[Canberra chick]

This is not something that even occurred to me as an issue! DS's birthday is next Sunday. He's having a party at home with a few friends, from 11-1. His best friend is unsure if he can come, because his family go to church on Sunday morning.
I would have thought as a one off you could leave your child at the party, go to church with the rest of the family and collect him afterwards. Or would this be completely beyond the pale?

I don't remember any problems from my childhood, but then there were fewer parties then. So to church goers, would you not let your child attend the party?

This post has been edited by Canberra chick: 25/02/2013, 02:55 PM

[Saecularis Angel...]

I don't know about "not let," exactly. But if the party starts at 11, and church starts at 10 (for example), it would be awkward to drop a child very early. Most churchgoers would be well and truly in the service by 11.

On the other hand, as a one off, no, I probably wouldn't have a problem. But if it became a regular pattern of clashing commitments, I might well start saying that in our family church is a priority and isn't always going to come last.

[Lees75]

Growing up, I would never have been allowed to go to a party Sunday morning.

With my kids, I am a lot more easy-going and would let them go. It has only happened once, and was quite logistically painful, to be honest! I had to be at church at 9am for set up, then raced off to drop him to a party at 10am, back to church (missed the first bit as it started at 10am), in time to take the children's talk, which they had to postpone because I wasn't back yet- lol! If it hadn't have been for DS's friend's mum offering to take him home with her, I would have had to leave church to pick DS up and then head back to church to help finish the pack up.

[Canberra chick]

Oh if it was all the time, fair enough. But this is apparently DS's best friend and I'd be happy for him to come round early as he is no trouble and it would reduce DS's hyperness pre party!

[SemiRuralGirl]

For us it would depend on the location of the church / location of the party. Most church services start at 10, so it wouldn't just be a matter of dropping child off at 11 then returning - you'd probably have to skip church. Especially if the party was far away from the church.
If it was a best friend and there wasn't anything "special" happening at church that day, I would probably skip church the once to take the child while DH took rest of family to church. I wouldn't if it wasn't a really close friend or if there was something happening at church that I really didn't want to miss (baptism, kids concert etc).

ETA - I just read your response and in that situation I would drop the child off before church and pick up after (if all was fine with hosting parents!)

This post has been edited by luvmy2bubs: 24/02/2013, 06:32 PM

[AllegraM]

I can't remember a clash like this from childhood but I can say for certain that I would not have in a million years been allowed to skip church for anything. Well, maybe an emergency hospital admission but not much else. Way OTT on my parent's part but different strokes for different folks.

[SeaPrincess]

If church was that important, I'd make arrangements to go to a different service.

[JaneDoe2010]

I'd be happy for him to come round early as he is no trouble and it would reduce DS's hyperness pre party!

I think it would be good to offer that, as logistically it could be difficult. Some hard core Christian parents might not let their kids go and miss church, you'll have to just see I guess.

[luke's mummu]

I would let my child go to the party, presuming it's a one-off or annual event! My son doesn't get invited to heaps of parties, so I am happy for him to go whenever he is. Church/Sunday school is on every week for us.

But then again, I try not to schedule my kid's birthday parties for Sunday mornings. I understand if you have several kids, and they get invited to heaps of parties, you may feel different to me.

[New Horizons]

Most people I know are churchgoers so parties generally take place on a Saturday. DD's parties are generally from 9 to 12 or 2 to 5.