A mom was left devastated after she realized no one was going to show up to the birthday party she was hosting for her 5-year-old daughter. Despite receiving “yes” RSVPs, about 20 minutes into the start time of the party, no one had arrived.
The mom didn’t want her little girl to feel the sting.
Lex Fitzgerald, a mom of four who lives in Texas, organized a birthday party at a burger restaurant for her 5-year-old daughter, Willa, according to the Daily Mail.
The invites went out, and on the day of the party, Lex set up decorations, treats, and games at the restaurant before the guests arrived.
But things weren’t turning out the way she hoped.
Twenty minutes after the start time of the party, no one had showed up.
“My little girl has been counting down the days until her birthday party,” Lex explained in a caption on a video to social media.
“She's been so excited to celebrate with all her classmates and friends.”
'Today finally came and after 20 minutes of waiting, no one had come to the party,' she added.
“As a mom, my heart BROKE for my little girl as she sat there waiting for her friends to arrive,” Lex wrote.
“We had invited her entire class, last years class, and friends we had made along the way and only 30 per cent had RSVP'd yes,” her caption read.
Although that wasn’t as big of a party as Lex had hoped for Willa, she was still excited.
“We figured a small party would be just as fun,” the mom shared, “but 20 minutes into waiting for friends to arrive, I realized it was possible that no one was going to show up.”
In the video describing the situation, Lex also shared a photo of Willa sitting by herself at the end of a long party table.
Hoping to spare her daughter from sadness, Lex took to social media to ask for help.
"I didn’t want to have to tell my little girl that no one was coming to her birthday party,” Lex explained. "Quickly, I thought to reach out to my local Facebook group and send out a so called 'bat signal' of sorts to other families out there.”
Luckily, her community was there to shower Willa with birthday love, and people showed up. "The response was life changing,” according to Lex.
“Within minutes families were showing up ready to share the day with Willa. We went from not a single person at her birthday table to not a single table open at [the restaurant].”
In the end, all went OK for Willa, but in the comment section other parents shared similar stories.
“This is the reason we always try to go to any kids' parties we are invited to!” one person replied. “I would feel so bad for them not to have anyone at their party! I'm glad you were able to get people there.”
“Those parents better be ashamed of themselves,” someone else wrote. “That’s truly disheartening. BUT, a village was needed and a village came.”
“I keep seeing this happen to [so] many kids. what is going on!?” another commenter asked. “Why RSVP yes then not show?”
There were also some, however, who thought the whole thing was 'staged.'
“100% no one was invited in the first place,” one person accused Lexi. “She knew strangers would save the day and would make such a great Instagram post.”
“I thought it was staged,” another commenter wrote.
“Weird no one showed up. But all the people that did were strangers but still managed to get presents as well on their way,” someone else added.
Whether it was or wasn’t, hopefully the little girl had a good time because no kid deserves to feel like they’re not worth spending time with.
Happy birthday, Willa!
