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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel sad my DC no longer want candles on cakes?

49 replies

HowToExplainRight · 21/02/2023 16:37

I know I'm BU really, because if you stop and think about it, blowing all over a cake that someone else is going to eat is a bit revolting. It was never on my radar as a child though and birthday cake candles were an exciting treat; being sung to, blowing them out, making a wish, the scream as you cut the cake.

My DC are 10 & 13 and won't even entertain the idea of candles on their cakes. It just feels so flat.

OP posts:
ThreeLittleDots · 21/02/2023 16:44

Sparkly fountain thing instead?

ThreeLittleDots · 21/02/2023 16:44

Or it it the whole tradition they don't like?

WeCome1 · 21/02/2023 16:45

Is it the singing and attention they don’t like?

AnnaMagnani · 21/02/2023 16:46

Wait til they are 20 and the need to be supercool is passing. Will be more than happy to have candles again.

MrsHughesPinny · 21/02/2023 16:48

There are few things worse (in my opinion) than having people stare and sing at you. So many people hate it. Best to ask if people want it and to respect that if they don’t.

HoldingTheDoor · 21/02/2023 16:49

the scream as you cut the cake.*

The what?

ImAGoodPerson · 21/02/2023 16:49

My eldest doesn't like the singing/attention. He's a good sport athough nd knows we will do it and is fine with that and rolls his eyes. We got him a lightning mcqueen cake for his 17th, big eye rolls but he kept the car model on the top and the wrapping paper that matched it so can't have hated it that much.

I would just use a sparkly thing that they don't need to blow out. We still do candles for adults.

ImAGoodPerson · 21/02/2023 16:50

HoldingTheDoor · 21/02/2023 16:49

the scream as you cut the cake.*

The what?

Lol just noticed this, what does this mean?

KindlyKanga · 21/02/2023 16:50

Get them a massive firework

BlackbeardsToast · 21/02/2023 16:50

HoldingTheDoor · 21/02/2023 16:49

the scream as you cut the cake.*

The what?

I'm glad you asked!

What's this?

MamaCanYouBuyMeABanana · 21/02/2023 16:51

HoldingTheDoor · 21/02/2023 16:49

the scream as you cut the cake.*

The what?

My first thought too 🤣

I have a lot of kids and that's a lot of cake each year, but never heard a singular scream as the cake gets cut.

KindlyKanga · 21/02/2023 16:51

the scream as you cut the cake pardon?

What are you doing? Making a realistic looking kitten cake and cutting it with a chainsaw?

Original poster
HowToExplainRight · 21/02/2023 16:52

No, it's not the attention they don't like. Since Covid, they find the idea of blowing over food/eating food someone else has blown over revolting.

You scream to let all the bad luck out for the year. Or to annoy your parents.

OP posts:
HoldingTheDoor · 21/02/2023 16:57

You scream to let all the bad luck out for the year. Or to annoy your parents.

Is this a common thing? Please tell me that this isn't going to catch on if not.

HoldingTheDoor · 21/02/2023 16:57

What are you doing? Making a realistic looking kitten cake and cutting it with a chainsaw?

I was imagining a screaming cake too.

Original poster
HowToExplainRight · 21/02/2023 17:00

Is this a common thing?
Certainly was when I was at school. Although I will admit to passing down the tradition purely to annoy the grandparents!

OP posts:
LucyLeave · 21/02/2023 17:00

I've never screamed at a cake in my life 😂

KindlyKanga · 21/02/2023 17:00

HowToExplainRight · 21/02/2023 16:52

No, it's not the attention they don't like. Since Covid, they find the idea of blowing over food/eating food someone else has blown over revolting.

You scream to let all the bad luck out for the year. Or to annoy your parents.

Cover cake in cling film put candle in through clingfilm

KindlyKanga · 21/02/2023 17:01

LucyLeave · 21/02/2023 17:00

I've never screamed at a cake in my life 😂

I might start

Sleepygrumpyandnothappy · 21/02/2023 17:03

I think that’s really sad if they have become that germ phobic. They’re one step away from joining MN to declare towel reuse is “grim”.

BeanCounterBabe · 21/02/2023 17:03

There would be a riot if we didn’t make a cake for our two. They are 15 and 12. I bake and DH decorates. Child chooses theme every year. They don’t seem concerned about catching CoViD from blowing out the cancels. No one had suggested they might and it hasn’t occurred to them. Definitely no screaming though.

UsingChangeofName · 21/02/2023 17:04

Sleepygrumpyandnothappy · 21/02/2023 17:03

I think that’s really sad if they have become that germ phobic. They’re one step away from joining MN to declare towel reuse is “grim”.

This.

What are you doing? Making a realistic looking kitten cake and cutting it with a chainsaw?

Grin

I must have seen thousands of birthday candles being blown out in my long life and I have never seen or heard anyone scream at the cake.

Ithinkimthebfg · 21/02/2023 17:05

The screaming thing is a new one on me too.

Ithinkimthebfg · 21/02/2023 17:15

If this is about covid that’s incredibly sad op. It seems it’s impacted them greatly. Is one following rhe lead of the other? As you will guess it’s not a normal reaction, so for me this is less about candles and more concern about the impacts of covid on their mental health . Children this age should not be so germ phobic

CherrySocks · 21/02/2023 17:24

Lateral thinking ideas - Put the candles in something non-edible (Playdoh, plasticine, etc) or something you're not going to actually eat (large potato cut in half so has flat base), or cut their slice of cake then put candles in that slice for them to blow out, or have individual little cakes (caterpillars, choc swiss rolls), or find some sort of little candelabra thing that takes tiny candles, or arrange candles in an upside down colander........