What would you do? (or: Am I an insane person for thinking of these)

[thepartyinquisition]

The facts: goofy pirate party tomorrow at mine for my 5 year old. All the class (20) plus some invited, but received invites on Thursday as I'm so unorganised, so am not expecting people to rsvp really - from numbers so far am having 15-20. Lots of new folk in the class, which is reason for whole class thing (each boy gets one once).

Questions:
-- is having a "sword check" (like a "coat check") completely not the done thing? Think swords and that number of kids don't mix.
-- am definitely doing name tags for the kids 'cause the party person wants them even if she doesn't know it yet - should I do name tags for the adults? We don't all know each other by name and think it would be, well, goofy, but good in the long run at least for me.
--can I start sobbing if this is the one night Ocado don't show up? (Am I supposed to use plural or singular for companies?)

Thanks - and name change to protect the guilty as anyone whose been invited will know exactly who I am!

[southeastastra]

don't do a sword check, just tell them straight at the beginning that they can't attack each other with them!

name tags are good for the children but not the adults!

yes

[thepartyinquisition]

Thanks, sea. Is telling them they can't attack less provocative than having them hand them in? My goal is not to have to deal with any sword fights and I'm not so worried about coming across as nutty. No name tags for the adults until I hear differently, ta. Am I allowed to sob that they brought just over half my order and I will need to go shopping tomorrow morning? Oh, and I've just had to spit out an unnoticed fruitfly in my wine (blergh).

[flashingnose]

20 children armed with swords in your house?

[Moomin]

would DEFFO do a sword check - 5 year old boys and swords just do not mix! maybe you could swap each sword for a piece of pirate gold (choc coin)?
Name tags- good idea - maybe get kids to write their own or decorate their own at least to kill some time at start of party and start things off not too mad?
Yes, sob away of food doesn't arrive. But there again, I spent loads of time and trouble with food for my 5yo dd's party the other wekk - little blighters hardly ate a thing, so if food doesn't show up, just open some mini cheddars and a box of chocolate rolls!
good luck!

[TinyGang]

Name tags - yes for children, possibly not for adults though.

If adults will be there (I presume some mums will stay), then hopefully they will keep and eye on the sword situation.

Don't know about third question, but glad to hear you're drinking wine and fruitflies to keep you calm.

I did a party today, but not at home - major respect to you for that. All the mums will be so impressed. Good luck

[southeastastra]

you can make some basic rules at the start, one being that any bad sword fighting will result in everyones sword being confiscated, they might play nicely with them. it'll probably last about 10 mins but you gave them a chance! ha

[TinyGang]

Oh Moomin is SOOOO right. We are now sitting on a mountain of uneaten party food and my diet was supposed to start next week.

[thepartyinquisition]

Think I've explained party badly (ongoing theme atm, sorry) - there's an entertainer person doing the kids and she's asked that the adults not be around with them. She's from Perform - only want to hear good experiences tonight if anyone's had them before if that's ok. Tomorrow might be a different story, but they seem ok and were bookable at the last minute (ok, that might not be a good thing...)

My idea is that adults get time to sit and chat and generally not be involved. Ok, tell me this: if you went to a party and had to have a name tag, yes, you'd feel silly, but would anyone secretly appreciate the fact that they were putting names to faces?

[mysonsmummy]

i've got ds 5th birthday day coming up and have decide to invite the whole class - hoping he gets invited back really!

i know i would do loads too much food so have decided to get the boxes in with the theme of the party and each have their own with their food in it. heres hoping anwyway ........

[mysonsmummy]

oh and good luck tomorrow your braver them me!!!

[WideWebWitch]

Would check in swords, yes. Swap for coin v good idea. Would have called Ocado and sobbed, throwing myself on them and begging them to re deliver everything they didn't. Wouldn't even do name tags for kids. Make sure there is wine for afterwards.
Good luck!

