by Before I had children, I had no idea that a parent offered to visit so many children’s celebrations weekends that are in suffocating leisure centers or church halls, while the children are picked up on sugar and have spider-man tattoos on their forehead.
It may seem like free entertainment for the guests, but it is not cheap because every present must be taken into account. Of course, the budget of every budget is different, but my husband and I decided to never spend more than 10 pounds for a gift for the birthday child.
I will always ask if there is something special that you want, but if not, it is easy to buy a few books or a Lego or a handicraft rate for this quantity.
My children, who are six and two years old, were now in dozens of parties, and I’m afraid of thinking about how much we have spent on gifts over the years. As a busy working mother, I try to be organized and keep gifts at home so that I do not make online orders at the last minute the day before the party.
But there was a party request that left a sour taste in my mouth.
It was a three -year party and instead of a traditional gift, his parents asked the guests to give money. They told us that they wanted to use the money to buy a new bike.
It felt more like a demand than a suggestion, and it felt quite rude.
My immediate reaction was ‘no’, and I couldn’t help but feel offended. I’m not a scrooge, but I just didn’t like the fact that I was told what to give. It felt more like a demand than a suggestion, and it felt quite rude on an invitation.
I am sure that the money is used for a bike, but the thought that they were sitting there after the party and counted notes felt sticky for me – it seems transactional and impersonal.
In addition, my daughter is happy to help me choose special things for her friends and I didn’t want to take her away.
Spoil the fun
A bicycle is a big ticket birthday, which you would normally expect to make parents or other family members buy or a contribution. Why did we all pay for it? I would be less postponed if the request came from a family that I knew she couldn’t buy her child, but this family was financially very comfortable.
I understand that some parents don’t want their houses to be filled with toys and games for which they have to find a home … but for me it only feels a bit vulgar when I ask for cash.
I understand that some parents do not want their houses to be filled with toys and games for which they have to find a home. And sometimes it can feel a bit disgusting if you can see your child openly after the present with hardly a second look at what it has received. But for me it only feels a bit vulgar to ask the money, which is why I ignored the request and gave the gift that we had chosen for the little boy.
The other with cash is that it is easy to look stingy. Nowadays £ 10 does not look very generous as a note, does it? But with so many children parties, I can’t afford to give more than that, unless I really love your child or you are related to me.
The request from the money-for-bike came a few years ago, but it has happened a few times since then. A family asked for book vouchers for their three -year -old, but as a toddler, how boring is it to open an envelope instead of an actual gift? For me, this takes all the excitement of the gift gift and the thrill to tear down the packaging paper.
While our children are still small, the only gift that your friends ever preserved from our family will be a color -shaped and selected by us, regardless of the “rules” you have put up the invitation.
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