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.

correction: from the party food

Why on earth would you offer squash at a birthday party???? What's wrong with diluted juice or milk as options?

Agree with Psammead, whether it was rude depends how it was done. But I also think the OP was also a bit rude if she only offered squash to drink. You wouldn't inflict the stuff on adults without an alternative.

I find this water is a bad thing a curious concept. We live in the semi-desert, and when the children have been on trips with school, youth groups etc the rule is that they have to bring water, and drinking is supervised to make sure they have enough. In fact the whole cubs group were given water packs to take on all hikes (and you absolutely can't put squash in them as cleaning them is quite tricky). You can't really buy squash here, there is some dried stuff you can add to water, but it's pretty disgusting and not very widely used (pop is the party drink of choice).

When dh and I did intense weight training we also drank water, there was never a suggestion that rehydrating solution was required, because you only need that if you are dehydrated (although of course the sports drink industry like to flog their stuff as absolutely essential). If you drink a nice steady amount of water/ aren't ill/taking very extreme exercise you don't need rehydrating solution or sugary drinks. Children certainly don't need squash from running around a soft play centre for an hour or so unless they were low on fluids to start with, and if they were really dehydrated then it's salt they need, not just sugar (both of which will almost certianly be present in party foods).

'Pure' water is disgusting by the way - if you've ever drunk distilled water it's really not nice at all. All bottled water has a mineral content - here it's often distilled and then 're-ionised' (still not very nice). Spring water/tap water has mineral content too. The reason why water wasn't drunk in the same way in the past was to do with the water being potentially dirty, most people drank booze instead (pretty weak stuff mostly).

Does the mother know of the link between orange juice and hyper activity? Water would be much better, but I do know some kids won't drink it. (Although two weeks of trying to drink the tap stuff in Florida made my kids appreciate British tap water, an expensive solution.)

What cory said. I've often thought this vaguely but that's the first time I've seen it written down so clearly.

And anybody who uses the word "hydrate" in relation to a healthy child in the UK should be roundly mocked.

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

its squash

In fact once its diluted it becomes the memory of squash if you think of it homeopathically.

i was helping at a preschool christmas party in the last couple of years. i was on pouring squash duty and had duly given all the dcs some when one of the teachers said- oh no, so and so is not allowed squash! i asked if it was a medical reason and the teacher confirmed that it was simply that the parent didnt want them having it. i said 'well then that parent should be here to ensure that their child doesnt get any'. i was so furious. i was told they had to be 'inclusive'. accepting every parent's pfb'ish ness is not inclusiveness, it is simply ridiculous! the child loved having the squash!

nowearefour, shame you knew the meaning of inclusiveness and the teacher didn't! Sounds like she confused it with 'pandering'

unless a child has an allergy to something id be hacked off if somebody brought their own juice to a party will you also be providing rice cakes just incase the sandwhiches dont have organic ham on ,
sorry but id ask for a drink of water for your child rather than bring a bottle of juice ,

What q very odd post, nowwearefour! Since when has "inclusive" meant "everybody has to have squash"?

I'm a tad pfb and keep dd away from petit filous and the like. She drinks water or milk (only 10mo tho!). Don't intend to have squash in the house (DH and I don't drink it), but when she's old enough to go to parties, I expect her to return full of bad food and fizzy pop/squash - surely that's part of the fun? Her parties will also be a carrot-stick-and-falafel-free zone.

Why on earth would you offer squash at a party? Erm....cos it's cheap and most kids like it?

Aspartame is not evil. In the quantities even kids who drink a lot of juice drink it has been shown not to be harmful. It is also better for teeth than organic freshly squeezed by angels squash.
I'm willing to accept that some people may react to it. But nowhere near as many as say they do. A lot of people have just been scared by the headlines.
An acquaintance of mine won't let her son drink sugar free squash, she also won't let him use fluoridated toothpaste or wipe his face with wet wipes because of chemicals.

seeker, I would take it to mean everybody who wants squash can have some, there was no forcing going on surely?

I don?t doubt people can be allegoric to aspartame ? as one can be allergic to anything in the world, but that doesn?t mean its inherently bad. After all people who are not allergic to nuts don?t stop eating them because they?re evil little killer some people have allergies to do they?

There is NO evidence that aspartame causes cancer, heart disease, death, delusions, IBS, schizophrenia and the others serious diseases mentioned in that quackery link. People will believe anything on the internet.

I do suspect most people don?t have a medically diagnosed allergy. However if they see the effects go when they avoid products containing aspartame, then who came blame them for giving it up? That?s sensible.

(anyone have the receipe for the homemade organic courgette and beetroot cake mentioned on page 2?)

This thread should go to Classics as the ultimate example of what MN is all about.

Very rude.

Squash is disgusting and we have never had it in the house; but squash at one party will not hurt anyone. Very precious to make a fuss about it

Agree with seeker regarding the complete obsessiveness that some parents exhibit towards their children - and attempt to force others to pander along with them. Children do not need to be eating and drinking at every hour and minute of the day. The word 'hydrate' is just horrendous in daily conversation... it says MUCH about the sayer.

Look, all this business about hydration, aspartame, whatever, is a diversion. Nobody was forced to drink squash: water would have been available. The kids are school-aged; we're not talking about teenies who have never had their palates sullied.

What we are talking about is somebody who was invited to accept hospitality from other parents on what is a significant and important occasion for them as well as their child, a occasion at which community should be built, connections made, bonds forged. Rather than honouring that offer in the spirit in which it was made, and participating generously and decently, recognising that maybe not everybody has the same priorities about food but that we all share a love and pride in our children and want to make these occasions special and happy for them, they made a silly, rude, entitled and ungracious show that to my mind denigrated and undermined the effort that had gone into the party.

I'm really profoundly shocked that a number of you would defend this or share the perspective - how nasty. And how depressing that you would teach your children to prioritise anything other than courtesy and kindness at somebody else's special occasion.

I shall remind myself to feel denigrated next time someone refuses my offer of a cup of tea and asks for water instead.

Oh don't be so silly. It's not not wanting the drink that's the problem, and THERE WAS WATER THERE! It's bringing along your own thing for your own child because what everybody else is having isn't good enough.

Oh but I do agree with you, OP. Faddy children get less invites until they peter out completely. I can't understand why any parent would encourage and tolerate that kind of nonsense. If they are that concerned, keep them away from all social interraction with everybody else. I don't think it has anything to do with what's being offered, it's all about POWER. Perhaps some parents don't feel that they have any and therefore need to exert their preferences on others... pathetic.

Oh buggerand arse I agree with you but I do think it's worth mentioning most peoples paronia about these things in the first place is based on bad information and internet hysteria. There's a recession on, we're not supposed to be worrying about food additives now there are serious things to worry about :)

Blimey, what kind of party was it?

Group marriage ceremony? Mass bar mitvah? Reopening of the village hall?

Do you actually know how hard it is to get an allergy diagnosed?

FFS.