Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU for blowing out my nephew’s birthday candles as a joke

415 replies

AliceNotInChains · 05/04/2026 12:34

My nephews 6th birthday party yesterday. He was struggling to blow all the candles out so I jokingly blew the remaining ones out for him. My sister went on a full on strop over it saying I ruined his moment. AIBU to think she’s completely over reacting?? She ended up relighting the candles for him to “have another go” making it a much bigger deal than it needed to be.

OP posts:
holjam · 05/04/2026 12:57

That’s a shitty thing to do to a child, I’d be pissed off if someone did that to my 6 year old.

LilyBunch25 · 05/04/2026 12:56

Zov · 05/04/2026 12:51

Is it the same poster? Shock

Show quote history

Crikey its not that one is it 🙈

viques · 05/04/2026 12:55

AliceNotInChains · 05/04/2026 12:39

Just to add nephew wasn’t even bothered, he laughed

Well aren’t you the lucky one that he is a sweet child. some kids would have burst into tears. You only get to blow out your candles once a year, and it’s a big deal.

LilyBunch25 · 05/04/2026 12:55

You didn't need to step in. He's 6. You should have let it be and if his Mum thought he needed help she would have given it.

randomchap · 05/04/2026 12:55

ThatCyanCat · 05/04/2026 12:54

But even if it's true, it doesn't matter, you don't do that to a kid!

Show quote history

Agreed.

A dick move

Making the birthday candles about her, not the birthday boy

ThatCyanCat · 05/04/2026 12:54

randomchap · 05/04/2026 12:52

I don't believe you.

Show quote history

But even if it's true, it doesn't matter, you don't do that to a kid!

101Alsatians · 05/04/2026 12:53

AliceNotInChains · 05/04/2026 12:39

Just to add nephew wasn’t even bothered, he laughed

Mine would have laughed out of awkwardness - but I would have heard a lot about it later.

Zov · 05/04/2026 12:53

Flickitspinittwistitbopit · 05/04/2026 12:50

Obviously Op will have got the point by now but I don't even understand how this could be interpreted as a "joke"? How would it have been funny, exactly?

Awaiting the "drip feed" that Op is Neurodiverse.... 🙄

Yep! ^

randomchap · 05/04/2026 12:52

AliceNotInChains · 05/04/2026 12:39

Just to add nephew wasn’t even bothered, he laughed

I don't believe you.

Clefable · 05/04/2026 12:52

Main character syndrome right here.

Zov · 05/04/2026 12:51

DrFoxtrot · 05/04/2026 12:50

This must be fake surely!

You’re the same poster who insisted on the en-suite being a ‘one person toilet’ when you went away.

Please tell me this is fake and nobody is this self absorbed 😂

Is it the same poster? Shock

ThatCyanCat · 05/04/2026 12:51

DrFoxtrot · 05/04/2026 12:50

This must be fake surely!

You’re the same poster who insisted on the en-suite being a ‘one person toilet’ when you went away.

Please tell me this is fake and nobody is this self absorbed 😂

Oh my God, that's the same person??

Zov · 05/04/2026 12:51

Brewtiful · 05/04/2026 12:44

I find it hard to believe a 6 year old was laughing at his aunt blowing out his candles. You sound like you were just looking to be the centre of attention to be honest.

Yeah, this........

blubberyboo · 05/04/2026 12:51

AliceNotInChains · 05/04/2026 12:39

Just to add nephew wasn’t even bothered, he laughed

Yea but you know how girls laugh in awkward situations in the presence if those with more power because it feels like the polite /done thing to do.

Probably this is how your nephew felt.

Its a minor thing to you but i bet he will always remember how you made him feel

DrFoxtrot · 05/04/2026 12:50

This must be fake surely!

You’re the same poster who insisted on the en-suite being a ‘one person toilet’ when you went away.

Please tell me this is fake and nobody is this self absorbed 😂

AintNoPunshineWhenShesGone · 05/04/2026 12:50

If this is true and you're not just bored, then yes of course YABU.

Flickitspinittwistitbopit · 05/04/2026 12:50

Obviously Op will have got the point by now but I don't even understand how this could be interpreted as a "joke"? How would it have been funny, exactly?

Awaiting the "drip feed" that Op is Neurodiverse.... 🙄

Zov · 05/04/2026 12:50

FeliciaFancybottom · 05/04/2026 12:49

MCS 🙄

What does that mean?

Brewtiful · 05/04/2026 12:49

AliceNotInChains · 05/04/2026 12:48

There were two candles left! It’s not like I blew the whole lot out but I’ll take it on board and won’t do it again

It's odd you're continuing to try and justify why you did it at all to be honest. I suspect this is not the first or last time you'll behave like this.

McSpoot · 05/04/2026 12:49

AliceNotInChains · 05/04/2026 12:48

There were two candles left! It’s not like I blew the whole lot out but I’ll take it on board and won’t do it again

And apologize? I cannot believe you were thinking of doing it again.

Zov · 05/04/2026 12:49

@AliceNotInChains

I can't believe you even have to ask! You can't possibly think this was a reasonable thing to do. How could it possibly be done 'jokingly?' There were only 6 candles. He was perfectly capable of blowing them out himself.

FeliciaFancybottom · 05/04/2026 12:49

MCS 🙄

Original poster
AliceNotInChains · 05/04/2026 12:48

There were two candles left! It’s not like I blew the whole lot out but I’ll take it on board and won’t do it again

OP posts:
BillieWiper · 05/04/2026 12:48

Ok if he wasn't bothered and laughed that's lucky. But don't do it again because it makes you look like a mug and a weirdo who's trying to sabotage a small child's birthday fun.

Flamingojune · 05/04/2026 12:47

How over bearing of you