Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would this annoy you, re. taking treats into work?

103 replies

pinkyredrose · 19/08/2011 08:45

Don't know why this annoys me but it does. Sometimes at work, usually a couple of times a week, I or someone else will bring in some cookies or sweets or something for eveyone to share.

One co-worker though when she gets her share often says 'oh I 'll take it home for my daughter'

I feel like saying 'I'm bringing in things for us to have at work not to be taken home for children, if you want her to have treats buy them yourself'

I know it's only petty but it's annoying me!

OP posts:
LadyClariceCannockMonty · 19/08/2011 13:25

Chipping, it's ridiculous isn't it? DP and I are both thin and people assume all the time that we're veggie. Even people like members of his family Hmm! A vegan friend of mine is, not overweight but not thin either. And he has nice skin and shiny hair. Must cause great confusion.

doesthisseemright · 19/08/2011 13:37

I have never brought stuff to work with the idea that people would have "an equal share" each. I just bring a bunch of stuff and put it down and let them help themselves.c

Ephiny · 19/08/2011 13:38

I am vegetarian and it never stopped me putting on weight - after all, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, crisps, cheese, ice cream, bread, pasta etc are all veggie! Never heard of anyone get fat from gorging on steak or chicken Confused.

BootyMum · 19/08/2011 14:03

This sort of passive aggressive emotionally manipulative muffin offering really gets on my nerves. If you enjoy baking and feel inclined to share your baked goods with your co-workers, well that is a lovely gesture.

But to then monitor who eats what, who takes their muffin home for daughter, who reciprocates with the bringing in of cheesecake, etc, is petty and unpleasant imo.

I personally do not bake and I do not bring any treats into work. This is because I am trying to lose weight and generally speaking do not eat any high calorie treats. However if a colleague brought some cakes in and specifically asked me to try one I would perhaps accept and eat a little OR I would say could I take a bit home for DH as I know he would love it [only if I knew there was plenty to go around co-workers anyway]

I would think the offerer was a lovely person for bringing in treats but would feel very differently if I knew they were monitoring my intake so closely and then using this as a measure of my selfishness/eating disorder/general unsociableness. Then it feels ungenerous and a little controlling - "Please have some of my lovely cake but you must eat it here in front of me and not give it to anyone else and you must bring your own baked goodies in in two weeks time" In that case NO THANKS I do not need or want it! It is not a kind generous gesture it is a form of entrapment!

And before anyone jumps on me for being a poor team player, I may not bring treats to work to share but I do other things for my colleagues - I organise baby showers, offer lifts and I unblock the photocopier on a regular basis. And I do all these things with no expectation of reciprication!

Lonnie · 19/08/2011 14:07

Does she actually take it home to her dd or is it her way to feel virtious?

snoozin · 19/08/2011 14:19

I do this at work. There's always birthdays or any excuse to have cakes/sweets in my office. A lot of time if there are leftovers, they get chucked at the end of the day.

I take some home for my kids. A lot of the time it's because I'm trying cut down on sweets. Although I tend to bring in my fair share to pass out as well.

motherinferior · 19/08/2011 14:36

Sorry. I have food ishoos, actually. Am continually guilty about own liking for cake and consequent rotundity.

WannaBeMarryPoppins · 19/08/2011 14:39

Yes snoozin, but you take it after every one else decides they want no more. You don't go there while everyone else is still eating it, take apiece away and then claim to take this as your fair share to give it to your kids. That I find weird. Maybe someone wants two muffins? The couldn't if someone else had taken one to give to her DD, in your scenario it would simply mean there are no left overs that day. So quite different.

If there are left overs I totally agree, take them and make your kids happy Smile

Although I would only do that after the person who brought the stuff in has left/said she doesn't want to take it herself

shmoz · 19/08/2011 15:49

Slightly off thread, but in an office where I used to work everyone used to bring cakes in on their biurthday to share. Yum yum very nice thank you.

Until one year someone brought in fruit (YES FRUIT!!) because THEY were on a diet. You could have cut the atmosphere with a knife, the seething resentment, the mumbling behind closed doors. People were in Shock for days afterwards.

Fruit! I still can't believe it tbh. I'll get over it one day, it was only about 15 years ago Grin

Back on thread, it wouldn't bother me if she took some home for DD/DH/cat/lodger. In fact if it was fruit I'd be happy for her to take all of it...

Original poster
pinkyredrose · 19/08/2011 19:11

Back from work, gosh lots of replies!

I'm not monitering her I just think it's a bit odd. It's not problem of the century I'll admit, it just bemuses me slightly!

I don't think she has an eating disorder, she's an ex model tho so hmmmm?

Today passed without incident although I did notice that she had a scone and only ate half of it. I'll just have to look the other way when I offer treats in future I guess and let her get on with whatever she wants to do with it.

