When it comes to relationships, a little courtesy can go a long way. After her son’s birthday party ended in tears, an Oregon mother posted an important note begging parents to show a little decency.
October 23 was a big day for 9-year-old Mahlon. In fact, it’s been a big year for him.
His family relocated from Portland to Bend, Oregon, in July, and he began attending public school in the hopes of throwing a birthday party for his classmates and friends, despite having been homeschooled his entire life.
Even though the house was all decorated for Mahlon’s birthday party based on his favorite book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, no one showed up on Sunday.
Layne, despite not hearing from any of the parents, assumed that some of the children would attend. Her daughter’s birthday party earlier in the month had experienced the same problem.
Her husband remarked, ‘No one seems to RSVP these days,’ and she agreed. ‘Don’t worry, they’ll be there. Children enjoy birthday parties.’ However, the party was over before it had even begun, and no one showed up.
Kristen Layne, the blogger behind Life on Peanut Layne, admits to PEOPLE that she was ‘heartbroken’ after learning of Mahlon’s death. That morning after his party, I awoke with my face literally swollen shut from crying so hard.
It was “utter and complete devastation that washed over me, my husband, and my nearly 70-year-old father, who was almost brought to tears himself,’ she wrote in an open letter to her family.
‘It was too much for me to bear to see my sad little boy sitting alone at his cheerfully decorated party table with an empty place setting.’
Layne used the opportunity to share an important message with parents everywhere: “It could’ve all been avoided by a simple RSVP, via phone call, text message, email, whatever, etc.’
I’m certain I’ll never again ignore those four letters. Whether you’re a parent or a caregiver, ‘I beg you not to ignore it either.’
Some of the mothers and fathers she spoke to had been through the same harrowing ordeal that she had. One commenter wrote, ‘Sad to say, but I can sympathize with your situation.’
As of yet, ‘I have a child who will soon be 8 years old, and he has yet to have a major birthday party where children are invited.’
Even though Mahlon’s birthday party was a letdown, things turned out all right for his actual birthday.
The author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney, heard about the fan’s request and gave the fan a tour of his office via FaceTime.
People from across the country have also reached out to the Layne family, sending them gifts and cards. If you’d like to send Mahlon a birthday greeting, you can do so by clicking this link: