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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

People bringing food to a party???

217 replies

WanderingStar1 · 26/05/2017 23:15

AIBU? In a foolish moment agreed to host Mil's 90th here next Saturday. We have a big garden and an area where people can park, but if it rains we're stuffed for getting 80+ old dears into the house! Anyway - that's maybe stressing me out a bit (although marquees and gazebos on standby) but my issue is the food. We haven't the tables or cutlery to do a sit down meal so opted for a DIY hog roast sort of thing (rolls and pulled pork, plus apple sauce and stuffing) plus other finger food such as carrot sticks, cherry toms, sandwiches, sausage rolls and crisps etc. I will make her a bday cake but she and various friends said they'd also make cakes and brownies etc (as old people like 'puddings') so that was great. Bit of a wobble on wed when MIL said my DH had agreed to provide forks so people could have coleslaw, potato salad etc!! I said no way as we have no tables so they can't have anything but finger food, which she seemed OK with (and she knew that anyway!). Then tonight DH came home and mentioned that his DM and Dsis were also making sausage rolls, quiches and salads. I've been slaving away over this sodding party for weeks and got really cross - along the lines of - a) it's fucking rude to turn up at someone else's party with food, without agreeing it with the host first, and b) I'd be delighted to have someone else do stuff but would not be happy to spend all saturday making sandwiches/sausage rolls only to find I didn't need to!! So texted SIL at 10.30 tonight to say she needed to sort everyone out as I found it pretty offensive that people were planning all this without speaking to me! Yes I was stressed and yes I was probably a bit OTT! Anyway she rang back all nice and reasonable and I was a bit cross and shouty ("would you like to do a sunday roast and have someone turn up with a tray of roasties in case you hadn't done enough...???"), then she said MIL didn't like to speak to me about it as she was scared I would shout at her!! So feel a bit crap that I'm so horrible but actually both of them need to grow some, and I do get a bit snappy occasionally! Grrr!! But AIBU to feel peed off that people think they can just turn up at a party and bring food? I think the problem is that MIL is a bit forgetful and has told everyone we aren't doing anything except the pork rolls (despite being switched on enough to make sure I would make cucumber sandwiches for the vegetarians) so has maybe organised a secret backlash against our meagre fare - but surely her daughter and friends should have talked to me? Fuming - but also thinking you'll all say she's 90 and I should be kind and tolerant.......

OP posts:
SherbrookeFosterer · 29/05/2017 00:37

Sit down, have a cup of tea and count to ten slowly.

You are doing a great job and if others want to contribute, let them.

By the sound of all the lovely people you have described this party won't fail, so just relax and enjoy the build up and make sure you also enjoy the party!

BTW made me hungry thinking about all that lovely food!

Freomom · 29/05/2017 01:33

Sounds like the stress got the better of you. Apologise to SIL and MIL but some plastic cutlery and borrow a camping table or similar. I always get people to bring stuff to parties makes it all a bit easier. Your hosting you don't have to do everything else as well. Sounds like your aware you've been a bit of a tit. Apologise and move on - the party is not a reflection of your worth it's about MIL. If people want to judge for some plastic forks. - fork um

metspengler · 29/05/2017 02:49

Yabu.

I can't for the life of me see where anyone else has done anything wrong.

eulmh · 29/05/2017 07:00

I get your point of people not checking first so you didn't cross over BUT I'd actually find it rude if people didn't turn up with stuff. I never go anywhere empty handed. It's my way of saying thanks for hosting. I would hate tje host to take offence and think I was saying he/she wasn't providing enough!

mrsbeeton999 · 29/05/2017 07:23

Just checking you've got more than one downstairs toilet or have hired some posh portaloos? One under stairs cloakroom Like we've got wouldn't be enough!

MummyMuppet2x2 · 29/05/2017 08:25

It sounds as if everything has happily calmed right down now. OP has apologised and everyone has made good.

I totally get OP's annoyed reaction that people were busying themselves with planning the party good they were going to make and bring to the party. Ideally they should definitely have liaised with OP about their ideas, however as a PP has said, everyone is coming from a good place here.

