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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

(Following on from yesterday's party food thread) to be irritated by this?

116 replies

KTeePee · 07/03/2007 12:14

Our school discos are on soon and one mother has put a note at the botom of the ticket order form expressing concern that we are selling sweets at this event even though it is during Lent.....

I know it is a church school but I'm a bit about it - surely if she doesn't want her darlings to partake she can just send them without any pocket money?

OP posts:
belgo · 07/03/2007 12:16

I'm surprised she didn't complain about the school disco being in Lent.

If it is a church school, she does have a point. But I suppose giving up something for Lent is seen as old fashioned.

stressteddy · 07/03/2007 12:16

Don't think all of the children will have given up sweets. Mine have given up booze and fags

robbosmum · 07/03/2007 12:17

Lent is about making your own decision about what you are giving up

McDreamy · 07/03/2007 12:17

lol stress teddy! But you are right what about the children who haven't given up sweets - there are other things to give up for lent.

HuwEdwards · 07/03/2007 12:19

DPs 84 yo widowed mother gives up chocolate EVERY year for lent.

She neither drinks nor smokes.

I tell DP that if it wasn't for the gratuitous sex, her life would hardly be worth living

Marina · 07/03/2007 12:19

Yes, ban the disco and have them all sewing coal sacks and gnawing rye bread, why not?
Not all children give up sweets in Lent. Mine offered to give up school
Our disco is to raise money for Red Nose Day and yes there will be sweeties on sale. Money well spent on a good cause IMO.

gobshite · 07/03/2007 12:24

I think she's entitled to express her views, but it would be unreasonable to ban sweets just cause it's lent.

Or you could write her a polite little note in reply, saying that there will be cigarettes available for the kids who have given up sweets, to help with their cravings.

Original poster
KTeePee · 07/03/2007 12:24

I feel like saying to her, if she feels so strongly, why doesn't she actually volunteer to help on the PTA and so have some say in the decision-making! .

Most parents at the school are quite liberal and low-key about the religious aspect but there are a few who are not...you just have to hear what her kids are called to know which camp she falls in!

OP posts:
McDreamy · 07/03/2007 12:25

but low tar surely - we are talking about children here!!!

gobshite · 07/03/2007 12:27

Good point, McDreamy. And perhaps some nicorette gum for kids who plan a future in politics, and want to be able to say they didn't inhale

McDreamy · 07/03/2007 12:27

quite

McDreamy · 07/03/2007 12:27
Grin
stleger · 07/03/2007 12:38

The child could buy the sweets and keep them until after Lent, as extra self denial.

stressteddy · 07/03/2007 12:40

How about just playing hymns at the disco?

stressteddy · 07/03/2007 12:51

and a packet of halo hoops?

AitchTwoOh · 07/03/2007 12:54

stleger, that's what we used to do. oh how we vommed on easter sunday...
the mother is being daft, if her kids have given up sweets then seeing them at a school disco is all part of the exquisite torture of beign a catholic.

PussinWellies · 07/03/2007 13:05

Ooh, ooh, what are they called?? Best ones we know are Ignatius, Benedict and Augustine -- we were laying bets on what the fourth one would be (Dominic? Clare? StJohn?)

AitchTwoOh · 07/03/2007 13:12

aloysius. sounds like they've got a wee bit of a jesuit thing going on.

Miaou · 07/03/2007 13:15

Isn't the whole point of giving something up for Lent (if that's what lights your candle) that you resist temptation? If there are no sweets there then what is there to resist?

Original poster
KTeePee · 07/03/2007 13:15

Pussinwellies, you got one of the names right - she does only have two children so I would have a small bet that they don't quite follow the Vatican line on everything

OP posts:
stressteddy · 07/03/2007 13:17

Great point Miaou. Although I have it on good authority that some people think they can still indulge in whatever they have given up for lent on each Sunday in lent. I always thought that lent was the whole 40 days? Maybe the disco could be on a Sunday

Original poster
KTeePee · 07/03/2007 13:21

stressteddy, if you count it up, Lent actually lasts for more than 40 days, it is only 40 excluding the Sundays I think.

Very good point Miaou, may use it if I have to actually speak to the woman (mental note to self, do not get into conversation with her or will say things I will regret later...)

OP posts:
potoroo · 07/03/2007 13:25

Actually, not only did we have to give up sweets, but as an added bonus we would have to donate the money we would have spent on sweets to charity.

Lovecat · 07/03/2007 13:56

We went down the stleger route - we were allowed to buy sweets or have them bought for us (our mum's bribe for being good in church, which I'm ashamed to say I'm using on my toddler atm) during Lent, but they were then stashed away in a big biscuit tin until Easter Sunday - oh God yes, the multicoloured vomit thereafter...

On the names front, at our school we had a Benedict, a Malachai and twin girls called Mary and Josephine....

stleger · 07/03/2007 14:10

I heard a lovely story a couple of years ago about a family in the 1960s who were given a big Toblerone from an airport. It sat on top of a cupboard all through Lent - on Easter morning it was empty as the mum had eaten it! I'm fairly sure her need was great....