Parenting
This Heart-Wrenching Experience Will Change Your RSVPing Habits for Good by Lisa Thompson
Updated: November 5, 2016
Originally Published: October 27, 2016
“A simple RSVP could have changed everything,” reflects a mom after her son’s birthday party is a total flop.
The mom of six, who writes under the name Jane Doe, shared a poignant story on her blog, Life in the Thompson Lane, about her son Evan’s recent 9th birthday bash. Excited to celebrate with his classmates for the first time since transitioning from homeschooling to public school, Evan was bubbling with joy. His previous birthday parties had mostly included family and siblings, so this one was meant to be special.
“This ninth birthday was supposed to be his moment to shine,” wrote Jane.
Evan is a big fan of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, so Jane—admittedly not the craftiest mom—ordered themed invitations from Etsy, purchased a custom cake topper, and whipped up some fun games inspired by Pinterest.
“He handed out invitations to his friends at school and even some from karate, eagerly counting down the moments until the big day,” she recounted. The excitement was palpable; he even picked out his outfit and prepared goody bags for his friends.
“‘Just three more hours until my friends arrive!’ he shouted. ‘This is the happiest day of my life, Mom!’”
Oh, how our hearts ache. We can all relate to that mix of nervousness and excitement. But as the clock ticked away, an unsettling feeling crept over them.
“When the party time came and went, and none of the guests had shown up yet, I started to feel anxious,” Jane admitted. “I had asked for RSVPs, but not a single person had replied.”
Being new to the area and managing a newborn at home left Jane little time to connect with other parents. She had expressed her worries to her husband the night before, but he reassured her, “People don’t seem to RSVP much anymore. Don’t stress—they’ll come. Kids love birthday parties.”
Indeed, kids adore birthday parties, but sadly, it seems parents have forgotten the art of RSVPing. Why is it that the simple act of letting someone know whether you’ll attend an event has become so rare? Just RSVP, for goodness’ sake.
“There’s a real child on the other end of the invitation, waiting to celebrate. It takes mere moments to send a quick text or make a call to let the host know your plans,” Jane told Home Insemination Kit.
Well, you can guess where this story is headed. Young Evan, filled with anticipation, started peering down the street, hoping to catch a glimpse of friends arriving. He was ready to welcome them with open arms.
But not a single child showed up.
Evan’s dad returned home with pizza, expecting a joyous celebration, only to find his son in tears.
“‘Nobody came, Dad. I must not be very popular,’” Jane recounted, her heart shattering.
In that moment, she managed to stay strong and comfort her son, but once alone, she broke down. It’s tough to maintain composure for our kids during such heart-wrenching moments. Evan, however, showed remarkable resilience, even though he shouldn’t have had to at such a young age.
“He unwrapped his presents with a brave smile, trying his best to enjoy the day,” Jane wrote.
The family filled their bellies with pizza and then went bowling. While Evan had some fun, the sting of disappointment lingered. It’s a memory that’ll stick with him forever.
The painful lesson here is clear: this situation could have been avoided. If everyone had simply RSVP’d, even if they had to say no, it would have softened the blow. With a heads-up, parents could manage expectations, turning a potentially sad situation into a memorable one. That’s the power of an RSVP—it transforms chaos into something manageable.
Fortunately, kindness prevailed as many people reached out to Jane, asking for a way to send birthday cards to Evan. She was happy to oblige. Her story serves as a reminder to prevent other children from experiencing the same heartache.
“I don’t want to hear any more stories about heartbroken kids feeling unloved at their own parties,” she stated.
If you’d like to send Evan a birthday card, you can find more information about connecting with him through various resources.
In summary, this heartfelt story highlights the importance of RSVPing, especially when children are involved. A little consideration goes a long way in making sure no child feels alone on their special day.