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Original poster

No party food or drink provided

577 replies

ImaMumtoaboy · 25/06/2023 16:15

So my ds(11) went to a football party yesterday. The minute we got in the car he asked to go the shop for a drink as he was so thirsty.
Party was at the local astro pitch, party room included that has 2 ovens, hob, 2 toasters, 2 microwaves and 2 fridges. Most parents bring in frozen pizzas and chips and cook them or order in pizzas.
Kids were running around for 2 hours in hot weather they were not offered any drinks during that time.
He said in the "party room" they got 1 small bottle of water (250ml) and a small slice of birthday cake. They only went into the room 10 minutes before I arrived to collect him.
When I went in the mother was packing up the cake which looked like there was about 3/4's left. I thought the kids must have had enough food that they didnt want cake. And parents cleaned up very quickly. Kids were all quiet(14 11/12 yr old boys) who are normally very loud at parties. Kids were just sitting waiting to be collected.Turns out they got a very very skinny slice, described by ds as thinner then a slice of bread.
Ended up bringing him to Mcdonalds as a treat and we seen 2 other parents of kids that were at the same party getting their kids food.

OP posts:
LaDamaDeElche · 28/06/2023 21:03

God MN is weird. It’s like people just want to play devil’s advocate on every thread these days.

Yes, that’s weird. If you can’t afford a party, go to the park and have a kick around and a picnic. Jeez! I’ve been a broke single mum and some of the responses on here are fucking stupid. A party involves food and drinks, even if it’s just homemade sandwiches, crisps and squash. A normal slice of cake is the minimum you would expect.

SofaLola33 · 28/06/2023 21:47

FloweryName · 25/06/2023 16:22

Selfish hosting from those parents. They wanted to be able to say they’d given their child a party but didn’t want to pay for it.

Or maybe it was a struggling family, who really wanted to give their child a party but had to sacrifice to do so! Yes they should have told the parents of the quests that there would be no food or if they needed to bring a bottle of water! Doesn’t make them selfish, especially in the current times!

Brightbear · 28/06/2023 21:54

SofaLola33 · 28/06/2023 21:47

Or maybe it was a struggling family, who really wanted to give their child a party but had to sacrifice to do so! Yes they should have told the parents of the quests that there would be no food or if they needed to bring a bottle of water! Doesn’t make them selfish, especially in the current times!

Show quote history

If only this had been covered before!

  1. it was on AstroTurf, doesn’t suggest hard up
  2. Asda pizza 69p each
  3. Bottle of squash £2
  4. Water free
  5. Don’t have it over lunch time
  6. Don’t assume that because you haven’t given the children lunch, that their parents are going to be picking them up and going to have to purchase food out. Costing whatever, especially in the current times
  7. No excuse not to tell the parents, that costs nothing and they could’ve sent their children a pack lunch or brought one for after. Again that would’ve cost nothing.

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General food
SofaLola33 · 28/06/2023 22:02

Brightbear · 28/06/2023 21:54

If only this had been covered before!

  1. it was on AstroTurf, doesn’t suggest hard up
  2. Asda pizza 69p each
  3. Bottle of squash £2
  4. Water free
  5. Don’t have it over lunch time
  6. Don’t assume that because you haven’t given the children lunch, that their parents are going to be picking them up and going to have to purchase food out. Costing whatever, especially in the current times
  7. No excuse not to tell the parents, that costs nothing and they could’ve sent their children a pack lunch or brought one for after. Again that would’ve cost nothing.
Show quote history

I wasn’t saying that they were in the right not letting the parents know, I think they should have! For that exact reason! I think it’s unfair to presume the reason they had no food was because they were being selfish.

Brightbear · 28/06/2023 22:05

SofaLola33 · 28/06/2023 22:02

I wasn’t saying that they were in the right not letting the parents know, I think they should have! For that exact reason! I think it’s unfair to presume the reason they had no food was because they were being selfish.

