Since I am having my DDs birthday party at our house, fees are not really the problem. I plan party activities, crafts, and prizes for the amount of children invited to the party. I also offer to pick up and return home any invited guests if neccessary. It took me off guard when my neighbor used me as a cheap babysitting service for her visiting grandson. She stuffed two dollars in an envelope for my DD and expected me to watch the boy all day. The child does not behave well. I initially sent him back home. None of the invited guests had arrived yet and I was busy with last minute preparations. The neighbor sent him back as soon as the first car pulled into our drive way. Luckily, this neighbor has moved away

While I understand that it can be difficult to get one child to an activity when he or she has siblings, it is customary around here for hosts to offer rides to and from the party. Last week's party was no different. It seems that party crashers show up mainly when the party is held at expensive ventures (miniature golf, Art Center, scuba diving club etc).

There is nothing wrong if the parent calls before the party to ask if they may bring a sibling and offer to pay any additional fees for him/her. That way the host has the opportunity to let the parent know if the party has to be limited to a certain age group or number of children. No uninvited children would have to be turned away at the party. Nobody would get embarrassed. Is that really too much to expect?