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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Childs birthday during lockdown...

47 replies

Emcont · 04/04/2020 20:15

My youngest turns 5 next month. If the lockdown is extended then I'll obviously not be able to get out to buy her anything.

What is everyone else doing who is in this situation? Are you still ordering things?

OP posts:
Aleena1968 · 04/04/2020 20:17

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BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 04/04/2020 20:20

Are you still doing supermarket shopping? If so pick a larger store and pick up some items within your weekly shop. They sell toys, books, clothes. That's all you need.

BusyBB · 04/04/2020 20:20

You can still order things online.. I'd do it soon though incase non essential deliveries get banned. They probably wont do that but just incase!

Pipandmum · 04/04/2020 20:21

Why not order something? Amazon is a shop front for loads of small businesses and they will be very happy for the business! Or order direct. Or if you are going to one of the big shops pick up a few things with your shop (both the big Tesco and Sainsbury's near me have their non food areas open and well stocked).

Aragog · 04/04/2020 20:22

I did order things. We are not being told not to. We are being told the risk is minimal. I wash my hands after dealing with any post, etc. Same as I do when I have been out or been in a shop for food.

It is DD's 18th birthday tomorrow and we have bought gifts and family & friends have sent gifts too. I have taken them all out of the boxes and rewrapped the in gift paper. She's had a rubbish time this past week or so what with the lock down and all her grandad being very ill and he lost his fight earlier this week. She deserves to be able to celebrate her birthday - and yes, that has meant having some gifts and cards sent, and shopping including non essentials such as fizz and chocolate cake.

Starlightstarbright1 · 04/04/2020 20:23

It’s my sons this month. I did order my Ds some stuff online. Some of it is been an iou for after this is over however his trip out and sleepover are both obviously cancelled so yes I do think it’s essential , if it was mine I wouldn’t think it was.

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 04/04/2020 20:24

It's DDs 6th birthday next month and she wanted a bowling party so instead it will just be the 3 of us at home. We will be:

Wii bowling
Using her little skittle bowling set outside tips it's not raining, inside if it is
Ice cream bar
Weird/odd/themed 70s food buffet
Fancy dress cobbled together from what's in the house
Presents which thankfully we bought in advance
Balloons and whatever decorations we can get at the supermarket next time we go food shopping

Coffeenofilter · 04/04/2020 20:24

We've got a similar aged birthday coming up. I figure at this age they will be happy with things that can be got from a supermarket alongside a weekly shop, so treat foods, hair accessories, maybe clothing, most supermarkets seem to have some toys, even if a limited range...

We're planning on decorating the house with things we can make easily (paper bunting etc), and just trying to make it look fun and special.

TheABC · 04/04/2020 20:25

Yep, order online. One of my friends had a birthday party for her 6-year-old last week. She made it fun by doing a present hunt around the house, cake (of course!) and a Facebook live party with some of child's friends with dancing games.

netflixandsleep1 · 04/04/2020 20:25

I think first poster is clearly joking, as obviously the first point of call would be to order something online and not go to the park to break into a cinema Wink

user1511042793 · 04/04/2020 20:25

I used amazon for my sons presents and moonpig for cards. Got a cake with the weekly shop. Wasn’t quite the same but nice enough. He was happy anyway.

Blackdog19 · 04/04/2020 20:26

My ds’s birthday is beginning of next month. I’ve ordered presents. Will make cake, special dinner and online family chat.

DollyDally · 04/04/2020 20:27

My DS1 was 10 last weekend. We let him choose the days menu so lollies for breakfast, and I was able to pick up a cake and balloons from the supermarket. I had already got him books but most supermarkets sell them if you are doing an essential shop you can get some. He contacted some friends on his school social media but otherwise I would have FaceTimed. To be honest we made a bit of fuss at home and that was enough. We said he can have a cinema trip with a couple of friends later in the year (fingers crossed).

Fatted · 04/04/2020 20:27

My DS is also five next month. We got him his birthday big present last week from Asda. If there is something in particular DC wants, I would order it now.

Furrydogmum · 04/04/2020 20:33

My younger son turns 18 at the beginning of June, older son has got 18 & 21 out the way! I've been buying bits and bobs with my general shopping and also ordered some specific 18th stuff from Amazon et al. I have no expectation of a major celebration but I still want him to get a sense of occasion.. Our Amazon delivery guy is dropping knocking and leaving - I lean out the door and yell my appreciation - he seems to appreciate this..

Tashtegotoo · 04/04/2020 20:41

My son is 14 next month. It's just him and me at home, his Dad is a plane ride away, older siblings at uni. We can't buy non essentials online here in NZ. Only shop open locally is v small supermarket, which is great for food but not anything else. Keeping my fingers crossed a relative in UK is able to post a couple of fun/useful items. We had bought stuff for her to bring out when she visited.

Darbs76 · 04/04/2020 20:43

DD’s birthday was last week. I ordered presents from amazon and got her a cake etc. We made the best of it

ChoporNot · 04/04/2020 20:58

My DD's 14th birthday is in a week. We ordered something big before the lockdown but I have ordered a couple of other things.

I am not browsing in the card shop though so I have drawn her something for her birthday card. I have made sure I have the butter/sugar/flour etc for a cake (we have chickens so will have eggs).

She knows it is not going to be the same as we planned (sleepover cancelled, narrowboat holiday cancelled) but she accepts that. She's like to open whatever presents she has on the day, in our bed, in the morning like normal. Have pancakes for breakfast, a cake, and Indian takeaway for tea.

Theresomethingaboutdairy · 04/04/2020 21:23

My dd turns 7 on Thursday. We have ordered her presents online from Amazon mostly and I picked up balloons, cards, candles,wrapping paper, a cake etc when I did the main shopping. We have been sorting out the garden over the last couple of weeks and will be having a bbq on the day (just us obviously.)

Cheesypea · 04/04/2020 21:36

There was loads of toys in the big lidl's today.

schafernaker · 04/04/2020 21:42

We have ordered stuff for DDs birthday. We are also due DC2 in the next few weeks so have also had to order things for baby too 🤷🏻‍♀️ So have tried to get them into the same amazon/John Lewis/small business orders

Janus · 04/04/2020 21:45

My son yesterday (9 though so slightly older). Luckily I’d ordered some things but there’s still stuff online.
On the actual day we made pancakes for breakfast, dragged chairs outside and did musical chairs on the lawn! I found a piñata online! We did the flour on the plate game. Did family football. All outside.
He said last night ‘best birthday ever’. He always says that to be fair but we still had a lovely day. It can still be a great day.

PainintheholeSIL · 04/04/2020 21:55

My sons birthday was 2 days ago. He's 4. We ordered from amazon. Got lots of lovely presents. Decorated the house, I made the cake. We had a lovely day the 3 of us and we explained that he will have his party when all this is over. Whenever that is.

Janaih · 04/04/2020 21:57

Ordered from amazon here. Allow extra time for deliveries. Plenty of cakes in supermarkets.

brownandpurple · 04/04/2020 22:02

My child's birthday is soon. We ordered a present from Argos and picked up in the Sainsbury store when we went in for shopping.

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