Would you judge us as parents if your child got a crap birthday present at a party?

[M0naLisa]

Me and DH are skint. Our two boys have a party invitation each for Sunday. Only handed out on Monday this week.
6yr old Is going to a day out with birthday boys parents on the morning with other kids in ds class.
4yr old is going to a local scout hut in the afternoon

We are skint. Would you judge us as parents if we gave a box of Maltesers as presents?

It's all we can afford at the moment. I just don't want the parents thinking were cheap skates :-(

[M0naLisa]

Thanks TheVermiciousKind I am sure they will :-)

[Flobbadobs]

ffs,
Typing fail...

[Catsdontcare]

OMG just read venus's post. Please disregard it OP. I will say no more as personal insults against posters get you deleted!

[Catsdontcare]

Oh god yes recycle unopened gifts, I have a box full of those that I keep by for parties

[Mosman]

Maybe don't go if you can't afford a present and play in the snow instead with your two boys?

I would die if I thought somebody didn't come to one of our parties due to not being able to buy a present.

[M0naLisa]

I know they are the foil scraper things :-/

Thinking Maltesers may be better lol

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

I really want Maltesers now and I didn't panic buy them

[Catsdontcare]

What are foil scrapers? Can you give them with the maltesers if you want to feel it's a bigger gift?

[Hobbitation]

YANBU.

[M0naLisa]

Thanks you've made me feel better about it :-)
I didn't want to do what I've done in the past and said they can't go to x party. :-(

[M0naLisa]

It's a foil picture under black padding (of sort) and you scrape the black off along the lines on the picture to show the picture underneath.

[M0naLisa]

something like this but not same picture

[Catsdontcare]

Sounds like a standard party gift to me

[SPBInDisguise]

asking for vouchers is very grabby

[SPBInDisguise]

I used to have foil scrapers - good for slightly older children, 7, 8ish
Though I was VERY obsessive over them, maybe I was a bit too old :o

[droves]

My twins have been invited to 2 parties , both at fancy kids activity centres .
One child ( boy ) was given gift ( Lego ) that cost £35 from the twins . He didn't say thank you .

The other party another wee boy was given a box of sweeties , a card and a colouring book ...he absolutely loved it and is great friends with them.

I suppose it depends on how well mannered the birthday child's family are . People forget a party is supposed to be fun entertainment for the children , getting to spend their birthday with their friends . It's not a way for greedy parents to get more gifts for their kids .

I once heard someone at school say she had spent £ 200 on a party at the local play place , but it was ok because she didn't invite children who's parents didn't work , so her dc would get double that in presents . vile woman.

[Tricycletops]

For me, I go in with other parents and share parties (one party for four kids), and we ask for vouchers, one tenner voucher per invitee. So each kid gets about five book vouchers. Works out financially as well for everyone: parents share the cost of the party, and each child brings one present which are shared with the birthday kids.

People do this sort of thing? You ask for birthday presents?

[swisscottage]

I had to reread venusrising post twice...don't take anything she said onboard at all. When my DDs have parties, I never judge the presents. There is always a mixture of more expensive and less expensive and my DDs love both, my DDs are just happy everybody came to the party :) Give the foil things with some sweets, perfect :)

[M0naLisa]

Yes think I will do :-)

[PolkadotCircus]

God no,my dc would be thrilled with a box of Maltesers they could have all to themselves.We had a box of something once and it was the dtwins best present ever!

Your dc are invited because the birthday child want them there not because of what they'll bring.If said parents get the hump they're not worth worrying about tbf.

[Astley]

I have turned down many invites for DS because I couldn't affford a present. I just remember my childhood and being so humiliated at being sent to a party without a gift that I can't do it to him now.

On theither hand, he had a party at the weekend and I know a number of children didn't turn up, I strongly suspect becuase they couldn't afford a gift, and that makes me really sad. My DS missed out on his friends company and they missed a party.

[Whyamihere]

Wow, when I do a party for dd I do it because I know she'll enjoy spending time with her friends, I don't think about the presents she may get, the party is about giving not taking. Dd once got a £1 pack of bunches and she was over joyed at them.

Plus we often do homemade cards and presents, not because we can't afford to buy anything but because homemade is thoughtful. What a sad existence if you have to judge people on what they buy you.

[Whyamihere]

Sorry forgot to say dd would be happy with either maltesers or the scraper foil (in all honesty she'd probably prefer the maltesers, she loves sweets)

[halcyondays]

No, it's fine. it's not a crap present. My dds got Maltesers for a birthday present and they were very pleased with them.