Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Relatives buying kids loadsa choc, is it reasonable?

60 replies

PotatoLetters · 07/04/2015 13:28

Ds is nearly 3 and his uncle bought him 3 small Easter eggs this year, brought him some cupcakes and wanted to buy him an icecream. I felt bad because I said no! I don't let ds eat much chocolate because it's not a good habit to get into, he eats choc or cake a couple of times a week. If I spread the chocolate out over a few weeks then ds will start expecting chocolate after every meal!
So am I being a Dick about sugar? It pisses me off that aunties and uncles get to treat the kids without doing all the work or having to deal with the sugar comedown! I doubt very much that I will be able to get my own back as all our siblings are single/anti having kids! Are uncles dicks by buying loads of sugary crap?

OP posts:

Jaredletoisking · 07/04/2015 14:51

It is rude Amber

candidkate · 07/04/2015 15:04

Jaredletoisking It's not rude it's only food....give an Easter bunny toy or something...what's this obsession with stuffing your face at every special occasion. Children shouldn't be eating this stuff one egg has about 1/2 of a childs daily recommended intake. Not having a go Jared but i don't understand why people do strange things in the name of "it's easter" or "it's just a one off" or "it's some fun". You can reward your kids with other things than food....you can have fun without literally allowing your DCs to eat sometimes up to 100g of sugar in the form of a chocolate egg.
There are people starving yet we gorge ourselves every easter and Christmas for sport....I dunno it really rubs me the wrong way.
What do you think? AIBU?

Discopanda · 07/04/2015 15:05

I can see where you're coming from as a mum and as an auntie, on one hand it is nice to spoil your nieces and nephews and get to be the 'fun one' but it is a pain trying to prise the chocolate off the LOs, having it lying around tempting you if you're trying to moderate the amount your DCs are having, etc. YANB that U

WorraLiberty · 07/04/2015 15:29

Children shouldn't be eating this stuff one egg has about 1/2 of a childs daily recommended intake

So don't let them eat it all in one day

Jeez, it's chocolate not crack cocaine.

It also lasts a long while if stored properly.

spudholes · 07/04/2015 15:34

CandidKate- stop being so obsessive over food. You sound controlling and obviously have food issues of your own. Your kids will only become obsessive too and stuff themselves when you aren't around. No wonder so many people have eating disorders.

Jaredletoisking · 07/04/2015 15:53

Jaredletoisking It's not rude it's only food....

I never said that actually. I mean it's rude to dictate to people what to buy. If someone asks you then fine but to go out of your way to say - buy this and not that is in my opinion rude.

FrenchJunebug · 07/04/2015 16:39

take it. Say thank you and give it away to somebody else who wants it or a little bit a time to you DC. YABU.

f1fan2001 · 07/04/2015 16:50

I managed to make my daughter's Easter eggs last a full year, she also still has Halloween chocolate and Christmas chocolate in the fridge. Accept it with a smile and hand it out as you see fit - everything in moderation

Amber76 · 07/04/2015 16:53

Why is it rude to suggest that someone give crayons or whatever instead of an Easter egg? I would only say it to aunts, uncles who feel obligated to give something.
It's all well and good saying to put it away and dole it out slowly but I find I'm reaching for it in the evening. And the kids are constantly asking for it. My dad arrived a while ago and handed eggs directly to the kids.... He wanted to see them enjoy them and so they opened them and ate them straight away.
Why does every holiday have to be associated with food?

Bowlersarm · 07/04/2015 16:56

That's exactly the point Amber your dad wanted to see his grandchildren enjoy the Easter eggs he had chosen and bought for them. Why would you want to take that pleasure away from him, and your other relatives?

Thurlow · 07/04/2015 16:56

At 3, he's old enough for you to explain that while you get given all these delicious presents on the same day, they are to last for a long time, so they go in the cupboard and he can have a little bit of chocolate as and when.

Or take it into work and share it out.

Amber, I'd only say it to someone who had expressly asked what was wanted for a present. A text out of the blue saying what is and isn't allowed to be given as a gift is just rude.

ouryve · 07/04/2015 16:59

When mine were younger, I didn't need to buy them any chocolate. Their easter boxes and Christmas selection boxes lasted months.

They can't actually eat chocolate any more. It triggers migraines in both of them. Makes life relatively simple on the overindulgence by relative front!

