My husband and I bought our son +4 people a ride on a fire engine at a silent auction (for $20...no one else bid on it which is still mind blowing to me!). We are super excited because they agree to let us do ride on the morning of his 4th birthday party and drop him off at the party (which is at a park by our house). Now my husband and I are debating what is the proper etiquette. He says that we should invite four of his buddies to ride along with him and that the kids that don't get to ride won't care (when the rest arrive at the party via firetruck) because they will just be excited to see a firetruck. And he added..why not get to share the experience with some of his friends, who would also have a blast. I think it's rude to only invite some of the kids and that instead we should just ride along with him that morning and take lots of pictures and not put ourselves in the position of upsetting some of the kids. So I am putting it out there to you fine ladies...what do you all think we should do...invite a few of the kids or none of them. I have also thought that the first 4 to RSVP get to go...but I'm not sure about that either.
Added info: we're sort of new to town--we've only lived here a year so he has a couple of good friends, but the rest will be preschool buddies and we don't know the preschool kids' parents.
Invite his friends. If he only has two friends that is okay. The others will just come see the firetruck.
I say call, flip them a few extra bucks & take them all....
Don't get tied down with the parameters you were given...it was most likely a guideline and a starting point considering there are lots of families of four out there!
Seriously, call & ask....even if it's extra--how COOL would that be for all of the kids??!!! AND see if they will add a little tour & fire safety talk.
Otherwise I'd do just immediate family.
Did you know that if you have a large enough group, some fire stations will do a free tour & fire truck ride? Have you looked into that?
I think that unless you can include all the kids in the fire truck ride, you shouldn't allow any. There's no way to avoid hurt feelings in a situation like that. If you are new to the area & just making friends, it wouldn't be a very good impression on the parents to do something like hand picking kids to ride the truck, IMO.
my DH is a firefighter and you might just want to touch base with the person in charge ahead of time... depending on the situation they might be able to take more kids for a ride depending on how many you are inviting. if you bought a ride for 4 kids and you are inviting 8 they might be able to accommodate you, but if you are inviting 20, probably not, then I'd just have your child arrive at his party in the Fire truck.
as far as other kids "caring" if they get to ride or not, some will understand some wont. but I've met a lot of FireFighters in my day and most of them are wonderful to show off their truck with children. So I wouldn't make a big deal about including other kids on the ride (maybe just siblings or cousins) if you have a large group.
have fun!
If it were me, I would make it a family thing. If you don't have a 4th in your immediate family- then invite a grandparent, aunt, or uncle to ride along as well. May I also add that I am SUPER JEALOUS! How cool is that! I do hope that you take lots of pictures. It will surely be a b-day to remember.
wow i would totally want to ride! lol...i think it should be a family thing. i also wouldn't trust my 4 year old to ride without one of his parents. you could say that only the birthday boy and his family get to ride, if any of the kids feel jealous.
It should be a family thing only! Unless you are taking the whole group of kids--which you are not-- it would be a huge deal to the kids that miss out. Please take pics and enjoy yourself and just show up in style!
M
SO cool! I would say just you, your husband and son go on the firetruck. Let it be HIS special entrance to HIS party...not the other kids. That way he gets to be the lucky kid on his bday to ride in the truck! :) And also, no other kids feel like they didnt get "chosen" for the ride.
JMO
Birthday boy & family ONLY!!!
(Unless you want a lot of hurt feelings with the other kids AND their parents).
"Why can't I go?" is easily answered with
"It's his birthday."
"Why did SuzieQ and JohnnyB get to go with him and I didn't?" is a reeeeally hard question to answer.
"Ummm... because he likes them more?/ Spends more time with them?/ etc."
It would set up a status issue and necessitate a lot of explaining to parents.
I agree with many of the other moms that have already posted: See if they can all ride in the truck or just have it be family. I used to be a teacher and the rule in class was always "have enough to share with everyone, or don't do it!" I think you would really be setting yourself up (and maybe your son too) for a tough situation. That sounds like a super cool deal for his birthday too! Have a great time!
A.
A parent should go with him to take pictures and make sure he's supervised everything goes alright.
Yes, firefighters are brave, courageous, etc, but sex offenders can be firefighters.
The two others can be friends or family members (brothers/sisters/cousins/etc).
Take your son, the two good friends and either you or your hubby on the truck.
The other parent can be at the party setting up and greeting the other guests.
Ask the firestation if they have toy firefighter helmets, stickers, etc. that you can hand out to all the kids - or go buy some firefighter party favors for all the kids..
Let your son make his grand entrance to his party. I mean, how cool!!!
Just make sure that all the other kids get a chance to clamor on the truck before it leaves.
Most firefighters are happy to accommodate children. My son's father is a fireman and some of the guys at the station are just downright goofy when it comes to kids.
Have a great party!!!
idk maybe not make a grand entrence and have the ride another day with a few of his friends and either you or your husband this way the other kids at the party rnt mad and jealous
So, it is him and a Parent, on the truck as they drive him there????
I would not let him go by himself.
The others, can go on it to take photos. Once he arrives for his grand entrance.
The other kids, do not 'have to' ride along with him.
It is his Birthday.
He is the honored guest.
There will be too many kids, to include or not-include, and HOW DO you 'choose' who gets to ride WITH him on it?
There is no fairness... in kids eyes. All they know is they were not 'chosen.'
The other kids WILL care, if they were not chosen.
So, just have YOUR son, ride on it to make his entrance. By himself and his parent.
That is fine and no big deal.
No matter what, if you 'choose' and invite only a "select' few of kids to ride along with him.. the other kids AND parents, will get offended as to why their kid, was not chosen.
Why not you all go plus just invite his best friend.
I would invite the good friends. I agree that the kids will be excited to see the fire truck and won't be upset that they didn't get to ride. The firemen will handle the situation well; letting the kids climb up on the truck for pictures so they won't feel left out.
Good friends is a natural divide. I suggest the kids and parents who don't know the good friends or who do know that they're good friends will accept the choice without ill feelings. They know that everyone couldn't ride. And......their kids still get to get on the truck and be involved.
We just cannot make everyone happy. If you don't do the fire truck thing because someone might take offense then no one is happy. What have you gained? I see it as a loss.