OP posts:
TragicallyHip · 19/08/2011 20:04

FRUIT Shock

bibbitybobbityhat · 19/08/2011 20:10

I have a friend who totally loves cakes and baking. She makes cakes ALL the time, probably daily. I have been to dinner at her house a few times and we are all always coerced into making ooh and aaah noises about the dessert.

Anyway, I go to her house approx once a week. Every time she offers me cake. Every time I say "no thank you". She probably thinks I do this because I am quite fat and so could quite legitimately be trying to lose weight. But I say no because I just don't like cake. If she offered me a bit of smoked mackerel pate on brown toast and butter then it would be another matter.

TheFarSide · 19/08/2011 20:21

YANBU

It's not in the spirit of things to repeatedly take cake home.

It reminds me of those hotel guests who make up a free lunch from the breakfast buffet and smuggle it out.

TheFarSide · 19/08/2011 20:24

Cake eating habits in offices can be irritating. I can't stand those people who cut little single cakes into quarters because they can't quite manage a whole one. I don't want a mangled cherry bakewell with a chunk missing, thanks. You will not EXPLODE if you eat the whole thing FFS.

LineRunner · 19/08/2011 20:26

I'd hire a private detective to visit Somerset House and check whether she actually has a daughter or not. Two grand well spent, I'd say.

mercibucket · 19/08/2011 20:30

very very grateful my office doesn't indulge in this weird competitive cake baking/monitoring eating habits 'treat' nonsense

thought this thread would be about those annoying people who take 'treats' into work every week, and also use the word 'treat' for practically every other thing they shove in their gob, but I'll get me coat

KurriKurri · 19/08/2011 20:49

'I did notice that she had a scone and only ate half of it'

The cow, what was she thinking?, - good job you've got her number OP Wink

DisgustedofTumbridgeWells · 19/08/2011 21:19

I agree with BootyMum.

In fact it annoys me when people bring treats into work, I work in an office and sit on my arse all day. I do not need cakes and chocolates being waved in front of my face every 2 minutes. It's not like I, or anyone else in there, need the calories. It ridiculous actually, especially at the moment when everyone its returning from holiday with shortbread and fudge and sweets.

And I often find them tempting, it's difficult to try and ignore them when they're sat on the desk opposite all day, calling to me "eat me, EAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT MEEEEEEEEEEEE".

But I admit that's my problem, I should have better self control (I usually do but sometimes at the end of a long dull day in the office I cave in).

And yes sometimes I take stuff home for DD just because I want them gone, so I don't have to sit looking at them taunting me for another day.

STOP BRINGING STUFF IN TO WORK GUYS. Nobody really wants them. Not really. If you want cookies just bring some in and keep them in your desk. Out of my sight.

Feminine · 19/08/2011 21:27

What about she just wants to give them to her daughter?

maybe thats all it is?

PumpkinBones · 19/08/2011 21:30

When I became a manager, I took on a small team of lithe 22/23 year old's. To make them like me and think I was a brilliant manager, I brought them chocolate, cakes, and biscuits on a virtually daily basis. They joke that I am a "feeder" and they are right, I am on a diet, and they are skinny and young Grin

OP, YABU, and I think you know this is one of those pointless grieviences that you only have when you work in an office Wink

GrendelsMum · 19/08/2011 21:33

we haven't fully analysed the issues that this woman clearly has with her daughter yet. An ageing ex-model, losing her looks, with a beautiful young daughter growing up to rival her, and she insists on stuffing that daughter full of fattening foods.

it'll be poisoned apples and talking to magic mirrors next, Mark my words.

ScaredyDog · 19/08/2011 21:33

I take lots of treats into work, in fact I've been blamed for some people putting on weight Blush

I like to buy biscuits, but I don't really eat them myself. I also pick up bargains in the supermarket - I like buying them, but don't eat them so end up taking them into the office. Maybe I'm a bit weird Confused.

I bake quite often and I'll always ask my friend who has a daughter to take something home for her - that's on top of the muffin/brownie/cake/cookie that he eats himself, because it's a nice thing to do and there's always plenty.

worraliberty · 19/08/2011 21:47

Today passed without incident although I did notice that she had a scone and only ate half of it. I'll just have to look the other way when I offer treats in future I guess and let her get on with whatever she wants to do with it

I've actually got proper tears of laughter in my eyes here.

You sound like a BBC reporter Lmao!!

Original poster
pinkyredrose · 20/08/2011 11:45

it'll be poisoned apples and talking to magic mirrors next, Mark my words.

Teehee!!

She does have a daughter, I've met her loads of times. I might take fruit in next time actually, will be interesting to see what happens!

OP posts:
LineRunner · 20/08/2011 11:54

The daughter may well exist, OP - and that's two grand saved, let's be grateful for small mercies - but as GrendelsMum observes we still have Deep Research to undertake. What are your thoughts on the Jungian archtypes possibly involved here?

This is not simply about half a scone.

Swipe left for the next trending thread