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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not bake a birthday cake for my dd who will be 2 on Saturday?

55 replies

Kitsilano · 12/04/2007 21:17

I feel like a bad mummy but I hate making cakes so I've ordered one from Tesco. And we aren't having a proper party either - my excuse being that she's too young to appreciate it and will just get upset at having to share her toys. I am also 6 weeks pg and have been feeling bleurgh and shattered.

We are having her cousins round for lunch but as I only work 2 days a week I now think I should have organised something more special.

Feeling guilty...

OP posts:
ShrinkingViolet · 12/04/2007 21:46

apologies for spelling and grammar

kama · 12/04/2007 21:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Kitsilano · 12/04/2007 21:48

melsy - looks like I need to find out more about these Asda photo scan marvels of which you speak

Shrinking Violet - 25 did include some adults to be fair.

OP posts:
ShrinkingViolet · 12/04/2007 21:49

ohh, Kitsilano, DD1 thought breadsticks were a huge treat for several years! [smug mummy emoticon] all three still think sparkling mineral water is a "grown up drink" so ask for that rather than squash.

ShrinkingViolet · 12/04/2007 21:50

Also one year did small metal pot (25p for 10 from IKEA in the sale) with bag of compost and packet of seeds. All the other mums hated me

Original poster
Kitsilano · 12/04/2007 21:51

LOL Shrinking Violet! When I give my daughter sparkling water she says "JUICE! I LIKE it!".

How long do you think I can keep this one going?

OP posts:
melsy · 12/04/2007 21:52

like your idea for op laura for family to cook cake !

So beyond 3yrs , everyone feels it shoud be a proper organised, entertainers thing??

See still twinges of guilt over not wanting to do big organised party thing for dd1's 4th.

ShrinkingViolet · 12/04/2007 21:52

DD1 is nearly 14.........

Original poster
Kitsilano · 12/04/2007 21:53

I think I would hate you too. "Growing things" is next on my list of things I don't do. I am know in my family as having "Black fingers" (as opposed to green) as I have even managed to kill a spider plant in the past, V difficult apparently.

So no, a messy, growing seed pot would have been quickly lost!

OP posts:
ChasingRabbits · 12/04/2007 21:53

def don't think over 3 should be an 'organised entertainers thing'. Actually don't think ANY age should be that.

Original poster
Kitsilano · 12/04/2007 21:54

Sorry last post was for Shrinking Violets seed pots...

OP posts:
melsy · 12/04/2007 22:02

phewwwwwwwwww chasing rabbits as BLUERGH to those, sorry any mum I know in rl whos parties I am to attend this year.

Asda cake lowdown

I have a Microsoft PowerPoint thing set up with an inserted piccy of dd1 within it. I use clip art and all sorts to design around it. I then print that on A4 photo paper and in Asda they scan that onto icing and lay it on your chosen cake. I always buy the plain rectangle one on a gold cake base. Alternatively you can also just print off a picture as it is and then have it scanned onto an already decorated designed cake. Takes 15 mins and costs around £9-12 inc cake & scan.

If you have powerpoint I can email what Ive done to you, to play around with.

melsy · 12/04/2007 22:04

think bed is near , my grammers getting worse and worse !

kama · 12/04/2007 22:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ChasingRabbits · 12/04/2007 22:09

piccy cake sounds nice (though I still don't like shop brought cake - I like my mum's sponge with butter cream inside and lemon icing and smarties on top - and I want to lick the bowl after - but I have to share with ds1 now )
I do seem to be in the minority in RL with regard to the entertainer thing though, as I am with the 'just inviting a few of ds's friends as opposed to the whole class', with the party bag thing, umm with lots of things actually.

bubblicious · 12/04/2007 22:11

I bake my DDs birthday cakes, because at the time I thought it was the "right" thing to do! So now I have the cake books- yes it does give my DDs endless hrs of fun(and quiet times) looking at book! HOWEVER the amount of hardwork, stress, tears and emotions it gives me- really and truly you cant cost them.

Also making birthday cake at home costs at least twice as much as if you have bought the thing from Tesco (especially if you burn the first like I did)

Dont feel guilty just enjoy, my only slight concern about party bags is """" how old are the children that are coming"""" may be just a balloon on a ribbon would be enough!

melsy · 12/04/2007 22:12

Ahhhh now yerr kama,going out and doing cool things like shows and things sounds much better.

Original poster
Kitsilano · 12/04/2007 22:15

melsy - too late for this year I fear but I would love to see what you have done. How do you give emails out on mn (I've only just started posting)?

OP posts:
melsy · 12/04/2007 22:19

You can use the envelope icon to the right of my name to send me an email via mumsnet HQ (CAT option). I dont like posting my email addy on here. I could cat you , but I dont think Im set up this yr for it yet.

Original poster
Kitsilano · 12/04/2007 22:29

Thanks melsy - I feel the same about putting my email address on here - I have signed up for CAT and messaged you (hopefully!)

Kits

OP posts:
kslatts · 12/04/2007 22:40

My dd's are 7 and 5 and I've always brought their birthday cakes.

Lovecat · 12/04/2007 22:44

I found myself up at midnight the eve of dd's 2nd birthday party, icing the cake and swearing profusely... it all went a bit Pete Tong and I ended up redoing it at 1.45pm while dd napped (party guests arriving at 2.30pm). Perhaps the large glass of gin steadied my hand, but it was a lot better 2nd time around!

I do love baking cakes and I'd much rather have one where I know what's gone into it than a shop jobby, but icing them... that's such a bugger! If I could find someone who was good at icing in the East London/Essex area I'd happily bake them the cake in return....

DD's 2nd involved inflating her paddling pool in the living room (Feb birthday), filling it with balls (thank the lord for the ELC birthday discount!) and putting on an 'every godawful kids song you never want to hear again' cd on repeat. She had about 15 kids there (the curse of the nursery...)

They loved it... the only tears were from 2 little boys fighting over who got to use her toy hoover! I'd made up a pass the parcel, as every 2nd birthday party we'd been to in the last year had had this game, but they were having so much fun throwing themselves into the ballpit that it never got used.

Actually, come to think of it, it's still sitting on a chair in the dining room...

Original poster
Kitsilano · 12/04/2007 22:45

You see Lovecat - you are an angel mother and I am a lazy one! It sounds lovely. Sigh.

OP posts:
Lovecat · 12/04/2007 22:49

God no! I'm an appalling mother with a Nigella fetish and a gin habit who takes the path of least resistance whenever possible - hence ballpit rather than the hell of having to organise games and activities...

Shop-bought cakes are great and I would deffo buy them myself, it's just my own personal weirdness that I hate the texture and taste of fondant icing - to me there's just something slimy about it that I can't stand - and given that I want to eat the cake myself , I make something I'd want to eat!

Original poster
Kitsilano · 12/04/2007 22:51

If I was allowed a stiff gin (or 3) even I might even be peruaded to try the baking but as I am pg it's no go so I shall stick to mumsnetting grumpily from the sofa.

Agree about the fondant icing. It's just not the same.

OP posts: