My daughter's birthday party is coming up and she decided to go Ice Skating with her friends. She has just announced that she no longer wants to Ice Skating do to the fact the a very close friend broke her leg and can not go if we go Ice Skating. I am torn here, we already paid and there is no way to get a refund, and I know that she really wants to go skating, but this is her 'best' friend and she will be devastated if she isn't able to have her friend there. I considered maybe after they Ice Skate to take the children to a park or the aquarium, so that the other girl can meet up with us. My daughter wasn't having it. She now wants us to all to go to a haunted house that is going on down town. They are 6\7\8, I am not taking them to a haunted house. So any ideas that could help me?
You already paid. Don't change. The best friend can come and watch, or her Dad could skate up and carry her around the rink.
There is seating and a snack area. The whole party won't be on the ice. Trust me. I've had to sit out of stuff like this several times and still enjoyed myself.
Have it at the ice rink. the friend can still come to the party she can be in charge of warm up station (gloves, hot chocolate, blankets etc) she can be covered with a blanket so she doesn't get cold. or you could have her over night after the other girls go home. your daughter is old enough to understand you don't throw away hundreds of dollars. if she is adamant and your willing. skip the skating and have cake and ice cream at home and tell her she gets not gift from you as the money was already spent on ice skating.
and like you I would nix the haunted house thing all together for that age group unless it is at someplace that catered to that age crowd. (most don't)
I do agree it's very sweet of your daughter to think of her friend, but there has to be other options. Since you've already paid, I would stick with it. I would also have my heart strings torn, as do you, but honestly, I'd go throught with it. And, I agree with Cherly who pointed out that a broken leg at a haunted house is just as, if not more, dangerous than an ice skating rink!! Yikes!
Call the rink and explain the situation, I'm sure they have options for handicapped or special needs customers. You might even be able to take a wheelchair out on the ice...of course that poses a problem of actually having to locate one, but maybe they have one??
Dancer:
I commend your daughter for her thoughtfulness, however, she needs to stick to the plan....
Talk to the ice rink and see what they can do for your daughter's friend...maybe an bucket so that she can slide around? I don't know but I know that in my house? If I've already paid, invited people and arranged this - I am NOT going to change for ONE person...
Crutches in a haunted house? NOT!!! if the child isn't skilled at her crutches, she could easily trip and hurt herself MORE...if her friend can't go - make arrangements to do something special just the two of them after she gets her cast off...
I would tell her "it's this or nothing" - I know that's "mean" but really? Her friend CAN be there - talk to the rink and see what accommodations can be made...
GOOD LUCK!!!
Your daughter's not in charge is she? If it were me, I'd say "Honey. These things cost lots of money. We already paid $300 for the ice place. They won't give us our money back. We do not have another $300 for anything else, period. You can either have the party at the ice place or have no party at all. It's up to you, because we've used all of our birthday party money already. Your friend can go to the ice place, watch y'all skate, eat cake, open presents with you, etc"
If the bff really can't even go into the skate place, then how about she have a special sleepover that night or the night before?
You say she'll be devastated, but likely, when she's our age, she wont even remember the name of that friend. I think it's a better to NOT let your 8 year old daughter tell you what you have to do thru guilt trips or whatever.
Yeah you already paid for it. I wouldn't change it.
I would say the plans are already made. Unfortunately, this will have to be a lesson in growing up and that things happen. But that's what I would do. It is also a lesson in fiscal responsibility. Explain that its been paid for and you can't get your money back. I like that you offered to do something else for the friend. If you daughter decides to not take you up on that than that is her choice but I would say the planned b-day party goes forward.
Well, I know that it would be a bit of a bummer for the best friend, but can't you arrange a party at the skating rink? I mean with more activities than skating -- like a pinata and video games and, of course cake. Then, the idea is that your daughter should spend time with her friend off the ice during the party.
This is unfortunate, but things happen. The friend can come and watch. Maybe each guest can visit with her for a brief time during the party, making her feel special, even though she can't skate. (Maybe a really good skater who works at the rink could "skate" her around with her cast elevated somehow...... ) Perhaps you could take your daughter & her friend to a movie one other day. If you can't get your money back, the the party needs to go forward. We once had a b-day party planned with two other families for a Skateland. One of the b-day girls was sick & she missed her own party, but the guests all came anyway! Hope this helps.
I would tell her that plans have already been made and that the friend can come, she just won't be able to get on the ice. They may have some sort of handicap accessible solutions though. The ADA laws have made it where most businesses must be accessible. Call them and find out what they do if someone in a wheelchair wants to skate. They may not have any ideas but the friend can still come to the party.
Continue with the planned party since it's paid for. Your daughter will get over it. But plan a special birthday BFF day for your daughter and her best friend so that they can do something like go to a movie and a sleepover or something and gorge on pizza and cake.
can the best friends have their own special day with just the two of them? maybe a movie or a sleepover that night for just them two? she can still go to the party part of the party just maybe come late and miss most of the skating part.
