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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not provide party food for the parents

36 replies

Northend77 · 14/02/2017 09:07

We plan to have a birthday party for our twins when they turn 3 later this year. It will be in an indoor soft play centre and I will be making up party food boxes (like a happy meal box with sandwich, etc inside) but would you expect there to be food for the parents too? The party will be at 3:30 for 2 hours so not quite tea time, too early for an adult I'd have thought anyway
It's town centre based and there are plenty of pizza/chicken/kebab places nearby that they could get take away from if they wanted. I will provide plenty of soft drinks and tea and coffee
DM thinks I don't need to provide adult food but DH thinks I'm being rude not to. What would you expect?

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 14/02/2017 09:08

I wouldn't provide food for the adults.

CoffeeCoffeeAndLotsOfIt · 14/02/2017 09:09

I wouldn't expect party food in your instance. Tea / coffee would be appreciated :-)

Cuppaand2biscuits · 14/02/2017 09:09

You don't need to feed the adults, they won't expect it. I would be happy enough with a cuppa.

Whichoneofyoudidthat · 14/02/2017 09:10

Any soft play parties I've attended have been catered for just the kids. I've been happy to buy a toasted cheese sandwich and a rubbish coffee from the nearest cafe and snaffle a slice of cake.

Huldra · 14/02/2017 09:10

Soft play place then adult food not expected.

MapMyMum · 14/02/2017 09:11

Nope they can sort themselves, youre hosting a party for the kids.

DrivingMeBonkers · 14/02/2017 09:11

At an external venue, I would not expect adults to be fed. At a house party or hall where you are catering, I would expect parents to hoover up spare food Grin and I may do a few extra wraps, but I would not cater specifically, no.

It also depends on who you are inviting - nursery friends and that sort of thing, no catering.

i would not expect people to leave their 3 year olds and swan off for a kebab though.

Does the soft play venue have a cafe attached?

2014newme · 14/02/2017 09:14

No you don't need to provide food for parents at a soft play. However I doubt the soft play would want them bringing kebabs in either so I wouldn't be suggesting to parents that they pop out for takeaway. Surely nobody needs to bring a takeaway to a soft play 😂
Just do food for the kids

NancyDonahue · 14/02/2017 09:15

I've never one adult food if party is not at home, and never expected it as a guest parent. Party at home I leave drinks and nice biscuits in the kitchen and tell parents to help themselves.

Mamadothehump · 14/02/2017 09:18

Definitely no food needed for the adults. I have 3 DC's and never been provided for nor provided myself.

987flowers · 14/02/2017 09:18

I always make sausage rolls and some squares of cake which are offered when I buy them (or give depending on whether it's a home party or we are out somewhere). I don't do an all our meal!

formerbabe · 14/02/2017 09:19

Tea and coffee is enough. I provided food at my DC's soft play party...The other parents were very grateful but quite surprised so I don't think it's expected.

KindergartenKop · 14/02/2017 09:19

Yeah, I'd get posh biscuits and coffee for parents.

Beelands · 14/02/2017 09:21

I usually go to Costco and get a giant tin of biscuits for the adults and offer with tea or coffee (and mulled wine /mince pies/coke/diet coke but that's overkill)

SalmonFajitas · 14/02/2017 09:23

I'd probably provide some biscuits and crisps but definitely don't need to provide any substantial food.

Original poster
Northend77 · 14/02/2017 09:25

Ooh yes, tins of biscuits, that would go down well mid afternoon with tea and coffee

It's one of those soft play places with the high climbing stuff (don't know what the collective name is but it's more slides and ball pits and obstacles, etc). We have exclusive hire of it and can bring in our own food as long as we clean up afterwards so the small cafe that is normally there will be closed

Thanks all for your responses, I won't feel so bad now for just feeding the kids!!

OP posts:
Clankboing · 14/02/2017 09:26

No don't. At all parties that I've attended or organised I've bought hot drinks for adults arranged beforehand so cheaper. Thats all.

Nicpem1982 · 14/02/2017 09:27

We did a soft play party for our dd we didn't provide food for adults but did open a "tab" for tea/coffee/pastries at the cafe in the soft play centre and told parents to help themselves.

BiddyPop · 14/02/2017 09:30

I was just going to suggest a couple of packets of biscuits to go with tea/coffee would be appreciated, or enough cake to give some to adults too, but I wouldn't expect proper food.

HermioneJeanGranger · 14/02/2017 09:33

If the cafe is closed then I think providing tea/coffee and biscuits would be a nice thing to do.

OneLumpOrSeven · 14/02/2017 09:33

I never expect food at a soft play party for me. If the cafe is going to be closed then a cuppa would be nice. If it wasn't I'd be happy to get my own.

MrsMulder · 14/02/2017 09:34

I always feed the kids and provide tea/coffee and cake for adults

IntoTheDeep · 14/02/2017 09:38

IME it's unusual for food or drinks for adults to be provided at children's birthday parties held outside the home.

But if the cafe's going to be closed then providing drinks and biscuits for the adults would be a nice gesture.

thethoughtfox · 14/02/2017 09:39

Adults don't expect it. I have seen sometimes a small homemade truffle or small square of krispy cake handed about but that is a friend whose relative loves to do these things.

Original poster
Northend77 · 14/02/2017 09:40

There will also be more cake than you can shake a stick at as we do a cake each for our twins!! Plenty to go around!

OP posts: