RSVP

Dear Gala Guru,

My 5th-grade grandson has not had much of a turn-out for his birthday parties since before the pandemic. His birthday is in June, right after school is out for summer. He doesn’t like the idea of having an early birthday celebration in May because he thinks it’s cheating. I’m also ticked off at the mostly Gen X and Millennial parents for their awful behavior. Families either do not acknowledge the invitation in any way, or they RSVP to attend but end up being no-shows. I’m a Boomer, and I’m honestly wondering if I am expecting too much from younger families. For crying out loud, a simple text would suffice. I can’t figure out what to do! I feel so bad for my grandson!

Ghosted Grandma

Dear Grandma,

No, I don’t think you are expecting too much.  That’s just good manners.  I mean, it’s only one word.  How hard could it be?  Sounds like Invitation Amnesia.  That mysterious condition where people completely forget they were invited to something until the day of the event. Planning a party can be as stressful as folding a fitted sheet so I think it’s only normal to expect a bit of basic courtesy.

One thing I know for sure is that we are not in control of how others behave, only ourselves. That being said, one solution would be to jazz up your invitation with a neon Post-it note that screams, ‘RSVP OR ELSE!’  The only other thing is to follow up with a phone call for a definite answer with all the free time available while planning the party.  I can’t guarantee it will help, but it’s worth a try.

 Remember, in the grand scheme of things, what really matters is that your grandson feels loved and celebrated. Even if it’s just you two, a cake, and a rousing game of “Pin the Tail on the No-Show Guests.” That’s a party game I could get behind!

Remember, there is always a reason to celebrate!

The Gala Guru

www.thegalaguru.net