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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this is OTT for a child’s party

186 replies

TheFluentGoldNewt · 06/11/2024 18:42

took my 4yo to a party for a child at his nursery at the weekend. It was jungle themed and Ive never seen any parent go so all out for a party before. The whole place (church hall) was outfitted in themed decorations all handmade. I’m not kidding when I say it must have been HOURS of work in making these decorations. I’ve been to weddings that were less decorated than this. I’m talking themed handmade bunting going back and forth, themed balloon decorations (made not bought), a table runner, homemade props everywhere etc.

is this seriously what we are doing for parties now or is this parent seriously out of touch?

I honestly can’t imagine spending my evenings up to my elbows in glue and faff for a 2 hour party for 4year olds!

OP posts:
ThePoshUns · 06/11/2024 20:35

I don't think this thread went the way the OP was expecting!

toomanydicksonthedancefloor1 · 06/11/2024 20:32

To be honest I thought you were going to say they had spent £5000 on a Kardashian's type party! And even if they had, so what? But to be honest I would just be in awe of the amount of effort they had gone to, to make so many lovely hand made decorations. I think good on them for putting so much love and time into it. We throw money at our kids parties because we can afford to, but we ensure they are minimal effort for me and DH. We order in food or take them out for the day, get gaming vans, go to restaurants, arcades, bowling, trampoline parties, theme parks, cinema trips. Spending hours and hours making hand made decorations and planning a party in so much detail takes so much more thought and planning and i say good on them! You do you, you don't have to compete though.

GarlicBun · 06/11/2024 20:22

Just remembered, must have been for saying OP was actually a random jealous SIL trying to post something that would make the host doubt herself and be paranoid about which of the nursery parents posted it. It didn't actually say that the OP was a troll.

GarlicBun · 06/11/2024 20:19

GarlicBun · Today 19:38
This reply has been deleted
Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our

Can't remember what I posted menopause but oh the irony for op or a supporter reporting something that she finds ....not in the spirit.......

Mulhollandmagoo · 06/11/2024 20:08

We went to a super elaborate one last weekend with my 5yo, looked like a lot of work, but it was amazing!!!! It's been the talk of the playground all week, and the kids had an amazing time. They even fed the adults 🙌🏼

Some people are creative, and they get joy out of it, it sounds like it was brilliant, I'm not, mine would look terrible so I pay people to do it fory kids party! if she enjoyed it and all the kids enjoyed it then it was a huge success.

cathcath2 · 06/11/2024 20:06

Why do you care? It looked cool, your child had fun, it was age appropriate. The end.

crostini · 06/11/2024 20:03

EveryOtherNameTaken · 06/11/2024 19:52

I agree it's OTT for a 4 year old. None of them will remember. If they were 7 or so maybe.

Overall though, great theme.

They may well remember, they're 4 not 2!

But even so, we should still do nice things for children, even if they won't remember it. I can never understand that mentality.

housethatbuiltme · 06/11/2024 20:03

TheFluentGoldNewt · 06/11/2024 18:49

🙄

To be fair you did basically say you couldn't be arsed spending hours faffing on for something that would make your kid happy.

SatansBobbleheadedDashboardOrnament · 06/11/2024 19:59

Ryanstartedthefire22 · 06/11/2024 19:53

Youre a total party pooper. I'm not going to invite your kid next year.

I bloody wish the wounded party would show up for threads like these. It must have happened before... I’d love the drama.

DreamTheMoors · 06/11/2024 19:58

TheFluentGoldNewt · 06/11/2024 18:45

Like there were these jellyfish made out of balloons and streamers and one whole wall was a covered in waves made from fabric to use as a background for photos (for children who won’t stand still for five seconds) And there was coral seaweed made from card and paper standing upright everywhere

Soooo what???

How does that affect your life in any way?
Does it make your food costs go up?
Does it raise your heating costs?
Does it raise the price of petrol?
Does it cause police brutality?
Will your taxes skyrocket?

The only thing going up here is your blood pressure.

Xtraincome · 06/11/2024 19:57

I am the loads of balloons, disco lights and store bought cake mum. I love seeing creative mums/dads flexing their skills like this. I can cook a great meal, but a Persian feast isn't well received by children 😆

Your post is a tiny bit bitchy OP. I assume it made you feel inferior or envious. It's not a competition. The parents to avoid are the "one-up" types, this party sounded fun though!

