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AIBU?

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Original poster

Face painting and other things we hate about children's parties

36 replies

SkyandSurf · 22/04/2023 13:33

Am I the only one who wants to turn around and leave when there is a fucking face painter at a birthday party?

Every time the children seem to waste half the party waiting for their turn, arguing over whose turn it is and getting upset.

The party I was at today had a face painter spending around 10 minutes per child making incredible works of art- when the children would have been just as happy with a one minute slap job of Batman/love heart/other crap.

They had a 'take a number' system that the smaller children were too little to understand, leading to tears and tantrums from the under fours when their turn never seemed to come.

The exact same thing happened at a party with a balloon artist. Half the children missed the birthday cake because they didn't want to lose their place in line for a balloon animal.

Then we get to go home with stained clothes and look forward to a bath time argument about not wanting to wash it off.

I sodding hate it. I know IABU.

What do other people just fucking hate about the hell that is childrens parties?

OP posts:
takealettermsjones · 22/04/2023 13:38

I hate when the kids get their 'party tea' and then it gets whipped away after five minutes.

Treasureboxkey · 22/04/2023 13:39

The last one I went to, the artist spoke to all of the children at the start and explained that they would all get a go and she would come and get them. She told them that she'd be choosing the people who were really in the 'party spirit' and not those waiting for her.
She was also incredible and fast. It depends on the face painter.
I hate the DJs that want to involve the parents. Fuck off and let me continue my awkward conversation or scroll mindlessly through my phone.

Original poster
SkyandSurf · 22/04/2023 13:42

Treasureboxkey · 22/04/2023 13:39

The last one I went to, the artist spoke to all of the children at the start and explained that they would all get a go and she would come and get them. She told them that she'd be choosing the people who were really in the 'party spirit' and not those waiting for her.
She was also incredible and fast. It depends on the face painter.
I hate the DJs that want to involve the parents. Fuck off and let me continue my awkward conversation or scroll mindlessly through my phone.

that sounds so much better!

Today there was a jumping castle, a petting zoo, lots of food... and at any given point half the kids were just standing around queuing amongst it all.

Meanwhile I have to force my introverted self to make friendly chit chat with my fellow bored adults and it doesn't seem worth it if my kid isn't even having fun!

OP posts:
riotlady · 22/04/2023 14:38

I get grumpy if there’s nowhere for adults to sit down. Call me lazy but I hate standing around for 2.5 hours!

SwapTheYforaD · 22/04/2023 14:48

riotlady · 22/04/2023 14:38

I get grumpy if there’s nowhere for adults to sit down. Call me lazy but I hate standing around for 2.5 hours!

This

Xjshdvf · 22/04/2023 14:50

All the prizes….my DD always tries so hard and gets upset when she doesn't win and it’s quite heartbreaking when they’re only 4.

Nevermind31 · 22/04/2023 14:51

I hate any type of party with an entertainer- always so loud, and my kids never want to get involved.
much better to have an activity type party - softplay or something like that (as much as I hate softplay…)

BananaSpanner · 22/04/2023 14:53

Bouncy castles. When DS was younger my heart used to sink when I arrived at a party and there was a bouncy castle. A usually lovely child but once on a bouncy castle he became an absolute hooligan and would normally result in me having to climb on to drag him off after he had head butted the birthday child in his over exuberance.

FeltedDogs · 22/04/2023 15:00

Face painting, it stinks and marks the car seat. Anything related to swimming pools, the stink of chlorine and thought of old plasters and baby piss. Always put your child through a hot wash following a birthday party. If soft play, a hosing down with decontaminant prior to hot wash is also indicated. Check pockets for home made cakes decorated by bogey fingered birthday boy. At least Ronald Mcdonald parties in the 1980s were sterile 😀

Tidsleytiddy · 22/04/2023 15:08

The children

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 22/04/2023 15:11

YANBU

My kids get eczema so face paints wreak havoc if on for more than an hour and it’s resulted in many tantrums.

