Was I Wrong? - Atlanta,GA

In my circles, you would have been gossiped about if you DIDN'T open the bar. ;-)
Unless you were serving wine in baby bottles, ignore the judgmental prigs.

Sounds like a blast! Will we be invited to the SECOND bday party?

:)

(people will talk about EVERYTHING, sigh)

Maybe my friends and I are in the minority, but we have alcoholic beverages at all the get-togethers. It's a time to celebrate and also socialize with each other. We are all responsible and noone ever gets drunk or out of line. There is nothing wrong with having an alcoholic drink responsibly, IMO. If anything, it takes the mystery out of it. We have never had a child even ask about what we are doing, they know it's a drink for grown-ups and that is that.

No, as long as it wasn't out of hand---its your party! One year old parties are mainly for the adults anyways--you take pictures and give them their cake etc. and then they play and get tuckered out and want to nap--then the parents party-- I know alot of people have mixed emotions about it, and I feel that as long as you are being responsible about it-- not getting drunk or out of hand, its fine! Glad you enjoyed it~

M

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I've been to plenty of children's birthday parties and parties with children in attendance that had alcohol for the adults. I've never heard that anyone's had a problem with it. Time to get new friends. (Just kidding. :) )

Seriously, though, it's not like our parties are keggers or frat parties with people doing shots and getting wasted. Child safety isn't even an issue. We're all responsible adults. Do these people never drink wine with dinner if their children are present?

LIVE, LAUGH, AND LOVE EACH OTHER.

Don't worry about what anyone say's about you and your family.

Just spend your time being happy.

No, your not wrong... We do that at my son's parties also.. The alcohol is for the ADULTS, OBVIOUSLY not the children... People need to lighten up! Unless, you guys were getting trashed, then that's another story....

Sounds like a fun party to me! Unless you put beer in the goodie bags, I think you did just fine.

As long as no parent left drunk with a child in the car...

I hope not b/c the adults were playing poker and drinking beer & wine under the tent long after my son fell asleep for the night at his first birthday! It sounds like you had a great time and quite honestly, the first birthday party is more about us celebrating the fact that we survived that first year anyway!

Please! You are fine. You did not distribute alcohol to minors. You had an adult party with music and dancing. Those who were late were just that... late to the party.
Besides, it was a first birthday party... those are really for adults, not for the kid.
LBC

No, i dont think you were wrong. maybe had they gotten there on time they would have known that it started as a childrens party. And sometimes you have to just not worry about what other people say. you know what happened and the others that were there from the start know what it how the party started. if you know in your heart that you did nothing wrong then go with that.

The ones that are gossiping are the ones you dont invite back next year.
If it truly switched from kids bday party to an adult party it is very possible that it made a bad impression on the parents that came late to pick up their child.
I can see where they may have gotten confused and thought people were drinking the entire time. If you feel the need to explain it to any of them just tell them the truth.... that's all you can do.

No, I don't think you were wrong. Unless parents got blotto and put their children in danger.

They''re talking about how you had alcoholic beverages at a kids party. No, you did not! It was more than a kids party. It was in honor of your kid but it was an adult and kids party.

Im not a goody goody by any means, but I dont want drinking adults in and out of my house with my kids here. I dont feel comfortable drinking while my kids are here either. I know a lot of people do it though. I save it for when they spend the night with Ma Ma and Pa Pa.

Wow.. i want to come to your parties!
If it was after the kids party no big deal. There is always someone who is going to find fault in the way another parent did something...next time leave them off the guest list.

People are so ridiculous. Wow, don't invite them next time! They are obviously the gossips of the group. That sounds like fun to me :) Everyone was already there. As long as people were acting responsibly and just having a good time with one another I don't see the harm. Maybe you can let them know in a matter of fact way that this was the plan for the day to have a kids party during the day and the adults hang at night and you would appreciate them getting their facts straight so people don't get the wrong impression. I would brush it off. The people that were there they know how the party went, I am sure they will think those other people are just a little wacky.

Sounds like you did everything right to me!!! I like Denise P's response are we invited next year LOL! No worries and ignore those nosey body morons.

