Re: Birthday presents and Parties?

[TheLadyEvenstar]

DS2 is turning 3 on the 18th.

We are going to a huge indoor play area which caters for babies to adults - its that big. With DS1,DS2,DNephew1,DNephew2,Friends DD, and other friends DS.

It is not a party as such as we cannot afford £13.95 per child, but we are paying the entry for the children, just adults will have to pay for themselves.

Also I have just bought 3 fireman sam toys off of ebay as he loves FS.

DS1 was 12 in July and wanted a psp, he then changed his mind and wanted a pair of trainers which cost £55 and I also bought him 7 ps2 games.

He didn't have a party as -well we had family round.

Was just chatting to my mum and mentioned I had bought the FS toys at which point she moaned that I had only bought DS1 1 big present and 7 silly little things that were not brand new.
DS2's FS toys are not new either nor is the camera I bought him which cost me £8 plus postage.

My mum thinks I am being unfair to DS1 as he has not had a proper party since he was 8yrs old.
I don't think I am as DS2 has never really had a party and is now old enough to understand the day is about him.

At the same age DS1 had a big garden party with bbq and entertainment.

So AIBU to go ahead with plans?

uits ridiculous to
a) hold a party this big for a three year old
b) expect the parents to pay - what are they going to do - let their 3 years old go unsupervised
c) compare the monetary value of presents. if a kid likes it a kid likes it, your mum is talking bollocks.

You have to do what feels right to you. Is ds1 happy?

Custardo,

DS2 is the only 3yr old the others are
4,6,7,10,and DS1 12.

Everyone who is going volunteered to pay for their own children I said no we will pay for the children. And they are just paying the entrance for themselves.

Mum always finds fault with things I do and comapares the difference between DS1 and DS2.

Hamster - DS1 is not happy about the trip but thats nothing unusual tbh! if it is not all about him he is not happy.

It sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

(thanks for being kind to me when I was posting as YB)

I think your plans are fine, sounds like a smallish group of family and friends, and if adults are happy to pay that's OK (it would be a bit different if you didn't know the parents)

I think your mum is stirring a bit, and trying to make problems where there are none. Your DS1's birthday gifts sound very nice to me.

I thought I was being reasonable tbh but for some reason mum manages to put doubt in my mind.

I can't think which thread you are referring to as I am a bit of a seive atm lol but you are welcome

Kurri, the parents are
my sister
my friend of 24 yrs
and my other friend of 20 yrs whose son I attended the birth of.

so definatly know them hehe

I got my brain from sieves'r'us

lol I got my spelling somewhere there as well

What kind of party for a 3 year old costs £13.95 per child? I agree you can't expect the parents to pay.

I agree the monetary value of gifts to your own children does not matter, it is whether they enjoy them. I do think that 7 games and trainers is excessive - but that is your own business.

Durga,
IF we had paid for an organised party in the play area that is what it would have cost. BUT I have not as we cannot afford it.
We are taking the children to play and we will take a cake with us.

The games were cheap and thats why i didn't mind too much about the trainers.

Also you needed a minimum of 25 children to have a party at that price.

I have organised lots of parties for my daughter and have never heard of anywhere reasonable charging that much. If money is an issue hire a church hall, do a cheap buffet and play games.

We usually hire a hall, an entertainer and other activities, decorate the hall, h food for the kids and parents, for parents and games with prizes and it never comes to anywhere near that price.

Durga it is only 6 children.not much point in a hall tbh. I discussed the idea with the parents of the children before finally deciding.

Its just an indoor play area. I am paying for the children and the 3 parents coming will pay for themselves - their idea. I was happy to pay for us all.

here are the prices

it's fine - it is called being age appropriate

If it is 6 kids and you are short of money why not just do something at home? I just don't get why parents feel they have to stretch themselves to put on some huge show, especially when you are expecting others to pay for it.

Why should the parents pay to supervise their children? As they are 3 they will need supervising, it is not as it the parents can choose otherwise. Unless these are very close friends, who have no money issues and you have discussed this in advance I think this is wrong. I would be furious if you expected me to pay to supervise my own child.

durga, they are close friends. It was discussed in advance... did you READ the thread!?

it looks great fun! I wish we had a soft play like that round here

Those prices are mad. Although I can't see £13.95 anywhere. Why not choose the £8.99 option?

Durga, If you had read the whole thread you would see only DS2 is 3. the others are

4,6,6 (got it wrong first time) 10 and DS1 12

3 year old + giant play area + cake = one happy birthday

Don't worry about the spending or lack of on the presents. As long as you know your son will enjoy them. If my mum made such a comment to me I would point her in the direction of Argos and tell her she was quite welcome to spend the appropriate amount herself on presents for DS if she felt that strongly about it

Because the 8.99 is for 1yr to 3 yrs old.

Lewis we go there a lot it is great fun.

DS2 particularly likes to
go down this

Liv, she thinks I am buying too much for DS2.