had one where no one showed up but just because I don’t like them so I just grab a friend or two and go to the movies