Ryanstartedthefire22 · 06/11/2024 19:53

TheFluentGoldNewt · 06/11/2024 18:42

took my 4yo to a party for a child at his nursery at the weekend. It was jungle themed and Ive never seen any parent go so all out for a party before. The whole place (church hall) was outfitted in themed decorations all handmade. I’m not kidding when I say it must have been HOURS of work in making these decorations. I’ve been to weddings that were less decorated than this. I’m talking themed handmade bunting going back and forth, themed balloon decorations (made not bought), a table runner, homemade props everywhere etc.

is this seriously what we are doing for parties now or is this parent seriously out of touch?

I honestly can’t imagine spending my evenings up to my elbows in glue and faff for a 2 hour party for 4year olds!

Youre a total party pooper. I'm not going to invite your kid next year.

crostini · 06/11/2024 19:53

I think that's really lovely. My 4 year old would LOVE seeing decorations like this at a party.

And it's just nice that the family made it themselves. It's heartfelt and Beats paying 100s of pounds for a tacky balloon arch that's purely for insta.

EveryOtherNameTaken · 06/11/2024 19:52

I agree it's OTT for a 4 year old. None of them will remember. If they were 7 or so maybe.

Overall though, great theme.

sprigatito · 06/11/2024 19:51

Screamingabdabz · 06/11/2024 19:28

I’m with you op. When my kids were young I’d admire the creativity but secretly felt sorry that their kids were deprived of the chavtastic tat that young children really like…

It’s for this reason I truly believe twee parents never fair well during the teenage years. It’s the equivalent of ‘we took you to National Trust properties…’ “we hand made an ocean themed birthday party that you don’t even remember…”

My 22yo has just had a good belly laugh at your spite, so thank you - he needed that Flowers

Jl2014 · 06/11/2024 19:50

I don’t think it’s pointless. It’s sweet that they’ve done that. Assume they must be quite arty and therefore enjoy it. You don’t need to do the same thing.

Rainbowf · 06/11/2024 19:50

I think it sounds lovely. My daughter would have loved that. Doesn’t mean you have to do the same, do you feel pressured to?

Brinkley22 · 06/11/2024 19:48

TheFluentGoldNewt · 06/11/2024 18:51

Ok I get it, im being an asshole 😂 Im not trying to be a cow about it it was impressive. Just not something Ive seen anyone do before. But if it made them happy then all is good!

I would love to be a crafty, creative parent and make all sorts of wonderful outfits and decorations! My kids will have to put up with crap outfits and decorations or ones bought off Amazon! I’ve been to parties with the most incredible home made cakes whilst I’ve shabbily tried to jazz up a coop one. Luckily I have easily pleased kids 😂

Raisiiing · 06/11/2024 19:45

Sounds like super creative parents who had a lot of fun making stuff for their kid’s party. Just because it’s not your thing doesn’t mean it can’t be anyone’s.

lasagnelle · 06/11/2024 19:45

NiftyKoala · 06/11/2024 19:42

Well now that you outed the party hopefully the mum or her friends and family don't see this. You'll look bitter and foolish if the see it. I think you will find posting this says less about them more about you.

Too late for that it will end up in that bored panda thing

TruthThatsHardAsSteel · 06/11/2024 19:43

weaselpatrol · 06/11/2024 18:58

I’m literally sat here right now making pom Pom and tassel bunting with leftover yarn from various knitting projects to decorate the village hall I hired for my 4 year old birthday party.
I enjoy doing it and I would much rather make things myself with materials I have at home than buy something from a shop. I’ll reuse them afterwards.
I also plan to paint a welcome sign and do a fun space themed backdrop with planets. My daughter likes to join in and help and I think it’s important for her to see her mum being creative. I work in a creative job and all my hobbies are creative.

Am I…out of touch?

Edited

No, you're amazing. That's just fantastic.

Ignore the miserables! Lots of people are in support as well ☺️

NetZeroZealot · 06/11/2024 19:42

You sound nice OP 🤔

NiftyKoala · 06/11/2024 19:42

Well now that you outed the party hopefully the mum or her friends and family don't see this. You'll look bitter and foolish if the see it. I think you will find posting this says less about them more about you.

vegaspot · 06/11/2024 19:41

I think your post is really nasty and I sincerely hope that the Mum doesn’t see this post.

GarlicBun · 06/11/2024 19:38

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