Navigating Social Obligations: Should You Attend a Child's Birthday Party?

Question
Hi S,
My husband and I disagree on an issue that has come up. We have a married couple as friends and they have a 3 year old son. We have no children. Recently, they invited us to his birthday party. We have no desire to go to a child's birthday party especially when we have no children. My husband thinks we should go to be polite. I wonder what we should do? Not go and send a gift? Not go and not send a gift? Or go? Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

Answer
Hi Emily~

Perhaps they are just trying to be polite b/c you are friends with them.  If you both don't really feel very comfortable then you can politely decline their invitation.  You don't have to tell them the real reason why.  You can say something like "Oh we already have some plans, but thank you very much for the invite."  They might be relieved that you decided not to go.

You should do whatever you both feel comfortable doing.  If you choose not to go then that's perfectally acceptable to decline and if you choose to get a gift for the child that's a nice gesture too.  But you don't have to feel obligated to do so.  So you have the option to go and be around all kinds of screaming, yelling, hyper 3 yos or politely decline and go ahead and buy the child a gift (nothing eliborate) and a card then that's perfectly fine.  Or you can just tell them you can't attend the party and leave it at that.  It's whatever you are comfortable doing.