[thepartyinquisition]

Oh, sorry - it's the champers, apples and some nibbles and grown up soft drinks we're missing. They're each getting a little bag with two halves of a sandwich, a smoothie, an apple (if I get to the store now, dammit), a bag of crisps and um, I think that's it.

[thepartyinquisition]

Do you think I can call them again now? The stores are closed - have sent them a sob-worthy email and have never complained before which I think goes in my favour. Also - have £15 voucher already due to lateness but I want more - really really didn't want to do shopping tomorrow.

Have done the food bag ('cause I don't have boxes). They is getting a plain brown bag with food stuff and they dun like, they dun et (as my great uncle used to say).

(Opened a new bottle of wine - the old one was contaminated by fruit flies...)

[flashingnose]

I wouldn't want to wear a name tag, sorry (although I wouldn't be staying at the party unless I really had to).

[foxtrot]

where did you get the plain brown bags from? i want some for DS's party so the kids can decorate them.

[WideWebWitch]

Do you think many parents will stay? At 5 they start dropping and running, do you have help there if they ALL do it? Sorry, don't want to scare you but you never know!

[pipo]

I wouldn't mind wearing a name badge (adult).

[potoftea]

I love the idea of name tags for the adults, I forget a name the minute i'm introduced, and then am too embarassed to ask. Enjoy the party, and remember your little one will remember it in years to come and appreciate it!

[Moomin]

I'm just getting used to the drop-and-run element adopted by most parents of kids whose parties we attend these days. I can't say I like it, not for 5 year olds... but each to his/her own.

I did those party bozes for dd1's party: cars for the boys and carriages for the girls. they still ate next to nothing. I thought it would save on food but it would have been better to just put a pile of sarnies, pile of sausages, a few tomatoes and carrots, pile of mimi rolls and leave it at that. We wasted sooooo much food and the boxes I lovingly spend a whole evening putting together were in bin bags half an hour after being put on the table. oh well you live and learn...

[Skribble]

I would collect in swords, perhaps once parents leave, then give out just before oparents are due and let them go mad with them just to let parents see what a bad idea they are.

Name badges for kids, so you know who to shout at, wouldn't bother for adults.

[thepartyinquisition]

Thanks for all the advice - am still undecided about name tags for adults which probably means I won't do it. Some parents will drop and run, most will stay, I think. It'll be a good mix - if all the parents stay, it'll be a bit crowded.

Went to Sainsbos at 10.30am this morning to find it opened at 11am. Sat in the parking lot reading my car's owner's manual, quietly seething at Ocado. But we're on schedule now (am having 5 minute break).

Foxtrot, a friend of mine got the bags about a year ago - think she got 500 or so and split them with me. They're fantastic to have!

[thepartyinquisition]

Party was fantastic - in no small part (in fact a huge massive part) due to absolutely brilliant woman from Perform - I highly recommend them.

Did do a vague sword check - basically took guns and swords from a couple of them, but let the little sweet shy guy who arrived first and is new at the school keep his. They're used to unfair, and no one complained. Didn't do name tags for any, but that worked out ok-ish. I still don't know parents' names I should, but do know now all the kids' names.

Again, thanks for the suggestions and time - really helped calm me down (I'm usually not so neurotic!) and gave me a place to vent. Any suggestions about what to do re Ocado?

[mysonsmummy]

glad the party went so well - you deserve a large drink! just had a look at the perform website and they sound great for ds 5th birthday in nov. can you let me know how much they charge so i dont embarress myself ringing them and then me saying after a deathley silence - how much??? thanks.

[Moomin]

Ocado are pretty good at customer service and home delivery is a competitive market so i'm sure they will be responsive if you complain articulately, stating that this really put you out but you didn't have time to throw yourselves on their mercy at the time because you were too busy running round like a blue-arsed fly because of them! Will be very surprised if you don't get some compensation of some description (vouchers/free delivery next time, etc)