Should parents stay with their kids at birthday parties? This mom says no, and it’s ignited a fierce debate on TikTok
Kids’ birthday parties should be all about fun—for the kids, at least. Parents already know that they come with plenty of stress and headaches. Planning an event that will keep a group of kids entertained is already a challenge, and then there’s the decorating, the food, the presents, the activities. Even for parents who are just attending (not planning), there’s a lot of work that goes into making the event a success. And that’s the basis of one mom’s argument about why she shouldn’t have to stay to help supervise. Naturally, she’s ignited a fierce debate online.
JB is a mom of three who posted a video to TikTok detailing why she doesn’t think she should have to stick around after dropping her kids off. Fair warning that this video contains plenty of colorful language (but hey, we’re all grown-ups here).
@jaii.bee Hard pass #momsoftiktok #birthday #adhd #neurodivergent #pass
♬ original sound – JB | If You’re Mid, Stay Mad
“Your kids having a birthday party is already a major inconvenience to me,” JB says, adding that after spending time and money RSVPing, choosing and buying a gift, wrapping it, and driving her kids to the party location, asking her to chaperone the party is unreasonable.
“My time is valuable,” she argues. “Then you have some of you who are like, ‘I’m not trying to watch X amount of kids. I have a party to plan.’ That’s a party, babes. You are inviting a bunch of kids to run around… that you are going to watch because that’s a benefit for you, for your child to have a good time.”
She continues, “I don’t need to be miserable watching my child having a good time. I don’t need to make small talk with a bunch of parents.” Introverts everywhere are likely cheering that point.
JB ends with this: “I’m assuming that if you’re gonna go out of your way to spend the amount of money that it cost to have a birthday party you’re probably somewhat of a decent parent and my kid is gonna be fine for like two hours with 15 other kids. I think those of you who are like, ‘you better stay,’ I’m not coming.”
She makes some solid points, but of course, there are moms on both sides of this argument.
“I prefer that parents leave. I’m not trying to socialize and run a birthday party,” one commenter wrote. But another made this very valid point: “You can’t trust anyone anymore. Maybe some stay to keep the kids safe.”
Another commenter saw both sides, writing, “I agree with everything you said 100% except I don’t trust anyone so I suffer through it because I won’t leave my kid at a stranger’s house.”
This video was actually a follow-up to another one JB shared with some more general complaints about birthday parties. One thing we can probably all agree on? Tell moms of the invited kids what your kid is into to make gift-buying a little bit easier. Please.
@jaii.bee please. I’m begging you. #parenting #birthdayparty #adhd #neurodivergent #gift
♬ original sound – JB | If You’re Mid, Stay Mad
So should moms stay at birthday parties? Sounds like it’s something that’s a pretty personal choice and not one more thing we should judge moms about if they have a different opinion.
