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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To tell school to bugger off

73 replies

Wilfimina · 17/12/2011 12:38

School are throwing their Christmas party on Thursday for the kids which I don't have a problem with. It is in the afternoon after lunch. The thing that irritates me is they have sent notes home to parents asking them to supply the food. In my case this is "sandwiches for 6 hungry children". I think it's insane. The kids lunchtime starts at 12 and they leave at quarter past 3. Surely they don't need 2 meals in that time. Having spoken to several other mums none of them understand it either. Do you have to have food for it to be an authentic party?

So aibu at not understanding or should I tell them yes for this year but not in future as it's crazy?

OP posts:

squeakytoy · 17/12/2011 12:41

Its six sandwiches... just send them!

mumblechum1 · 17/12/2011 12:42

I'd just send them as well. Not worth getting into a strop about.

apple99 · 17/12/2011 12:43

I think just make the sandwiches. Food is usually part of the party experience and it's hardly a lot to ask for a few sandwiches. Just give the kid's a smaller lunch than usual so they can enjoy the party food.

mycatoscar · 17/12/2011 12:45

My classes party was yesterday. I've been teaching 10 years and still can't believe how much food children can eat at a party! especially after running round like mad things playing party games. I would allow 2 or 3 Rounds of sandwiches for 6 children, that's not a really big ask is it?

JaneBirkin · 17/12/2011 12:46

I'm not sure why they would need a load of food either.

Just a few plates of biscuits surely would be fine.

Bonkers.

Can you ask the class teacher what the idea is?

callmemrs · 17/12/2011 12:46

It's a party not a full meal.
I think you are quite entitled to send a note saying 'bugger 'off' if you feel so strongly that you won't send in 6 sandwiches. The school will then be quite entitled to think you're a whining old moaner and Have a giggle about you in the staff room. Your call .

G1nger · 17/12/2011 12:51

Oh why get in a strop about this? Cheap bread and cheese or something is all it'll take.

Original poster

Wilfimina · 17/12/2011 12:53

Yeah it is "just sandwiches". However on top of the school trip, tombolla gift, tickets to the Christmas play, odd shoe day raising money, funny hat day raising money, school fair and next week their bingo. It's all mounting up. This is all just in December.

OP posts:

mitziw · 17/12/2011 12:54

its a kids party! dont be mean.

G1nger · 17/12/2011 12:55

Odd shoe and funny hat days? Ye gods.

perceptionreality · 17/12/2011 12:59

I think this would irritate me, mainly because I hate making sandwiches and my children have school lunches as a result! I think it would have been fine to send in a big bag of crisps - why is that not sufficient?

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 17/12/2011 12:59

How miserable you are! It's a children's Christmas party and you begrudge them party food? I hope you're not a parent at dd's school, I would hate to think people were so picky about things like this. Who cares if they have lunch then party food as a one off?

Original poster

Wilfimina · 17/12/2011 12:59

Yeah odd shoe day is bemusing. Especially as they aren't allowed to wear trainers indoors. How many 5 year old boys do you know with 2 pairs of school shoes?

OP posts:

ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 17/12/2011 13:00

At least you had some notice - my friends school sent a text to parents last week to say it was the next day and the children needed to bring a plate of food. Fortunately my friend had something in she could send, but I'm sure there are plenty of parents out there that wouldn't have had.

Kellogg · 17/12/2011 13:00

How on earth could this piss you off, unless you are living on the breadline. ( unintentional pun) in which case the school would understand.

squeakytoy · 17/12/2011 13:01

But Chipping, the shops are open till all hours. A cheap loaf of bread, a pot of beef paste. Under a quid and you could make about 12 sandwiches!

forwantofabetter1 · 17/12/2011 13:02

YABU it's a few sandwiches for gawds sake, send me the address and I'll make em! My boys school do exactly the same and no they prob don't need to eat that soon after dinner but it's a party and it's Christmas and if you don't send them then it's very Grinchlike IMO

Original poster

Wilfimina · 17/12/2011 13:02

Yes it's schools Christmas party. Not mine. I would never invite people to a party at my house then send letters to people telling them what they should bring as well as charging them for a meal they had just before it. Why can't they just make their lunch a more partyesque affair.

OP posts:

Bossybritches22 · 17/12/2011 13:04

I'm with the OP- it's not "just" a plate of sandwiches. If only it were!!

For those of us on really tight budgets, it's yet another thing on top of all the other expenses of the term. I resent the charity days when they support yet another very worthy cause & the kids can dress up or be "fined" of course they pay.

All these "do's" are great fun for the kids & I hate to not let them join in so I dig out yet another £1/£2 or so each (two at the same school) & there's another £5 gone from the budget.

I know any school would gladly exempt any family who is struggling but that means the humiliation (yet again) of approaching them & explaining.

YANBU just don't send any in, I bet they'll have plenty.

forwantofabetter1 · 17/12/2011 13:34

It's a few sandwiches for 6 children each child of the 6 will be bringing something in. I refuse to believe you begrudge them that.less than half a loaf of bread with a bit of filling doable for less than £2.

WorraLiberty · 17/12/2011 13:39

I've never read such misery!

If they didn't ask for sandwiches you'd have other parents clutching their pearls at the thought of the kids only eating biscuits, cakes and sweets.

Chill out...a couple of slices of cheap bread and cheese won't break the bank no matter how skint you are.

zest01 · 17/12/2011 13:39

Seriously OP? You have nothing better to be stressing about than making 6 poxy sandwiches???

JaneBirkin · 17/12/2011 13:46

Whoever suggested a pot of beef paste is definitely being unreasonable

Sorry, just have a thing against 'paste' sandwiches. I used to get the wrong lunch sometimes and would almost rather have starved than eat my father's liver pate or fish paste sarnies.

Gack.

ScroogeHadAGoodPoint · 17/12/2011 13:54

Unless, you're really hard up, I'd save your annoyance for greater things.

OneHandFlapping · 17/12/2011 13:56

White bread and cheap thin cut ham will be fine. DS1 thought these were "the best sandwiches he'd ever had", and ate loads when I was in your position. So much for wholemeal bread and nice ham.

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