Our kids get so excited about their birthday parties — maybe even more so as they get older. When they’re at the age when they can help with the planning and crafting and baking, it amps up the anticipation of how much fun they’ll have with their friends. But what if you planned and crafted and baked up a birthday party with your daughter, and no one came?
It happened to Christine of The Crafty Woman. But more importantly, it happened to her precious Evelynn.
I found this party on Pinterest when searching for country inspiration. I just loved so many little details:
- The “blue” ribbons, the doilies (you know how I love doilies)
- Of course the cow painting (because I’m a sucker for a good cow painting)
- Using the dessert table for favors and activities also, which is a great way to fill your table without going overboard on treats.
So many times, I’m busy and don’t READ about the parties I’m perusing — I just very quickly take in the stunning photos. But this story I read.
Evelynn had a party. And no one came.
In her party post, Christing wrote, “Evelynn was crushed and confused. She thought maybe she had made her friends mad or was forgotten. We don’t know why, I’m guessing due to the holiday. Evelynn cried for a few minutes, wiped her tears, and was determined to make the best of it.”
I reached out to Christine, who graciously allowed me to share her party, and a bit more of the story. Of course Evelynn took the absence of her friends personally. I know my two would have. Baby A has come home in tears more than once because a friend didn’t sit with her on the bus. Multiply that by an entire party.
Christine says that Evelynn “was so sweet throughout, worrying that something might have happened to friends, or they were sick, and she even took treats to the sales lady across the street!” That’s a girl with a sterling inner core.
The party took place over a holiday weekend. Christine emailed me that “a few friends RSVP’d and did not show, others apologized afterward of being unable to make it. Most of them had plans already for the weekend and were out of town.”
So now I have to climb on my RSVP soapbox.
We get busy, lots of party invitations get sent home from school, sometimes we mean to call but then forget. I’ve been guilty of forgetting the RSVP, too.
But we can’t forget to RSVP — and then stick with it — not just out of courtesy to the parents, but to spare the feelings of a child.
But there’s nothing like a grandpa, and Evelynn’s saved the day.
Christine wrote me, “Her grandpa flew in the night before as a complete surprise to all of us. Luckily, that surprise really helped her overcome the heartache.” Grandpa and daddy even wore pink ribbons (made by Christine’s mother-in-law).
Fortunately, Evelynn’s party wasn’t completely without guests. Her boy cousins were great sports and went out of their way to make the party fun. Evelynn and her family watched her favorite movie, and made mini pies, homemade ice cream, kettle corn, and friendship bracelets. An at-home party, full of activities tailored to the birthday girl — just what I love. (Evelynn decorated the drink bottles and straws herself!)
Great great grandma’s recipe even makes an appearance on the dessert table!
And wonderful neighbors let Evelynn ride their horse. She had a good party after all.
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Definitely sharing this story! I’m so glad she ended up having a good day thanks to her family. RSVP is SUPER important, especially for the children who get so excited about their parties! Great read … thanks for sharing!
-Cristy
Thanks for the share, Christy! You are so right RSVP really matters: responding in the first place and then sticking to it.
So happy that Grandpa and cousins saved the day! The party looked great. You did a fab job on the decor!
Christine really did style a cute party, am I’m sure Evelynn felt the love in all that work!
Thank you so much for posting this. My heart goes out to this girl. So glad they were able to make the best of it and she had a great birthday.
Hi Zoila – They sound like a great family, don’t they?
I planned a party for 16 kids – my 10 year old son invited his whole baseball team plus a couple others. 5 boys and my daughter showed up. The kids that came had a blast. I was probably the only one disappointed. I put a ton of work into his baseball themed party, and he has good memories. That’s the best I could hope for. But my heart sure goes out to Evelynn.
That must have been so aggravating. I’ve had one or two not show, and always have someone who doesn’t RSVP, but never to the extent that Christine did.
Thank you for sharing this gorgeous party AND for the reminder to not only RSVP, but to stick with it! I only have a boy, so I don’t get to throw pretty parties with gorgeous details like this (that top picture is amazing!) but this makes me wish I did!
My son’s birthday is always around the “spring forward” weekend in March. One year we had his party on that Sunday and EVERYONE was late. No one showed up for the first hour and my son cried his eyes out. A few trickled in an hour later, and about 90 minutes later there were 6 kids. The party ended up just fine, but I learned my lesson. I will never throw a party on “spring forward” day ever again!
That is a great point, Heather. My daughters’ birthday always falls during a school holiday week that most people take as vacation. I realized that when people RSVP’d no — thank goodness they did. I just moved the party back a week, and now that’s our traditional party date and we have great attendance.
This hurts my heart for her. But, she sounds like a strong little angel of a girl.
The party was beautiful, too!
My oldest has a Spring Break birthday (it’s always in the middle of that week!) and I usually don’t invite any school friends for this reason.
Wow, she is an amazing girl, and I am glad that she looked to the bright side. I was really bitter the day of my daughter’s 1st birthday, and we had invited all kinds of family members and only 5/6 people came. It was a sad moment, but then I decided that the stress of parties and being hurt over people rsvp-ing and not coming wasn’t for me. I decided from that day we would do something really special with our kids just ourselves until they were old enough to really want and remember a party. I’m hoping that day is still a long ways away, hehe. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this beautiful little girl’s story and party.
Hi Jennifer – Every year we take our daughters out for their birthday, since they are already out of school. We have a party later with friends, but our family day with them may be my favorite, too.