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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What do I say to this?

295 replies

teaandakitkat · 06/09/2017 14:32

Ds wants to do an activity with 3 friends for his birthday then go to Pizza Express.

I texted round all the parents and got this reply from one of them.

"Dd would love to do the birthday activity but does not want to eat in Pizza Express. She deeply opposes large corporate chains and prefers to support locally owned eateries. Would you consider eating in xyz instead so that she doesn't feel excluded?"

This kid is 9.

Wtf? Sometimes something is so bizarre you're not quite sure how to respond.

I want to say "Sorry, birthday boy has asked to go to Pizza Express so that's what we are going to do. You can collect your dd before we go in if she won't join us".

AIBU? I'm not, am I?

Surely you either go to the party that's on offer or you don't? The host doesn't arrange the party to suit individual guests?

OP posts:
Original poster
teaandakitkat · 06/09/2017 20:38

I can't think about it any more, it would just make me angry. Either accept the invite or don't. It's not hard.

At first I thought it was funny and a bit weird but now I just think it's rude.

And the judgey second message asking me to reconsider? Wtf?

Anyway, she's not coming, someone else is coming instead. Thank goodness, I would have been on edge the whole time if she had come, wo dering if she was going to give us all lectures on our poor morals, or if there was a huge tantrum if her mum did turn up to take her away.

We have had a lucky escape.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 06/09/2017 20:50

Tell her you are prepared to change the venue if she pays the difference in price?

Well an independent pizza place will almost certainly be cheaper and probably nicer than PE, even with vouchers. They're extortionate.

I feel the same as GoodMorning over the matter. I'll never understand why chains are so popular when most places have an independent Italian that's better and cheaper. But I wouldn't say anything about it, I'd just be happy that all the DCs are having a nice outing together.

Original poster
teaandakitkat · 06/09/2017 20:52

I love Pizza Express! Their bruschetta is absolutely delicious and I really like the pizza they are doing just now with the yellow creamed corn instead of tomatoes. And it has those tiny peppers on top.

(It was my son's choice to eat there on his birthday, honest it was)

OP posts:
killjoy50 · 06/09/2017 20:55

How embarrassing for her. I imagine she will internally cringe when she sees you but feel she can't back down.

SophieofShepherdsBush · 06/09/2017 20:56

I just want to know what the activity was that the kid/her mother was happy to attend? It must have been quite worthy!

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 06/09/2017 20:57

Anyone with the balls to send a text like that will certainly not be embarrassed by it, killjoy. Why would she?

scaryclown · 06/09/2017 21:00

I agree with weird mum a bit.. When I was nine I hated the shitty bowling alley, pizza hut, macdonalds type parents. Pizza express is confusing though, because it's pizzas and wine selection is pretty good..

TheAntiBoop · 06/09/2017 21:02

It doesn't really matter what the personal beliefs of the guests are tbh. You are invited to an event - if you don't want to do it because of what it is you just politely decline

intergalacticbrexitdisco · 06/09/2017 21:03

Are her parents called Cressida and Malcolm?

Stressalot42 · 06/09/2017 21:05

Lmfao!!!

GrinGrinGrinGrin

minimonkey11 · 06/09/2017 21:07

Did she text you on an iphone? Or a samsung? Or did she use whatsapp or fb? Or did she use an independent locally sourced internet messaging system? 😳

Cagliostro · 06/09/2017 21:08

Good grief! Not RTFT but based on OP it should absolutely be birthday boy's choice FFS

SamineShaw · 06/09/2017 21:09

Did she text you on an iphone? Or a samsung? Or did she use whatsapp or fb? Or did she use an independent locally sourced internet messaging system? 😳

😂😂😂

JWrecks · 06/09/2017 21:11

Sorry this is mostly irrelevant, but I am really enjoying the mental image of the incredibly politically involved and opinionated 9 year old girl, who is "deeply opposed" to anything other than wearing the wrong clothes! Hilarious!

Hissy · 06/09/2017 21:14

If the dd were older I'd put money on it being my dp exw.

Pretentious as fuck, full of little thoughts and ideas she attributes to everyone else but actually they aren't even aware of her notions, let alone instigating them.

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 06/09/2017 21:14

That's a bit of a strange post, scaryclown. You hated the shitty bowling alley / McDonalds "type" parents?
Bet you were much in demand at parties. Where did you have yours?

Hissy · 06/09/2017 21:15

My reply to this woman would have been straight in with a "oh shame, will put her down as a no then"

SchadenfreudePersonified · 06/09/2017 21:26

Anyone would think you'd invited this woman's DD to an evening of dog-fighting followed by a meal of whale steaks prepared by child slaves

None of these are run by huge, international corporate organisations - she would probably have accepted . . ..

Mummyoflittledragon · 06/09/2017 21:38

Does she drive a car?
Was her house built by a construction company?
Does her daughter wear normal school uniform?
Do they have mod cons in her house?

Seriously this woman is crazy. She probably suggested the other place because she has a business interest in it or has friends, who own it.

Ohyesiam · 06/09/2017 21:45

Preachy fucker.
And her poor child being told what to think and how to feel at every turn. I wonder if she even told the child about the invitation.
You were very restrained in your reply op.

ScarletForYa · 06/09/2017 21:46

That poor kid. What a tool (the mother)

MadMags · 06/09/2017 22:11

What did her last text say??

fourandnomore · 06/09/2017 22:44

This has given me a good laugh tonight, crazy. You've handled it really well OP, glad someone else can come along. Poor kid though, she's going to have a tough year.

kateandme · 06/09/2017 22:54

Plus because they ate so huge they actually give back in charity,jobs,apprenticeships more than any local places could or do.

kateandme · 06/09/2017 22:59

Plus because they ate so huge they actually give back in charity,jobs,apprenticeships more than any local places could or do.
Currently last year gave free meals to Oxfam costomers.1pound from certain pizza to go to chosen monthly charity.
Partner with children's food trust.
Year before raised 70 grand wen partnered McMillan the list goes on....