to think that thanking your own organic juice to give to your child at a party because you disapprove of the squash provided by the hosts us just rude?

[OhBuggerandArse]

Obviously I don't think I'm being unreasonable and would really just like you all to join me in my disgruntled ire. But go on, give it a shot at putting the other side of the story. No behavioural issues involved, if anyone was wondering whether that might be a possible tactic.

should have been whisper

I thought it was illegal not to have custard at school...

Party rings have been around forever. Biscuit rings with bright icing-they appeal to DCs.

Mint custard with chocolate sponge.

With mince pies, LeQueen?

Custard and teacle sponge.

Just out of interest, am I a failed parent because I never served squash at my daughter's birthday parties? It was always cherryade, limeade or dandelion and burdock. Sometimes all mixed up together. [vomit]

Ah, so they are the biscuits you have to lick the icing off until you have no skin left on your tongue.

"They all taste horrid though compared to my lovely buttery homemade shortbread with icing."

Home-made shortbread - food of the gods .

"All I can say is that in the UK it would be considered most unusual to go to a dinner party and expect to drink what you brought"

Not in the bunbaker household. OH is a wine enthusiast and we have friends who are as enthusiastic. We always drink what our guests bring, along with the wine we supply. The same goes for when we are eating at friends' houses. I might add that we don't "do" formal dinner parties as such but eat with very close friends. In fact I have never been to a dinner party or held one where the wine that has been brought has not been drunk at some point in the evening.

"Does anywhere sell party rings with no nasties in?"

As far as I know Fox's are the only people I know who make them, unless supermarkets make them and sell them under another name. The Fox's ones look and taste vile, but don't contain any nasties. DD and all her friends adore them.

We always had homemade cakes and biscuits when I was a DC, so a real treat for me were shop bought ones.

Me too, exoticfruits- we would commit crimes for Mr Kipling and white Mother's Pride!

I used to bring juice for my son when he went to parties. I would give it to the host and say "this is for DS I do not mind him having the squash but you 100% will as it makes him hyper for 1 hour after" once or twice the host would give him squash and when I would arrive they would be like OH MY YOU WERE NOT KIDDING. He is almost 10 now and well able to weed out anything with artifitial sweetners (that he reacts to out)

I dont think it is precious to do but I do agree with those that said it depends upon how it is done.

My dd3 had a party recently I bought juice for them in cartons. several of them wouldnt drink it my friend came by with some cheap bottles of squash the kids drank it happilly. Some kids do not like juice others wouldnt touch the squash but happily drowned more juice. 2 had water

It depends what you call nasties Bunbaker. I've just had a look at the ingredients and they have refined sugar listed 3 times under different names. Fine as an occassional treat imo - like anything - including squash unless you have an actual allergy but if a child is told something will send them hyper or a parent is expecting it it's going to be a self fulfilling prophecy imo.

I hate (sugar free) squash and I never buy it (or any fizzy drinks). As a result my kids don't like it and my daughter anyway will not drink it. Tbh I'm a little that anyone lets their child have it....

But I'm not so much of a control freak to not let my son drink it at a party. At home they drink water, milk, chocolate milk and tesco value orange and apple juice.

My mother didn't have a deliberate policy of not eating these things, she just happened to be a good cook who made everything herself so it was very unusual to go out and buy ready made cakes etc and therefore anything you don't get much of becomes a treat.
I should make sure that you don't send your DC to Beavers or similar-the break was squash and a biscuit every week.

Just as a matter of interest how many years do parents think they can monitor what a DC eats and drinks at a party? Do you cease to care after a certain age, or do you try and retain control?

LeQueen my childhood was the same (minus hoeopath but including much home made quiche), hence my relaxed attitude to healthy eating

I've heard wine boffs suggest that they spend considerable time thinking about the wine to match the food being served and therefore it would be very unusual for a guest to bring a bottle which matched the food as well as the host's wine, so the host should take the wine as a gift to be quaffed later. Depends how much wine you have in the cellar I suppose.

Mind you even though I love my wines I tend not to match to food - I just crudely go for my favourite grape varieties.

I could be a bit about chemicalphobes who don't like sugar free squash despite there being no evidence that it is at all harmful and is undoubtedly better for kids teeth than, for example, fresh juice and chocolate milkshakes. But luckily I couldn't care less what other people do.

In case anyone is interested Unnatural does not necessarily equal bad

I think that making a great deal of fuss about organic juice hides the fact that the DC won't drink water.