AIBU to wish that other children's mums would not dish out chocolate to my DD at school?

[BlueCornflower]

My 4 year old came home from school with a creme egg yesterday as one of the mums of the class wanted to give all the children a 'pre-Easter' present. (It was February!). I know it was a kind gesture but I do feel annoyed that someone else can give my child something which I wouldn't acually have given her myself unless it was a very special treat. I could hardly tell her she couldn't have it. I'm not REALLY annoyed by it and wouldn't have minded if it was this child's birthday but I just wish other parents wouldn't do this. AIBU?

[sherby]

Ok I wouldn't be to happy about it.

Only because DD already has chocolate on a Saturday, she chooses something in the morning when we go to the shop to get the crossants. She will also share some of mine or DPs chocolate during the week if we are eating some. Nearly every week somebody at preschool is having a birthday or a sibling has been born or some other such thing and she is given yet more chocolate. It then gets to the stage where in my opinion she is eating more than she needs.

So when people then start handing out Easter chocolate I would think about holding it back or she would be eating chocolate nearly everyday. Which at 2.9 is far too much IMO.

However I would rather it was chocolate than sweets which we don't allow her to have.

[harpsichordcarrier]

at Xenia
I love it when you turn into a parody of yourself

[sherby]

That post sounds more than I wanted. I think I was trying to say that we give her enough chocolate already so I would rather other people didn't bump it up.

[LittleWonder]

Haven't read the entire thread - but I think the mother in question could have been more thoughtful and provided a sausage roll or fruit shoot so the children could choose.

[pointydog]

I would be flummoxed why anyone would give a pre Easter present in February. Was it really the child's birthday, perhaps?

Getting chocolate as a birthday treat doesn't bother me.

[AbbeyA]

I think if the mother wasn't there policing their actions they would go for the creme egg,Littlewonder.

[Psychomum5]

at littlewonder

[BlueCornflower]

Just looked in before going to bed - amazed the conversation is still going strong! Pointydog - definitely wasn't birthday as all the children were a Jan intake with birthdays Sept-Dec. Have decided I will think kindly of the mother for so thoughtfully buying creme egg for my DD and will try and not let DD see chocolate as such an amazing thing that she gorges on it forever, becomes obese at an early age and spends all her money on it when allowed out by herself! Also may start a snack cupboard where chocolate etc has to go if she gets too much from school and we can dish it out at convenient moments. Thanks everyone. Where would we be without MN? Off to bed now - night!

[choccypig]

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all. You wouldn't stroll into school and dish out sandwiches, or breadsticks or hard-boiled eggs would you? So why should it be OK to dish out chocolate? When I have excess of fruit and veg from my allotment, I offer it to the parents, not direct to the kids.

[AbbeyA]

Seems a very sensible conclusion, BlueCornflower. Actually not one of my DCs likes creme eggs-something they wouldn't know if they hadn't been allowed to taste! I can't stand them either-far too sweet.

[PaulaYatesBiggestFan]

i would be seething
and i do not agree with sweet giving at birthdays
30 kids in the class - pretty much once a week

[Sidge]

I wish parents wouldn't do this sort of thing, only because my DD2 can't have sweets/chocolate/biscuits/cakes etc and always gets left out

Admittedly we haven't had to deal with it often, but it's hard when parents bring stuff like that in and my DD is the only one without anything. Why can't they bring stickers, or pencils, or anything except food?

[Judy1234]

"It's common around here."..."It's a creme egg, not a wrap of coke or a balloon full of heroin."

Yes but being hooked on sugar ( see countless mumsnet fat threads) is actually a more common addiction than the others and yes it may well be common in Scotland but look at your weight problems up there - worst on the planet after the US (and Tonga?) because there it is all too common to feed children junk food and suggest it's a reward. Sugar equals pleasure etc - so yes why can't it be a new pencil for every child? Why the bad food?

[PaulaYatesBiggestFan]

agree

dont want my boy hyped on sugar at 3.30 nor his teeth sugared
i want to limit is sweet consumption not have it forced upon him

[KristinaM]

xenia - i think you are confusing Scotland and Slovakia

[carmenelectra]

Im with cappuccino and yurt. I wouldnt give hoot. Would think it quite nice.

[expatinscotland]

Oh, yes, Xenia, we're all a bunch of fat buggers who munch junk constantly and then move on to alcohol and drugs.

[expatinscotland]

It's not being suggested as a reward! It's just a way for someone to be nice. You should try it sometime. It feels good.

[CoteDAzur]

Agreed with cappuccino, yurt, expat, and carmen.

So your 4 year old got a bit of chocolate for a change. So what? It's not a big deal. Brush his teeth, give him less fruit that day if you are so worried the hundred or so calories are suddenly going to make him fat.

And next time you see that mum, thank her.

[carmenelectra]

I was allowed sweets/choc everyday after school as a child and i im not hooked on sugar by any means. Alcohol yes. sugar no.. I am very slim and eat a healthy, well balanced diet. Sometimes, when its my birthday or Christmas i might stuff my face silly, but generally i do not.

I let ds 1 eat sweets and/chocs most days and im not bothered in the slightest. He loves his food, eats well, is slim and active and looks after his teeth. And because i do this he does not gorge on treats and doesnt see it as a big deal. Ive never deprived him of anything in his little life. I know many self righteous people who do and i cant help but wait (with glee) to see their kids spend all the lunch money on shit when they are teenagers.

[carmenelectra]

Nice one cote

[AbbeyA]

Seething because a 4 year old gives some sweets out on his birthday seems very kill joy. It is hard at that age to have to go to school on your birthday so it is nice to be a bit special and give a treat to others! A smile and a happy birthday would be more appropriate.It seems a shame that a birthday is seen as a nuisance. A small packet of smarties once in a while is not going to cause child obesity-take them down to the park and have a good run round if you are worried.

[cornsilk]

So the Easter bunny is peddling junk food. What a twisted fiend.

[WallOfSilence]

Oh ffs.

Someone was being nice.

What's the big deal.

I can think of 1000 more things to get annoyed about.

dd attended a birthday party today & when I went to pick her up I saw her set a bottle of that pretend cola stuff down on a table.

I was cross at dd for drinking it as when she has had carbonated stuff before she vomited. She said there was nothing else, so that was that... she wasn't sick this evening at all.

In short.. build a bridge & get over it

[PaulaYatesBiggestFan]

ok so every child in its class birthday =30
then their party = 18 ?

it is unnecessary
not a killjoy - just dont give sweets regularly

why bother teaching healthy eting and then offer weekly sweets at school gates?

i dont want my kids to have fillings