Status anxiety

The angst of grown-up social life is as nothing compared to children’s parties

Wednesday, 10th October 2007

Toby Young on the social pitfalls of your child's birthday party

I suppose it had to happen. There comes a time in every father’s life when his son’s social activity begins to eclipse his own. I used to find it amusing when Ludo received a stiffy in the morning post. ‘What is it now?’ I’d say, waving the letter about in mock indignation. ‘Another garden party at Buckingham Palace?’ These days, I sneak downstairs before he gets up and root about in the pile of invitations on the doormat, trying to find one that isn’t addressed to him. It wouldn’t be so bad, but the little bugger is only two-and-a-half.

The reason for this deluge of invitations is that he’s started going to a posh nursery school in west London. He has 16 classmates and whenever one of them has a birthday party it is customary for all the other children to be invited. At first, this tradition struck me as refreshingly egalitarian, but I now realise it is just an excuse for the parents to advertise how well they’re doing. The opportunities for one-upmanship are almost limitless.

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Fellow W12 parent

October 12th, 2007 8:45pm Report this comment

Ohhh yes am going through the same agonies at the moment. But there should be no shame in Bramley's - I have seen Lourdes and Rocco there on more than one occasion and well, if it is good enough for her children we can't really look down our noses at it!!! PS I think you'll find the child's play cafe in Chiswick is a bit more acceptable