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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - No sweets or squash

443 replies

mamab30 · 29/04/2013 13:16

AIBU to not serve squash or give out sweets at a children's party?

Just wondering what parents would think of going to a children's party where there was only water to drink and just birthday cake to take home. For us that would be normal and I wouldn't think anything of it but just wondering if parents would be surprised at not seeing squash or sweets?

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 29/04/2013 13:18

i would be surprised but wouldn't think much more of it

party food is a treat and the squash and the sweets part of the fun

can't you offer water or juice though?

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 29/04/2013 13:18

I'd probably think you were a bit mean. Especially if there was no squash as some children just wont drink water. Mines does happily but I have friends whos kids will only drink diluted fruit juice or sugar free squash.

havingamadmoment · 29/04/2013 13:19

I would be surprised as I have never been to a party like that. I wouldnt see anything wrong with it but I would be surprised.

Squitten · 29/04/2013 13:21

I would think the drinks were unusual but I'd be fine with just cake - I always think it's nice when the cake is the "big deal" at the end.

SirChenjin · 29/04/2013 13:21

Part of the fun of a party is squash and sweets - I would be surprised, but it wouldn't feature in my thoughts much after about 2 seconds.

It's not 'normal' for us to neck sweets and squash on a regular basis either, but like birthday cake, it's part of the whole treat that is a party.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 29/04/2013 13:21

I wouldnt be impressed with the only offering water - my DS won't drink water and I would be a bit peed off to be honest if he had gone thirsty.

Like Ruby says, sweets etc part of the fun of the party. Once in a while isn't going to hurt.

DoubleMum · 29/04/2013 13:21

No sweets is fine but you will likely find some of the guests won't drink just water. Plus even though it's normal for your house it is a party - it isn't meant to be normal!

ZZZenagain · 29/04/2013 13:22

I'd be surprised that water is the only drink offered but fine to have cake and no sweets IMO

Punkatheart · 29/04/2013 13:22

I never served squash. Proper fruit juice in cartons, yes. Neat, easy, hard to spill. Sweets, no. Chocolatey things, yes. Everyone survived.

Patchouli · 29/04/2013 13:23

Are they 1?

LadyintheRadiator · 29/04/2013 13:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

manicinsomniac · 29/04/2013 13:23

Agree with others - no sweeets is fine as long as there is other food but I would be surprised by only water.

Jinty64 · 29/04/2013 13:25

What age are the children? If they are under two then I think this is probably ok although you could offer milk or water to drink. If they are older than that I would think it pretty miserable.

Jinty64 · 29/04/2013 13:26

X-posts. If they are 1 I expect the parents will bring their own drinking cups and no sweets is fine.

Original poster
mamab30 · 29/04/2013 13:29

Lol!

Could do orange and apple juice, that's a good idea. We drink that (NFC) so that would be good.

Just don't approve of squash or sweets and hate coming home from parties with a party bag full of sweets. For us, squash and sweets aren't the treat.

OP posts:
Original poster
mamab30 · 29/04/2013 13:30

Rubyslippers - I will be serving water! (Thought I wrote that in original post.)

OP posts:
Startail · 29/04/2013 13:31

If you only have water and chocolate cake DD2 would have told you and every child, parent, teacher and anyone else who would listen what awful parties Ms Mamba held.

And I think I might have to agree (well not about the cake).

Parties are about fun and breaking your usual rules. You don't need heaps of sweets, but you do need some treats and you do need DCs who have been running about to drink.

I wish DD wasn't such a pain about water, but she is. If I had my time again I'd have been stricter when she was tiny, but DH drinks squash not tea so it was alway about.

pictish · 29/04/2013 13:32

Bit boring and worthy if you ask me. For a party.

Original poster
mamab30 · 29/04/2013 13:33

Love how you all think I'd be mean or miserable to not do sweets! Haha!

OP posts:
SirChenjin · 29/04/2013 13:33

So why ask us then? Confused

Startail · 29/04/2013 13:33

Seriously for a party Tesco's economy juice will do fine, they will drink £££ of decent juice if they've been running about.

Even DFs with DCs at expensive schools have cheap juice for parties.

pictish · 29/04/2013 13:34

Well if you're so sure you're right, then why ask us?
Carry on with your worthy party and leave us out of it.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 29/04/2013 13:34

Just don't be surprised when you hold the party next year and no one turns up. They'll be saying we don't want to go to that boring party!!

Can't you let your hair down for a kids party. That's a bit uptight to be honest!

Original poster
mamab30 · 29/04/2013 13:34

Starail - if my son said something like that in front of everyone I'd give him an earful for being so rude and ungrateful!

OP posts:
SoftSheen · 29/04/2013 13:35

Fresh fruit juice mixed with fizzy water makes a lovely 'treat' drink that is fairly healthy.

Personally, unless the guests are all babies, I would serve a selection of savoury food (mini sandwiches, veg sticks and houmous, mini quiches etc) and afterwards sweet food (fruit kebabs, fruit juice jellies, ice cream, choc biscuits).

Overall this is not by any means a nutritional disaster, and if you serve no sweet things at all children are likely to be disappointed. I agree though that there is really no need for the likes of haribo etc.

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