How Long Do You Typically Need to Prepare for a Party?

I actually do special events and have planned entire weddings in 4 weeks.

But even just family gatherings, I make the whole list and have a plan for what we will need, what needs to be prepped and each persons responsibilities.

These people sound clueless..

But as I have said before, be careful about comments, or suggestions, unless you are willing to be in charge next time.

That is how I ended up as the Carnival Queen for 2 years at one school and 1 year at another.

This isn't an issue that they needed more time/days/weeks to prepare for the party. It's an issue in that some parents were running late that day and were ill prepared with not having enough gas for the grill.

It seems that asking to eat lunch by 11:30 for a party that is supposed to end at 1 is a little early... but that is just me.

Now, I was a cheerleader for many years, some parents have the mentality that they like to have it all covered and they don't need, or want help, or perhaps they are embarrassed to admit they need help. A good idea is to step forward, volunteer to create sign up sheets, to make reminder calls for events such as this. Call up the coordinator the day or two before the event and say, "I know you have everything planned, but I am wondering if there are any last minute things I can assist with." Reassure them that you really want to help and that it would be an honor to do it.

show up at all the plans for the squad and just jump in and help. if they do a car wash bring snacks foods for the girls so they keep their energy up. at practices bring extra bottles of water for the girls who didn't bring any or not enough. sometimes you just need to "butt in " and d the "mom thing". and also it's your children involved in the group and you need to watch out for her too!!

Sounds like it was a casual BBQ, not a formal party. For something like that, I'd probably not be that upset, honestly. It's a casual setting, and you can't control what other people do, unfortunately. Most BBQ get togethers I've been to are very laid back & not rushed, and the time when we eat isn't normally that big of a concern. I think there had been enough appetizers & snacks, it would have turned out a little better.

All in all, unless you want to be "team mom" and coordinated & be responsible ultimately, tread lightly. Everyone is volunteering their own time & money for this.

I coached my daughters cheer squad for two years and decided not to do it this year because of things like this. These coaches have a lot going on to prepare of the upcoming season, things like making sure the food is ready when YOU expect it to be isn't one of them. Did they say any time say the food will be ready at x time, or just that the party was from 11-1 and food would be served? you need to give them a break, they are volunteering their time to coach your girls, and alot more work goes into that than you realize. Also, from personal experience, lots of parents volunteer to help but very few follow through, leaving the coaches holding the bag (the parent bringing the buns for instance) being a coach until we trusted a parent to follow though with commitments we often prefered to handle everything ourselves, because as you can see if thIngs go wrong, those coaches get blamed, again, had the bun parent been on time the no gas issue woul d have been detected much earlier and resolved, but yet the whole thing is blamed on the poor planning of the coaches. If you really want to help get to know the coaches, assure them you want to help, they will come around, they need you help, I promise. Oh and Laurie, if planning a party was their job and their were getting paid for this, I'm sure it would have been a different story.

Oh and I was a great coach, and the parents were very upset that I quit, so you should watch how you treat your coaches unless you want them to quit and are willing to step up and take over those duties yourself.