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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:
WowOoo · 29/04/2013 13:35

I wouldn't mind at all.

Both dc give me their sweets (I do like sweets!) and both would be perfectly happy with water.

KansasCityOctopus · 29/04/2013 13:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EasterHoliday · 29/04/2013 13:36

have been to loads of parties without sweets or squash up to age 5 or 6. THink nothing of it, however there have been plenty of edible treats - cocktail sausages / cheesestring / those yoghurt tubes / biscuits / birthday cake / apple juice in a carton or water.
It's normal round here (then we hit 5 / 6 and there's sweets all over the shop. I am guilty of this too)

canyou · 29/04/2013 13:36

We have a DC with very bad eczema [certain citrus fruits are a problem] so I offer water, milk [and choc milk Blush ] berry or apple juice, most jelly sweets are also out but I offer animal biscuits, choc fingers and fairy cakes and decorate your own cookies. I also keep individual pks of natural fruit jellies and each child gets one pk. Friends do think I am means at the lack of fizzy drinks and sweets but tough the health of my DC are more important to me but I do feel mean

Original poster
mamab30 · 29/04/2013 13:37

What do you mean by 'worthy'? That doesn't make sense!

I'm asking obviously to see what other people think.

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 29/04/2013 13:37

i was thinking water AND juice

AnneEyhtMeyer · 29/04/2013 13:38

DD hates squash (and fruit juice) and sweets. I still had squash and sweets at her birthday because it was a party for all the children.

ScooseIsLoose · 29/04/2013 13:39

I think the sweets thing is fine if there are other things to eat but I would have a backup in case kids won't drink water. Are you providing other party food or just the cake?

rubyslippers · 29/04/2013 13:39

kids LOVE at parties

it's the 80/20 rule

eat well most of the time, then doesn't matter when you go a bit crazy

i did pick and mix and my DS's party last year - was a triumph Grin

OHforDUCKScake · 29/04/2013 13:39

Really mean. Its a party.

Sure it may be normal for you to to have sweets or squash, but a party is not an every day occurance.

Loosen up a bit, life is there for living.

What exactly do you think a couple of sweets and a glass of squash will actually do?

What happens when your DC go to parties and there's squash, sweets and cake, jelly and ice cream?

TimothyClaypoleLover · 29/04/2013 13:39

I am about to have a kids party and will not be dishing out sweets. I can't stand it when a huge bowl of sweets goes round for the kids to help themselves, particularly when there is lots of other party food on offer as well as cake. I will however be serving squash. My kids drink mainly water but appreciate that not all kids do.

canyou · 29/04/2013 13:40

But I will say if DC goes to a party I will watch her diet for the week and if she eats a few sweets she eats a few sweets, if she drinks full fat milk she drinks it and we live with the end result I cannot wait until she is old enough to know what type of sweet/drink/cake is a no no for her

Original poster
mamab30 · 29/04/2013 13:40

I was asking about drinks and the 'sweets' issue.

The cake will be fabulous (the thing to look forward to of course) and we are having a BBQ feast, no processed stuff

OP posts:
SirChenjin · 29/04/2013 13:40

Well we've told you. Now you're laughing at the fact that we've said you'd be boring/mean/miserable. So if you think it's funny you've obviously not had the answers you were looking for, and you obviously don't think you'd be boring/mean/miserable - so again, why bother asking?

DiscoDonkey · 29/04/2013 13:41

Just water would be annoying as mine don't drink it, I think you should offer fresh juice and milk too (I don't give my dc's squash either so would be happy it wasn't there)

Mine don't eat sweets so that wouldn't bother me but if you not planning on any crisps or biscuits then that is dull tbh.

I don't think parties have to be an overload of haribo and fruit shoots BUT party food should consist of a bit of food that you don't have often. If your not bothered about looking like a bit of a smug earth mum then carry on.

Original poster
mamab30 · 29/04/2013 13:42

Oh for ducks sake - he asks for water whilst everyone else drinks squash and he doesn't particularly care for sweets.

OP posts:
JazzDalek · 29/04/2013 13:42

I would love to take my kids to a party with no sweets or squash.

I would offer diluted fruit juice though as some kids don't drink plain water, and I think it would be nice to have some treaty things, home-baked biscuits or muffins or something. Party food should be fun and special but this doesn't have to mean awful sweetener / additive-laced crap.

It is the ONE thing I am really uptight about Blush I am otherwise very laissez-faire; we eat things like chips, crisps, chocolate and so on, occasionally and in moderation, but not actual sweets.

irregularegular · 29/04/2013 13:42

I've never served squash or sweets at a party. However, I've not served just water to drink and cake to take home either.

I've served apple or orange juice until relatively recently. They are now 9 and 10 and I'll offer lemonade too - though not all of them want it. I'd also offer small cakes and biscuits as part of party tea. I've often put small sweets or fun-size bars in party bags, but not always, I think. All that is normal round here.

Just water and no other sweet stuff apart from birthday cake would be slightly odd, but not very. Actually, if you are having a hot meal rather than sandwiches then no-one would notice that there was only birthday cake I think.

DiscoDonkey · 29/04/2013 13:42

How old are the children attending?

Bingdweller · 29/04/2013 13:43

The best kids party I was ever at included a sit-down meal for the kids with a choice of fish-pie, pasta bake or meatballs. There were 25 kids and it was held in the home (admittedly a lovely farmhouse on a working family farm). We did have jelly & ice-cream for pudding or clootie dumpling! The child was 4 so kids ranged in age from about 1-6 and they absolutely loved the food.

There were traditional party games and helium balloons for the kids to take home. It was so refreshing and the hosts were lovely, generous and incredibly hospitable. They just don't believe in "party food" and giving sweets etc.

It was a lovely change!

EasterHoliday · 29/04/2013 13:43

well old killjoy here thinks you're absolutely fine with what you suggest and I always make the kids eat the savoury stuff before anything sweet goes out... If you've laid on great entertainment, they won't even notice.

DiscoDonkey · 29/04/2013 13:44

That's great that he likes water and not bothered about sweets but he won't be the only child there will he?

OutragedFromLeeds · 29/04/2013 13:45

If it was here, the kids would be be a bit disappointed, but not too bothered.

The parents would smirk at the realisation that you're one of those parents.

'Jocasta doesn't like sweets, do you Jocasta? No, Jocasta loves tofu treats. Jocasta, Jocasta come away from the Haribo, no Jocasta you don't like those, you don't like those ones, come here mummy has some carrot sticks for you....'

pictish · 29/04/2013 13:46

This thread is a just a thin disguise for projecting some self satisfaction I think.

Well done OP - I'd offer you a chocolate medal but I doubt you'd want it. How about a disc of tofu instead? You can wear that around your neck at the party, while you're handing out the water.

Sugarice · 29/04/2013 13:47

I'd be a bit Hmm about no squash.

Not bothered about the sweets if I was a Parent but your postings do make you sound a little uptight. Do you let your dc eat the sweets in party bags?

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