Imagine preparing 32 handmade goodie bags for your child to hand out to their classmates, each containing an invitation to their sixth birthday party, getting 15 RSVPs and then, on the day of the party, one whole hour in, no one shows up…

That’s what happened to 6-year-old Teddy at his first ever birthday party at a venue, Peter Piper Pizza in Tucson, Arizona. Heartbroken, disappointed and confused as to why no one showed up, Teddy’s mother, Sil Mazzini, shared a photo of him sitting in the midst of empty seats and uneaten eaten pizzas with a reporter at KVOA, a Tucson news network. [1]

It was shocking that no one showed up and when she had to pay the $130 bill at the end of it all, naturally, Mazzini was upset. What she and her partner Ted Bollinger did not expect was for their story to go viral.

“I was bummed, I was bummed out for sure. Teddy, the biggest thing for him was having his classmates there, so not seeing them show up an hour into the party was disappointing,� said Bollinger in a phone interview with New York Post. [2] “He’s 6, so he was distracted by the arcade games, the pizza, he got over it quick. He’s tough. But when Sil told me she was posting [the photo], I told her not to do it, but she did and it took off. It’s pretty wild.�

But, the Tucson Community Swooped in to Save the Day

When the reported shared the photo to his Facebook page, hundreds if not thousands of well wishes began flooding in, which Mazzini shared with Teddy. But there were two invites in particular that Teddy and his family did not expect!

One was from the Phoenix Suns who tweeted, “How about we celebrate with thousands at our place! Tickets to Wednesday’s #SunsVSLakers game are all yours, Teddy! Talk soon!� [3]

And then Phoenix Rising, the city’s professional soccer club invited him to a playoff game to “join 7,000 of his closest friends.� [4]

According to Bollinger, Teddy didn’t take the no-shows too seriously. Although he would have loved to ring in his sixth birthday with his classmates, the silver lining is that Teddy received some gifts neither he nor his parents ever expected.

ATTN: Parents Who Worry About That Happening to Their Kids…

How to Avoid a Disappointing Birthday Party for Your Child

Don’t let the birthday blues get you down. Parents make mistakes, but this doesn’t have to be one. It’s true, it hurts deep down when you don’t receive the number of RSVPs to your child’s birthday party that you expected. Most of the time, it has nothing to do with your child and everything to do with their own kids, conflicting schedules, and – it’s sad to say – forgetful parents.

So, here are a few tips to help you bounce back if guests don’t RSVP to your kid’s party! [5]

1) Follow Up with Parents

You know how life gets. Sometimes, parents simply forget to respond because, like you, they have a million other things on the go. For all you know, they could have cleaned out their child’s backpack and accidentally thrown the invitation away. If the date is quickly approaching and you need to know numbers, try and catch them in the schoolyard, shoot them a quick email with all the details, or call them. It’s better to find out than to be left wondering why.

2) If Possible, Reschedule

If you do get a lot of RSVPs because people are already booked, ask your kids if they’re okay with having a celebration with fewer people. If they want more people to come, suggest a different time or weekend that might work better for everyone. This is especially helpful for kids who have birthdays, for example, on or around Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Independence Day. Planning parties a week early or late should eliminate the possibility of kids taking the number of no-shows personally.

3) Have a Simple Birthday Party at School

Why bother with invitations if the school and teacher are okay with you having a party with the entire class during lunch or recess. Not only is it cost effective, but it ensures that everyone will be in the same place at the same time. All you have to do is bring some party supplies and a cake (or another type of sweet treat).

4) What’s Your Back-Up Plan?

If all else fails, it is always helpful to have a Plan B. Sometimes fewer people show up and other times more do! Sometimes it rains on your outdoor party. Sometimes, like Teddy, no one shows up. Whatever the case, try and have one or two other backup plans to make sure your child’s birthday flows seamlessly.

We hope these tips help in your preparation for your next birthday! When life gives you lemons, make some lemonade. There is no reason why others should make your child feel the birthday blues on their special day. As Melanie B. told Pop Sugar, “It’s not about the number of people there to celebrate; it’s about the fun of the celebration.�

Keep Reading for More Parenting Tips: Sibling Rivalry: 7 Tips for Building Stronger Sibling Bonds

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