Amber76 · 07/04/2015 17:03

The kids love colouring and drawing with chalk on ground - they get a huge amount of time and fun out of it. Why would it be rude to say to someone (such as my dad) to get them chalk instead? Seriously, the kids now have been given over 30 Easter eggs - it's such a waste.

bruffin · 07/04/2015 17:09

Why does every holiday have to be associated with food

Because food is about celebration. I have a greek Cypriot father, food was something to be relished and enjoyed and part of celebration. There is a lovely Greek Cypriot cook book called Kopiaste that looks at Cypriot food and the traditions behind it.
At easter in cyprs we should be having flounas which are a lovely pastry in the shape of parcel and stuffed with cheese and egg and mint and covered in sesame. Sadly ds is allergic to sesame so will not be able to have part of his heritage. There are also boiled eggs dyed red and we had a conker type fight with them when we were little.

bruffin · 07/04/2015 17:10

kids without doing all the work or having to deal with the sugar comedown

there is no such thing as a sugar comedown that is a myth.

candidkate · 07/04/2015 17:10

spudholes - the country spends nearly a billion on easter every year and I'm obsessed with food by saying it's only chocolate must we stuff our faces?

I wasn't rude to anyone please play nice..How dare you say my kids will have eating disorders because I think stuffing your face with chocolate because it's easter is greedy and disgusting. They have a healthy diet and a healthy relationship with food ....sending your kids a message that on certain days of the year you can be greedy and eat unhealthy crap or that food is this novelty, this "award" or "reward" is way more damaging in my view. It's just my opinion and how I raise my family my kids aren't dogs i dont need to feed them for them to have a treat. I don't judge people who do I was just stating my opinion and asking for other people's thoughts.

I never said there was anything wrong with one egg or eating them in rations I was commenting on the casual nonchalance towards excess that some posters have admitted to. Read the thread.

One egg fine - 4 or 5 like people have been admitting to?...No way thats greed. I think the fact that it's so absurd to say no says more about your eating habits than mine ...but alas....I'm not here to be nasty and throw around things like eating disorders like its banter online. Shame on you how tasteless. Ask me what I mean and perhaps have a conversation as opposed to throwing around trash. I Agree with Amber ...What's really unhealthy is societies obsession with associating holidays with bloody food!Go on a fake easter egg hunt dress up as a bunny etc Why is it when someone says no thanks to a bowl of sugar they are treated like a weirdo?

Live and let live goes both ways.....Well obviously not on MN

bruffin · 07/04/2015 17:12

kids without doing all the work or having to deal with the sugar comedown

there is no such thing as a sugar comedown that is a myth.

bruffin · 07/04/2015 17:13

What's really unhealthy is societies obsession with associating holidays with bloody food

That has always been the case though, nothing new is it. Look at every country in the world and food is part of some sort of celebration.

candidkate · 07/04/2015 17:16

WorraLiberty and to everyone else....I know you can have it in rations i was referring to the comments justifying excess and greed and "letting the kids eat what they want because its easter" that's wrong.

Bowlersarm · 07/04/2015 17:21

It's one weekend candidkate, not sure why anyone is getting their knickers in a twist over it.

candidkate · 07/04/2015 17:22

bruffin It's always been the case and it's still wrong. I won't even be patronizing and list the things families can do together that do not involve food. Not to say there is nothing wrong with eating I'm not a weirdo. I just hate excess there are people starving its wrong. I know it's not that deep and it's only an easter egg by the way I just mean in a wider context thats how I feel

candidkate · 07/04/2015 17:24

Bowlersarm Yep I know its only a weekend and I know its only a little egg or a big one that you can ration I'm speaking out excess and the justified fears/disgust parents feel towards it.

Amber76 · 07/04/2015 17:25

I think a lot if Easter eggs are given unthinkingly - they are incredibly cheap and available. A bit of effort is required to come up with something else.

My son is 18 months old and he's been given 15 Easter eggs so far - how is that not a small bit mad?!!

I gave bubbles this year instead of eggs and without exception all parents said thanks and that their kids already had too many eggs.

I don't think it's rude to make a sensible suggestion to people (grandparents, our siblings) who will otherwise definitely give an egg to my kids.

candidkate · 07/04/2015 17:30

I did not buy anything and my mom bought one for each DC. They didnt even whinge and cry for them i just put them in the cupboard where they shall remain until we can use it for cake / spread/ hot coco or I may palm it off on someone else. Perhaps I find this odd because of my christian background....Easter is about Jesus Christ (allegedly) rising from the dead... what does a bunny have to do with anything?...Oh I know....pointless consumerism. We don't celebrate Ramadan why is this any different? Just a thought.

candidkate · 07/04/2015 17:32

Amber76 Trust me you don't sound crazy.....too many easter eggs is as pointless as too much milk in your fridge...I don't need it...i don't want it...don't buy it for me....love you guys see you for Easter dinner bye!! You didnt say you were going to text them effing and blinding x

Flip

1 2 3