An Opportunity To Make Friends?

At the beginning of last week, Brandi brought home an invitation to a birthday party. It was for a little boy in her class, and it was being held at a local pizza play place, Mr. Gatti's. I was excited for her, and thought it would be a great opportunity for her to bond with her classmates and make new friends.

The party was today, and she had a great time. The pizza place has a buffet, so in order for us to stay, we had to pay for the rest of us to eat. I told Brandi that she would go in the party room herself, but that we would be nearby. A few times I saw her alone at the buffet, but she looked happy. When the kids were let into the play area, I snuck a peek, and saw her playing air hockey with the birthday boy. Then they rode the bumper cars.

When it was time to leave, I went in and had her thank the mom for inviting her, and she told the birthday boy goodbye. I asked if she wanted to say goodbye to any of the other kids from her class, and she said she was the only one who showed up.

How sad. The birthday boy must have been so disappointed! That is why I don't let Brandi invite the kids from school to her parties. I learned with Ryan and Kasi that at this age, the kids just don't come. I hated seeing Ryan and Kasi waiting for their friends, and none showed up.

The good news is that as they got older, more and more kids would come. When Kasi turned 10 or 11, I can't remember which, she had 15 girls show up for her sleep over. And Ryan's first Halloween birthday party had a huge turn out.

For now, I will keep bringing Brandi to the parties she is invited to. I want these kids to know that she is a good friend.

Because she is.