To think this is OTT for a child’s party

Love this.

My kids never loved plastic party crap, they found it pointless.

Most crafty and arty parents breed crafty and arty kids. I'm neither arty nor do I have patience for doing crafts but at least I know not to be a miserable and bitchy guest who has nothing better to do than slagging off their child's friends birthday party. That's a new kind of low and a bit messed up.

Sounds amazing. Are you a bit jealous?

Sounds like a great party with wonderful decorations.

How's it a waste of time? I assume they're very creative so probably had fun doing the actual crafting, as well as enjoying them at the party.

My DH would do this in a flash. Loves all this sort of stuff! Went to a first birthday with a similar effort, it’s lovely 🥰

im accepting people’s opinions tbf - I think it was ott and a bit pointless but I get it, not my choice and not my problem what someone else wants to waste their time on! You can claim this all you like, but can you honestly claim you wouldn’t have carried on with the bitchiness if you’d got different responses? Why the spite? Is it jealousy? Or do you just not like the mum? Because if you’re not jealous and the mum isn’t horrible, then that only leaves some conclusions to be drawn about your personality.

Judgy much? If that's what the family wanted to do then that's great

Love this. I can’t think of anything negative to say about a Mum who goes to this much effort.

Whilst you couldn’t be arsed, loads of people can.

Admittedly I don’t ever make my own decorations but I always go to town with my kids parties by doing balloon arches and flower walls, I’ve done disco balls and bunting and garlands and stuff. I do it because it looks great and I want my child and their friends to have a fun time. I often worry about other Mum’s thinking I go OTT but then I think ‘fuck em’.

The parent probably enjoy it. My best friend loves making things, it's what makes her happy and how she expressed her love. She's also a bossy perfectionist and doesn't trust anyone else to do things up to her standard. When her DD turned four, she made an Elsa themed party complete with a home mad sled that she made out of wooden pallets. Everything was homemade, themed cake, decor, activities, playlist. That's just who she is!

You must be LIVID with people who crochet

Why do you think it’s a waste of their time? May be she would think posting on MN is a waste of time. If she’s enjoyed doing it, then why has she wasted her time…. She’s surely used her time wisely by doing something she enjoys?

I don’t get why they were “out of touch.”

The birthday boys mum obviously enjoys doing all this, so don’t really see why it’s a problem.

You sound weirdly bitter and bitchy about it OP. I can’t understand why it’s got to you so much. People can do whatever they want. Maybe the mum enjoys being creative and making things?

Maybe the parent needs a creative outlet and it brings them joy.

Be grateful your son got to experience it as he clearly doesn't get anywhere near the same level of effort from you...

What a spiteful post 😳

It sounds lovely.
No one is saying you have to do the same for your child's party.
No need to come on here bleating about it.

Some parents love that. We went to one like that once, it was pretty cool. Mum was very crafty and very talented. No-one tried to match her!

Just sayin..

There have been a whole load of threads recently that are a bit like this one, just a bit extreme in their pettiness and I have read some petty shit on Mn over the years. Just a bit too nasty. Either people are actually becoming more unpleasant and rough or these threads are click bait 🤔

The parents probably enjoyed it and I'm sure the kid adored it and was v excited by each new decoration - that's why they probably did it.

I cannot craft to save my life and I would hate doing it but for her wedding, lots of my SIL's things were homemade and I thought it was all so nice and really had a lovely touch.

I did a crafty thing with mine at Halloween - a very simple one and the results were messy to say the least but the kids loved doing it and were so happy with the results!

Was there a hand sculpted paper mache piñata in the shape of the Octopod?

I used to handcraft every piñata for my kids and involve them. So many happy and creative memories. Only for it to get bashed to bits and binned. We loved doing it.

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…”

On several fronts.

My kids are little. We still think about party themes and what they would like & I do make what I can, do all the balloons myself, props, decor, I make the cake, plan the games etc. I enjoy it, my kids enjoy it and our party guests seem to like it.

Would it phase me if anyone did or didn't do the same? No not at all. I have time and I'm "creative" so it works for us.

YABVVU and a bit bitter tbh.

Maybe they enjoy arts and crafts?