Show quote history

They were selfish, for the above reasons! Stop all the hyperbole about they might. It been able to afford it, it was as I pointed out going to be expensive! But it’s ok for the selfish CFs to force other parents into getting expensive food en route to wherever they were going? A meal deal - £3.40, how is that fair l, when sandwiches could be made due a fraction of that.

even if they couldn’t afford that element of the expensive party, don’t have it over lunch and tell people. So selfish to not do either.

So why do you think they weren’t selfish?

Brightbear · 28/06/2023 22:08

Brightbear · 28/06/2023 22:05

They were selfish, for the above reasons! Stop all the hyperbole about they might. It been able to afford it, it was as I pointed out going to be expensive! But it’s ok for the selfish CFs to force other parents into getting expensive food en route to wherever they were going? A meal deal - £3.40, how is that fair l, when sandwiches could be made due a fraction of that.

even if they couldn’t afford that element of the expensive party, don’t have it over lunch and tell people. So selfish to not do either.

So why do you think they weren’t selfish?

Show quote history

*not going to be expensive

inamarina · 28/06/2023 22:15

angela99999 · 28/06/2023 17:57

My daughter couldn't afford an expensive party but invited everyone to the park and provided food and drink. They all had a lovely time running around.

Show quote history

That sounds really lovely 😊

DobbleBobble · 28/06/2023 22:44

That's rubbish. Even if it was 10-12 so not a meal time you would at least expect some drinks and crisps or something. I had similar for my 10 yr old recently and we catered but most kids brought their own water bottle (which we didn't count on and refilled), environmentally that is a good way to go at parties.

fancydressjess · 28/06/2023 23:48

"party"
Football 12-2 with pickup 2.30pm in a place with a party room.
Of COURSE you would expect food and drink at lunchtime when they won't have eaten since breakfast. Because of the travel either side this means sitting a kid down for lunch at either 11am or 3pm, how ridiculous.

Cutting up just a quarter of the birthday cake and one drink is awful.

Gagaandgag · 29/06/2023 00:07

Could he have asked for a glass of tap water?

T1Dmama · 29/06/2023 00:34

ImaMumtoaboy · 25/06/2023 16:39

I know they dont have to provide food but honestly most kids expect it.
It was from 12 to 2 so over lunchtime.
The invitation said birthday party.
They could have easily mentioned there was no food or drinks been provided.
They moved to the area about 2 years ago and their son has been to enough parties that has provided food and drinks.
My ds said 1 of the kids asked for more cake and was told no.

My ds said 1 of the kids asked for more cake and was told no.

was his name Oliver ?! 😂

MORE?!?!

Buffs · 29/06/2023 01:27

Okay so it’s a bit cheap but not a big deal. An 11 year old can last 2 hours without food. Children never eat much at these sorts things and the amount of waste is huge. I actually gave up doing much catering at children’s parties after throwing away so much food.

Mothership4two · 29/06/2023 01:39

WandaWonder · 27/06/2023 12:23

Sure I would think it's abit odd but I would have any big dramatic thoughts over it we would have had food afterwards and moved on, I can't see it a something to get worked up over

OP hasn't indicated she is worked up over it or had any big dramatic thoughts. It is odd and a tad unreasonable (IMO) so she has brought it up on here

MibsXX · 29/06/2023 01:46

I am a parent who is so down on thier uppers you wouldn't believe it. If I had a child in that age group who really really wanted a party with his friends, I'd probably try my best to fix it for them any way I could. Birthday kid ( and the others too unless the parents persuade them otherwise) will only remember running around and playing with their friends, and birthday boy won't feel left out of life and missing out. Life is getting progressively harder for many many families, and it's only going to get worse. It was mid afternoon, so unless other parents were hoping to save a few quid with their kids filling up for free, this 2 hour gathering was perfectly fine. Trying to co-ordinate party food with possible allergy or whatever requirements in this climate is not going to be a cheap or easy exercise,, and mid afternoon it's no worse than going to a football practice! There but for the grace of God goes any one of us possibly, just trying to do our best by our kids despite what life throws at us

Tourmalines · 29/06/2023 01:52

Buffs · 29/06/2023 01:27

Okay so it’s a bit cheap but not a big deal. An 11 year old can last 2 hours without food. Children never eat much at these sorts things and the amount of waste is huge. I actually gave up doing much catering at children’s parties after throwing away so much food.

