Duplex - Trouble with the Neighbor

But I don't want anyone to go home early because of the kids!
That's exactly the point. Otherwise, everything always revolves around the kids and I have no problem with that at all and am also happy to play the clown with them at children's birthday parties.
Surely it's not too much to ask to involve the grandparents on this day.

Not everyone has to understand that, but if someone doesn't come because they can't go without their children even for one day, even though they gladly hand them off for various drinking sprees, that is incomprehensible to ME.

How often have I heard: We have to go home, the little one is tired.
If all guests with children act like that, we'll be standing alone on the dance floor at midnight

Yeah, and you think having a babysitter means you stay longer and really let loose?!

What kind of world do you live in?

When the kids aren't there, especially when they're little, your mind is always on the kids.

Also, letting loose— I wouldn't spend money on a babysitter for you.

I wouldn’t be friends with you either, after everything I have read from you so far

That would be the point at which our friendship would end, if we were friends. But I would accept that, so definitely not argue with you, you would just have to do without my presence at the wedding and in the future.

Sad enough that you end lifelong friendships when you are asked to leave the children at home just this once for the celebration.

Adult only means swingers to me

I really have to say, I have often laughed hard in this forum.... just now it was something in the "house pictures thread," it was about funny light colors ..... I have to think of the invitation: "Dear friends, we cordially invite you to our kennel party, but just don't come to bring your children"

I understand, Alessandro. It is just not like it used to be, where you simply took the children along and they somehow kept themselves occupied. I know weddings where planning the children's program is at least as complicated as the celebration itself – and I wouldn’t feel like doing that either. Many children are no longer able to entertain themselves for a few hours. I’m not talking about them coming over now and then to ask for Mama or Papa, but about them not being able to occupy themselves at all because they are used to constantly receiving input somewhere. A development I have been observing for some time (I was a ski instructor for years and really saw how this has evolved over the years).

From that perspective, I can understand if people simply don’t want an army of 25 children at the wedding who then want to be occupied in such a way that the couple still has some space for themselves. Full understanding!

We got married late, meaning most of my friends' children are teenagers and initially have no interest in something boring like going to their parents’ friends’ wedding (phew, lucky!). The only ones who had infants placed them with their parents/in-laws on their own because they wanted to celebrate. And of course my niece and nephews were there. But for them, I really got cheap Gameboys (one for each) to keep them occupied. And that worked. At some point, my sister-in-law left with the kids, my brother kept celebrating. But 25 little children at my wedding? I definitely wouldn’t have wanted that either!

I wouldn’t be friends with you either, based on everything I’ve read from you so far

And what would that be?

As I said, of course you can do it that way, but I would have zero understanding for it. You have your opinion, I have mine, so whatever.

Incidentally, we try to keep our children at home for such occasions or bring them to the parents-in-law in the evening. Because we also want to celebrate in peace. For me, it’s more a matter of principle that my children are so unwelcome that they are categorically uninvited. That would make me question the friendship. But you’re right, presumably that’s exactly why we wouldn’t be friends in the first place.