You were fine. A lot of people will always be judgmental when they don't know the details, and a lot of people simply enjoy gossiping and feeling superior for it. Don't worry about it.

He's only one. He won't know a thing.

I think they need to lighten up.

Every kid's party that I attended that's held at a house has alcohol. In fact, some have bartenders walking around offering various mixed drinks to the parents. There's a kid's food & drink section and adults food & drink section. Nobody's ever complained.

People that are coming for the "kids" party only should be gone before an "adult" party happens. There is a difference. I HATE when parents are drinking at a party (unless it's one or two) and the kids are running around everywhere. To me, it's a kid friendly party until the kid part is gone and the rest of the adults that don't have kids are left and then, MAYBE!! I'm no party prude either. I'm just always worried about the kids.

It was a kids party. I think if you want an adult party, just throw an adult party!! Were plans set? Did you have designated drivers? People who wouldn't drink and watch after the kids? Someone to closely monitor the bar, so curious children couldn't get a hold of alcohol? Honestly, I really think a kid's party should be a kid's party, and an adult party should be an adult part. At the least, it would have been nice to tell the other invitees, that there were plans for an adult party later. Those who would object could just stay home.

No nothing wrong I'd just let parents know ahead of time due to the fact of the party changing to more adult. If they didn't know then it's kinda not fair as they have the right to decide with more information at hand on what they want the kids to see. Honest some parents don't want their kids to see them drink and adult beverage and if you don't know them well they could be a recovering alcoholic, my husband is 8 years now and I ask if their alcohol he'd rather not be around it and I shouldn't have to explain to people why as he's not one to sit and want to make a conversation about it. Trust me some people will stand with a drink in hand and want to talk to him about it, makes no sense.

Your biggest mistake was not having a big break between the parties so everyone would know it was no longer a kids party. (Big break to me would have been at least 30 minutes with no music or other party activities.) Then announce to all concerned that the kids party is over and the parents party would begin in 30 minutes. Then you have a real, recognizable separation and two distinct and different parties.

Good luck to you and yours.

From what I understand the kids had left/gone to bed and the remaining adults started partying. If that is what happened, well I bet it was later in the night and I wonder about why the parents running late even came, seems like the parent were keeping the kids up later than healthy.

wait, this was for a 1 yr old . . . .
watch out with those big parties, they will only want more and more and more watch by the time he's five , he'll want the circus rented out.
As far as the alcohol I'd wait until all the children were gone before opening up the bar.

I think that you should have waited until all the kids left to start drinking, of course if their parents were there than that is a different story. I am not sure that I would be to happy to go to a party to pick up one of my kids and find out that people have been drinking.

HELL NO!! They should of not shown up late!!! ;) They are peeps that probably would of bitched about something anyway. I dont drink, BUT i hate complainers!

No, sounds like a blast.

Were you wrong? Heck no. They should have arrived ON TIME!!

Glad you all had fun. :)

Absolutely not! I've had beer and wine at every one of my kids birthday parties and their baptism parties. I don't expect anyone to get trashed and no one ever does. I personally think there is no reason why the parents shouldn't have a little fun too. For the record, I also serve some foods that kids usually will not eat, there's no reason for everyone to eat mac 'n cheese and pizza. I have to ask, who is making comments? Frankly, those people aren't real friends and I'd leave them off the party list next year.

I don't see it as being "wrong", but I don't like for kids' parties to have alcohol. I know you said it was after you baby's party was over, but it was all one party to me.

Personally, we don't drink so I would not serve alcohol at a kids bday party. Especially young kids. I'm not a big fan of people getting drunk, which alot tend to do, and if there were kids there, I don't think thats cool. I'm also an insurance agent and always think of the "drinking and driving" and don't want that on my shoulders if something were to happen from someone going home from our parties. Just my opinion but I realize we are in the minority of "non-drinkers".

Who are these strange people objecting to your party? Don't think I'd want them for friends and I don't think they're your friends either. You did nothing wrong and anyone that would object needs to lighten up or better yet stay home.

You should have told the late comers that they missed the child's party but was welcome to stay for the adults impromptu after party.

Wish I could have been there.! You were not wrong. People need to get a
life! Party on!