Good luck OP, you are doing an amazing thing for your MiL and you sound lovely Flowers

Hope all goes well Smile

Earthmother1 · 29/05/2017 09:08

I can't remember the last time I went to a party that WASN'T 'bring and share'. It's how things are done now and I think it's a lovely way for everyone to contribute.

tireddotcom72 · 29/05/2017 09:17

My group of friends are big fans of garden parties in summer actually parties in general. Way to avoid 50 plates of sausage rolls is whatsapp group message - everyone says what they are bringing. Oh and as lots of people suggested wallpaper pasting tables are the answer

WanderingStar1 · 29/05/2017 10:23

We have pasting tables to put food on but not sure I want anyone to try and sit at one and eat off it...? But have DH on the case to go round borrowing....Smile. As for loos, we have one down and two up (three in fact but one is less easy to get to, but OK if we're stuck). Not everyone will be there for the whole thing so fingers (and legs? Grin) crossed!

OP posts:
PeanutButterJellyTimeforTea · 29/05/2017 10:26

You've been ^slaving over this party for weeks" yet you weren't even planning on giving people fucking FORKS?

Jaysus let your SIL etc in on it, because its' going to be a bloody awful party if you do it alone. Do you really expect a horde of 80+ year old women to eat pulled pork with their fingers, balancing plates on their knees?

Step back and let someone else do it.

Blappy · 29/05/2017 11:22

People do like to keep shouting well into threads don't they?

You do indeed sound like the antichrist to me Wandering, next you'll be saying things like you truly like your husband's family. Sickening! Wink

picklemepopcorn · 29/05/2017 11:33

Oh for goodness sake.

Your plan sounded fine. Simple has a lot to recommend it. I often organise food that requires no cutlery. It's sensible, with larger numbers.

Rubstrol · 29/05/2017 11:48

People here think you are horrible but if you were totally horrible you wouldn't be here asking AIBU?Would ya?
Life is learning,getting knocked down and getting up again.buy plastic forks.

gamerwidow · 29/05/2017 12:00

OP you sound like you're doing a great job and have sensibly agreed to let others help because hosting a party for 80 is hard work!
I would plan to put the gazebos up whatever the weather though because ime senior citizens and young children don't do heat very well and will need the shade if it's sunny as well as the protection from rain or wind if the weather is bad.

GoodEyebrowDay · 29/05/2017 12:17

What an absolute martyr. Complaining about having to host the party then complaining because people want to help, taking the fawning away from you.

Send them to my house with their sausage rolls, I'd love them!

TellMeItsNotTrue · 30/05/2017 01:20

onmykneesandsinking I read this at the wrong time, I'm now trying not to wake the rest of the house with my laughing! I can just picture your nan sitting there with her packed lunch

WanderingStar1 · 04/06/2017 23:59

I expect everyone has left this thread now - but just by way of an update..... We had a wonderful day, forecast was good so gambled with just a gazebo and it paid off (phew). 2 loos was plenty. We had about 75 people in the end and enough food for twice that so MIL was happy - she was amazing - arrived before 12 and was still there at 6.30, going round to chat to everyone and still full of it by the end - wish I had some of her energy! Thanks for all the suggestions - especially the guest book, it was a great idea! The 'chair' wasn't really used though as she couldn't sit still for two minutes Grin. Food-wise I'm glad I had my rant here a week ago - was able to keep a benign face on as duplicates of everything arrived on the day, including another (very lovely) formal birthday cake - and I just smiled in a Zen sort of way and said 'the more the merrier'. All in all it was a wonderful day!

OP posts:
honeyroar · 05/06/2017 00:03

Brilliant, I'm glad it went well. Time to go and drink the left over alcohol and relax!

honeyroar · 05/06/2017 00:05

PS, how many "not read the full thread" types do you reckon will still comment and shout at you?

RoseOfSharyn · 05/06/2017 00:17

Sounds like you and MIL had a lovely day OP.

Now crack open the gin and put your feet up! GinGrin

EeekWhat · 05/06/2017 00:31

That sounds like it all worked out well. You sound like you were a lovely relaxed host. Two birthday cakes sounds great to me Grin

Pallisers · 05/06/2017 00:40

sounds fab. Well done. These celebrations are worth having.

And yes - loads of people will now tell you that you are a pillock :)

NightWanderer · 05/06/2017 04:49

Glad it went well OP.

Seriously, who takes a birthday cake to a birthday party .

Well done on staying zen Smile

KC225 · 05/06/2017 06:07

Congratulations Op. So glad the party weny well and it's sounds as if you all enjoyed yourself.

Oblomov17 · 05/06/2017 06:39

Christ almighty. You were cross? That people would turn up, with food. And they are too scared to say anything, for fear of you shouting?

Buy a pack of Sainsbury's plastics forks. FFS.