Really ? Not in my book . Young boys at that age would have been famished after running around the pitch for that long . If they had catered only one sandwich, one of this , one of that, or whatever for each child , which could have kept the cost down, I bet it would have been swallowed up like there’s no tomorrow. You got one thing right , it was certainly cheap !

emmag1925 · 29/06/2023 03:17

Next people will be expected to take them to festivals and theme parks

emmag1925 · 29/06/2023 03:18

Water bottles that is

RampantIvy · 29/06/2023 04:59

Buffs · 29/06/2023 01:27

Okay so it’s a bit cheap but not a big deal. An 11 year old can last 2 hours without food. Children never eat much at these sorts things and the amount of waste is huge. I actually gave up doing much catering at children’s parties after throwing away so much food.

It isn't two hours though. The children wouldn't have eaten since breakfast so we are talking 5+ hours, and after two hours of vigorous exercise.

And they are 11 year old growing boys not overweight sedentary adults. Don't be so mean spirited.

darkmodeon · 29/06/2023 06:01

RampantIvy · 29/06/2023 04:59

It isn't two hours though. The children wouldn't have eaten since breakfast so we are talking 5+ hours, and after two hours of vigorous exercise.

And they are 11 year old growing boys not overweight sedentary adults. Don't be so mean spirited.

Show quote history

Why wouldn't they have eaten since breakfast?

RampantIvy · 29/06/2023 06:07

They might have had a snack but not a full meal.

Lollipop81 · 29/06/2023 06:09

These posts. Yes people are struggling for money, but if you can afford to host a party you can afford a loaf of bread, a block of cheese and a bottle of squash, I mean come on. Kids wouldn’t have eaten beforehand as they are always fed at parties 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Brightbear · 29/06/2023 06:10

RampantIvy · 29/06/2023 06:07

They might have had a snack but not a full meal.

🤦‍♀️

Brightbear · 29/06/2023 06:11

darkmodeon · 29/06/2023 06:01

Why wouldn't they have eaten since breakfast?

Show quote history

Because it’s bad for children to have too many snacks? 😂

darkmodeon · 29/06/2023 06:15

Brightbear · 29/06/2023 06:11

Because it’s bad for children to have too many snacks? 😂

Show quote history

Oh very good! 😂

Most kids would have had a banana or something like that before going to play football surely?

Riverlee · 29/06/2023 06:16

MibsXX · 29/06/2023 01:46

I am a parent who is so down on thier uppers you wouldn't believe it. If I had a child in that age group who really really wanted a party with his friends, I'd probably try my best to fix it for them any way I could. Birthday kid ( and the others too unless the parents persuade them otherwise) will only remember running around and playing with their friends, and birthday boy won't feel left out of life and missing out. Life is getting progressively harder for many many families, and it's only going to get worse. It was mid afternoon, so unless other parents were hoping to save a few quid with their kids filling up for free, this 2 hour gathering was perfectly fine. Trying to co-ordinate party food with possible allergy or whatever requirements in this climate is not going to be a cheap or easy exercise,, and mid afternoon it's no worse than going to a football practice! There but for the grace of God goes any one of us possibly, just trying to do our best by our kids despite what life throws at us

The party wasn’t kid afternoon, it was 12-2pm. All similar previous parties held at the same venue, there was food provided. There was no indication there wouldn’t be food. Unfortunately, it seems the kids have remembered this party as the food-less one.

As others have said, if you’re down on your luck, organise a much smaller affair, or a kick around at the park. Or have the party not over lunchtime.