Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
User submission
20
Mom Sees Her Daughter Sitting All Alone At A B-day Party, Takes Her Home
As kids, nothing feels more exciting than meeting your friends outside of school. Whether it’s for a school project, a playdate, or a birthday party, it’s a chance to have fun in a different setting. There’s something special about hanging out without teachers around, just laughing, playing, and making memories. But sometimes, things don’t go quite as expected.
A mom shared how her 9-year-old daughter was excited to attend a classmate’s birthday party, only to end up feeling completely left out. Instead of bowling with her friends, she was assigned to a separate lane with an adult male stranger. Feeling uncomfortable and out of place, she told her mom she wanted to leave. Keep reading to find out how it all played out.
RELATED:
Kids’ parties are full of excitement, laughter, and games, creating some of the best childhood memories
Image credits: unsplash (not the actual photo)
A woman shared how her daughter felt left out at a classmate’s bowling birthday party after being separated from the rest of the group
Image credits: unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits: throwaway-916-415
The author provided additional details about how the bowling lanes were assigned and why her daughter ended up playing separately
Planning a kids’ party and making sure everything runs smoothly can be quite a challenge
Image credits: unsplash (not the actual photo)
In recent times, we’ve seen parents go all out for kids’ birthday parties. From over-the-top themed decorations to celebrity-style celebrations, some parents spare no expense. Whether it’s Kylie Jenner throwing a larger-than-life birthday bash or everyday parents creating Pinterest-worthy setups, kids’ parties have become a big deal. But at the end of the day, what truly matters is that the kids have fun and feel included.
But here’s the thing—whether the party is big or small, planning it takes a lot of time and effort. From choosing the right venue to organizing games and making sure all the kids are engaged, every detail matters. A well-planned party flows smoothly, ensuring that every child gets to participate and enjoy the event.
To understand what goes into planning kids’ parties, we spoke with Kate Becker, a party planner and mother of three. Having organized countless events, Kate knows firsthand how much effort goes into making sure kids have a memorable and stress-free experience at birthday parties.
Kate shares, “Accommodating things for a kids’ party takes a lot of time. You have to think about every little detail—what they’ll eat, where they’ll sit, how to keep them entertained. Unlike adults, kids won’t just sit around and chat. They need constant engagement, or they’ll lose interest fast.”
“You also have to make sure the venue is child-friendly,” Kate adds. “You can’t just pick any location—safety is a big factor. For example, a bowling alley is fun, but younger kids might need bumpers, lighter balls, or extra help. If those details aren’t considered, some kids could end up feeling excluded or struggling to participate.”
It’s always best to choose activities that keep all the children engaged and included in the fun
Image credits: unsplash (not the actual photo)
Managing kids at a party isn’t always easy, especially when there’s a large group. “If there are more than 10 children, things can get hectic really fast,” Kate points out. “You need enough supervision to make sure every child is engaged and enjoying themselves. If kids feel left out, they might withdraw from the group, and that’s the last thing you want at a birthday party.”
Kate also emphasizes the importance of group activities. “It’s always best to plan activities that include everyone so no one feels left out. Whether it’s team-based games, interactive storytelling, or a group bowling session, kids have the most fun when they’re playing together. If some kids are separated from the rest, it can make them feel awkward or excluded.”
“At the end of the day, a party should be about fun and inclusion,” Kate concludes. “As a host, making sure every child has a great time is the top priority. Sometimes, small missteps happen, but a little flexibility and communication can help resolve things before they become an issue.”
In this particular case, the author’s daughter felt excluded, which understandably led to frustration. However, some people believe the situation could have been handled differently by speaking to the host directly instead of leaving. What do you think? Should the author have addressed the issue at the moment, or was walking out the right decision?
Many people online advised the author against sending an email to the hostess
Others believed the author could have handled the situation differently to avoid leaving the party altogether
Poll Question
Total votes ·
Thanks! Check out the results:
Total votes ·
Newsletter
Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls
By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!
53Kviews
Share on Facebook What do you think ?
Debbie 8 months ago
They were late to the party, and the "strange adult male" wtf? He was helping out at the party. Kid1, kid2 and kid 3 were probably also late. Mom should have spoken up. Also, the others were on time, should they have to rearrange everything to suit the latecomers? Just be on time and this all could have been prevented.
Royal Stray 8 months ago
Yeah, it doesn't make sense that a bowling alley would place a random person at an already booked lane. Unless the hosts had told the bowling alley they no longer needed the lane, in which case it's really odd that OP's daughter would get written into that lane.
Load More Replies...
JLo 8 months ago
I would have joined in bowling with my daughter and the man. You'd get more bowling time with only three people using a lane. You can't switch people around until the game is over. I don't see how they could have had 10 people per lane anyway. Isn't it 6 or 8 people per lane? This story doesn't add up. After the bowling, then the girl would be with the others eating cake and opening presents.
Royal Stray 8 months ago
10 people per lane means almost no playing for the kids
Load More Replies...
Debbie 8 months ago
They were late to the party, and the "strange adult male" wtf? He was helping out at the party. Kid1, kid2 and kid 3 were probably also late. Mom should have spoken up. Also, the others were on time, should they have to rearrange everything to suit the latecomers? Just be on time and this all could have been prevented.
Royal Stray 8 months ago
Yeah, it doesn't make sense that a bowling alley would place a random person at an already booked lane. Unless the hosts had told the bowling alley they no longer needed the lane, in which case it's really odd that OP's daughter would get written into that lane.
Load More Replies... JLo 8 months ago
I would have joined in bowling with my daughter and the man. You'd get more bowling time with only three people using a lane. You can't switch people around until the game is over. I don't see how they could have had 10 people per lane anyway. Isn't it 6 or 8 people per lane? This story doesn't add up. After the bowling, then the girl would be with the others eating cake and opening presents.
Royal Stray 8 months ago
10 people per lane means almost no playing for the kids
Load More Replies... You May Like Parents Share The Moments They Realized Their Kids Might Be Horrible People (35 Posts) 50 Honest Before-And-After Motherhood Photos From Moms Who Aren’t Sugarcoating It Someone Asks Parents If They Regret Having Kids And These 40 Say Yes And Share Why
Indrė Lukošiūtė
Simona Kinderytė
Shelly Fourer
Related on Bored Panda
25
12