To let DS blow out his birthday cake candles this weekend ?

[Ishouldtryabiteachdayer]

So having both lots of Grandparents for a birthday tea in the garden. My Dad says he's not eating the cake I'm decorating if DS blows on it. He says as he "might catch the virus." Would I be unreasonable to let DS blow out his birthday candles?

I mean eating birthday cake is optional, I could provide other shop bought cakes ? Seems sad not to let him,,but it is a bit gross when you think about it these days. BTW DS is turning 5.

Child's birthday. Child comes first.
Blowing out the candles was one of the few normal things DS could do on his birthday in early lockdown.

Granddad can politely decline the cake or subtly leave the icing on the plate. He has options that don't compromise a part of the birthday thar most kids love.

@MarshaBradyo

You'd pander to an adult who could still eat the cake just by taking icing off?

I wouldn’t pander to an adult who asks that a child not blow out their candles.

Getting some cupcakes is no big deal for me, so yeah I’d do that. I don’t use icing you can remove anyway and wouldn’t change to that so he could peel it off.

I can’t see where the GP has asked that the child doesn’t blow out candles (unless I’ve missed something?). It says he is choosing not to eat the cake which is his choice. We don’t know the circumstances so I think those saying the GP is unreasonable are being a bit judgemental.

This is easily solved with a second cake.

It is an over reaction? Possibly but it is so easy to solve.

It's easily solved by Grandad eating his cake but leaving the icing. What a fuss about nothing.

If they're all coming to your house but strictly maintaining social distancing for fear of catching the virus then shouldn't they be bringing their own food and crockery and utensils? If your son DID have the virus third not just the cake it's everything in your household that's a threat?

I think gran

YANBU. That's the most batshit thing I've heard all week.

Candles in a cupcake for blowing/singing purposes. Regular cake for eating. Problem solved.

I can’t see where the GP has asked that the child doesn’t blow out candles (unless I’ve missed something?). It says he is choosing not to eat the cake which is his choice.

I’m fine with that too, to just not have any. If he doesn’t want cake as long as he doesn’t make a big deal of it in front of dc. I usually get cupcakes anyway and I’d just have one for him ‘for gp’ to ward off any comments. Here’s your one gp etc

I don’t really mind what the go does as long as dc has his usual birthday experience.

@lottiegarbanzo

It's easily solved by Grandad eating his cake but leaving the icing. What a fuss about nothing.

In normal times, yes. When there is a virus circulating that is transmitted by droplets in breath, not so much.

Give grandad a wrapped slice ‘for later’. I don’t blame grandad. It’s a grim tradition of eating spat on cake, if you think about it.

Speaking as a grandparent who has been locked up since March, I don't see why you are so unempathic to his grandad's anxiety. Many of us have made massive sacrifices and tried to follow all the rules.

Speaking as a parent who has been locked up since March my parents can jog on if they make a fuss about my children - also locked up since March - blowing out candles on a cake. Plenty of us have followed the rules.

It’s a grim tradition of eating spat on cake, if you think about it.

So OTT. I have never seen blown pancake become spat on cake.

Never before have I considered the hygiene issue of blowing out candles on a cake. This thread has ruined birthday cakes for me 😢

My son's birthday is on Monday and it's just us but in future a cupcake (or potato covered in foil, genius!) is probably the way to go. The cupcake could be part of the cake, like an asteroid flying round a space cake!

I went to a small party for a 3 year old and he blew out the candles and I ate a slice of cake as did everyone... I didn't even think now I'm like

Just tell your dad he doesn't have to eat the cake if he doesn't want to. More for everyone else

A potato covered in foil.

How celebratory.

This has blown my mind! If your dad doesn't want to eat the cake, he doesn't want to eat the cake but don't make a big deal of it for your DC.

In all of the years I've been eating birthday cakes I have never once considered not eating them because the candles have been blown out. Attended a birthday party last week and ate the cake and doing the same today. The odds of them having the virus are slim, the chance of us managing to ingest enough to make us so sick we need the hospital or it kills us is so remote.

I'm not weird about homemade food though, will happily accept any food offered and not scrutinise the food hygiene rating of my friends kitchen.

@sociallydistained

I went to a small party for a 3 year old and he blew out the candles and I ate a slice of cake as did everyone... I didn't even think now I'm like

You'rere fine, people have been doing this for centuries... The human race has survived!

Presumable, you've given your partner (and perhaps others) a good old snog at least once, that's more disgusting!

All these 'eeewwwwwwww spit' people. Have you never kissed anyone with tongues?

@Minesril

Never before have I considered the hygiene issue of blowing out candles on a cake. This thread has ruined birthday cakes for me 😢

My son's birthday is on Monday and it's just us but in future a cupcake (or potato covered in foil, genius!) is probably the way to go. The cupcake could be part of the cake, like an asteroid flying round a space cake!

Sounds like something from a Dickensian novel.

And what with it being little Arthur's 5th birthday, Nancy wrapped up a potato, as they couldn't find any flour becaue of the poor harvest the year previous. she wrapped it in a rag and stick a tallow candle in it. The flickering from the flame lit up Arthur's small face which was smiling in delight at such a marvel! For a few moments the bitter cold disappeared as Nancy had a surge of warmth, and trying not to shed a tear, she choked out 'Happy Birthday!"... Arthur happily blew out the candle and ate his gruel, whilst Nancy stowed the potato away carefully,so as to be able to feed her little family for the next three days...

@CherryPavlova

Give grandad a wrapped slice ‘for later’. I don’t blame grandad. It’s a grim tradition of eating spat on cake, if you think about it.

Who spits on the cake??

It's not like the kid hacks and splutters all over it...they blow air over it.
And if shockingly a droplet of saliva happens to land on the cake, then.... We'll all survive... What with saliva and all sorts generally being in the air anyway.

I'm with your Dad, sorry.

I don't understand how the spit droplets permeate the icing and soak into the cake though? Surely if you just cut off the icing layer from beneath and leave it at the side of your plate, you're ok?

@luckylavender

I'm with your Dad, sorry.

You'd genuinely make your 5yo do without candles on his birthday cake,to placate an adult that could easily say 'no thank you' or be given a small side cake, or just not eat the top bit of icing...?