CruCru · 22/04/2023 15:11

I hate party bags. So much crap in my house and it keeps marching in, no matter how often I try to get rid of it. The children eat the sweets then leave the bags lying around afterwards - but become hysterical if I try to chuck them away.

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 22/04/2023 15:11

FeltedDogs · 22/04/2023 15:00

Face painting, it stinks and marks the car seat. Anything related to swimming pools, the stink of chlorine and thought of old plasters and baby piss. Always put your child through a hot wash following a birthday party. If soft play, a hosing down with decontaminant prior to hot wash is also indicated. Check pockets for home made cakes decorated by bogey fingered birthday boy. At least Ronald Mcdonald parties in the 1980s were sterile 😀

Hahaha.

Have you seen the pool party episode of Motherland that demonstrates how hideous pool parties are?

Original poster
SkyandSurf · 22/04/2023 15:12

I also hate the plastic bag of sugar, future landfill and choking hazards that's inflicted on us at the end.

OP posts:
TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 22/04/2023 15:33

SkyandSurf · 22/04/2023 15:12

I also hate the plastic bag of sugar, future landfill and choking hazards that's inflicted on us at the end.

Same. I always have books in place of party bags when my kids were little. The Works used to do 10 for £10

neverbeenskiing · 22/04/2023 16:00

Swimming parties are the absolute worst. I don't enjoy making awkward small talk with other school parents at the best of times, I definitely don't want to do it while I'm wearing a swimming costume.

Needmorelego · 22/04/2023 16:00

Things I hate about children's parties...
Number 1 : Children's Parties 😂

TempName247 · 22/04/2023 16:21

Glitter face paint even worse!

MintJulia · 22/04/2023 16:24

plastic junk in party bags.
Haribo
Shop bought cakes encased in pink icing.

If you going to have a party, at least make a decent cake.

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 22/04/2023 16:27

SkyandSurf · 22/04/2023 13:42

that sounds so much better!

Today there was a jumping castle, a petting zoo, lots of food... and at any given point half the kids were just standing around queuing amongst it all.

Meanwhile I have to force my introverted self to make friendly chit chat with my fellow bored adults and it doesn't seem worth it if my kid isn't even having fun!

Show quote history

Wow! Was that a birthday party? That seems like som serious competitive parenting if it is!! What ever happened to an hour and a half at the local soft play or party games done by parents in the back garden?!

I do often end up doing face painting at fairs various events (not professional just fairly artistic and a bit of a mug). I have various small designs that take around 2 mins each to do. The kids are always happy with them. Anything more just ends up being a pain.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 22/04/2023 16:30

It's a shame no one has come up with a selection of stencils and then just spray paint the kids.

Actually I might put that forward on Dragon's Den now I think about it.

(Halfords do a huge range of colour paints in spray cans!)

34and3 · 22/04/2023 16:31

I hate the oneupmanship that comes with parties. We are now passed bouncy castles and face painters with my older two and instead it's hiring out whole ice rinks, rock climbing walls or having a private dj or petting zoo. Every party gets bigger and the weird underlying competition between parents is what I hate. Oh and party bags are no more, each kid gets an actual gift Hmm

DRS1970 · 22/04/2023 16:37

I hated having to mix with other parents, particularly ones that I did not like. I also hated people who don't enforce any rules on their children, and choose to let them run free range.

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 22/04/2023 16:40

34and3 · 22/04/2023 16:31

I hate the oneupmanship that comes with parties. We are now passed bouncy castles and face painters with my older two and instead it's hiring out whole ice rinks, rock climbing walls or having a private dj or petting zoo. Every party gets bigger and the weird underlying competition between parents is what I hate. Oh and party bags are no more, each kid gets an actual gift Hmm

Mental! Once mine out grew bouncy castles, soft play etc a trip to the £2 Saturday morning cinema and then Pizza Hut after was totally acceptable.

im glad they’re well past the birthday party stage! I wonder if it’s just a London things or whether everyone’s at these competitive parties now?!

BiscuitLover3678 · 22/04/2023 16:42

when it’s over lunchtime and there is nothing for adults to eat 😭