I hate it when that happens! I know, I know, my kids have had their share of birthday parties but as they get older I've HAD to have less and less since they have tons of cousins, neighbor friends, school buddies, ball team friends....if I invited them all it would cost a fortune, if I didn't someone's feelings would get hurt. BUT when I did have parties for them I thought it was only FAIR to their parents to get an invitation to them at least a week beforehand. I have a neighbor and a sister in law that both seem to never know plans for their child's birthdays until the last minute. The neighbor has sent hand written notes on notebook paper to me on THE day or day before she is going to take her son to the park for a party. I have very nicely declined. I UNDERSTAND why people don't want to or maybe aren't able to have a birthday party for their child. But if they do want to have one just give me a little notice so I'm not running to Toys 'R Us on the way to the party! Then I always wonder, did they REALLY want to invite him or her or were they "guilted" into it. It depends on the relationship your child and her friend has I guess. I know my kids get invitations from classmates all the time who they may not even hang out with but EVERYBODY in the class has to get one. If it's truly someone my child likes and plays with then I'll go, if not, I send our regrets. I know this sounds downright pitiful but if we said yes to every invitaion my 3 kids get, we'd go broke just buying birhtday gifts. They have 12 cousins for goodness sakes - there's always a birthday in our family as it is!!!!