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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To let DD go away with Brownies/Girlguides on her birthday?

163 replies

BrowniesGoingAway · 25/03/2024 12:05

She’s 9, almost 10 and a Brownie.

We have a party planned for the weekend before and will do a day out during the summer holidays (her birthday is about 3 weeks before the big summer holiday so we always “delay” a day out until the summer).

Her birthdays the Friday and the entire district have a weekend away planned Friday to Sunday. It’s her dads weekend with her but as it’s her birthday it’d be a shorter weekend (as in I’d have her for her actual birthday overnight then she goes to her dads the next day and does birthday 2.0 with him rather than him having her Friday -Sunday as he usually would). ExH is happy for her to go away for her birthday if she wants to go away and is happy to pay for it as part of one of her birthday presents (as it’s expensive, usually pack holidays cost £40-60 for 2 nights, this is £120 for 2 nights due to the activities their doing).

DD wants to go, it’s all she’s talking about, her best friend who is a Brownie in another pack is going, her Brownies (in her pack) friends are all going, her cousin (on her dad’s side) is going who is a Guide. She literally cannot see a drawback. Brownies have said she can go later so I can do birthday cake/candles with her at home or I can stay for their evening meal and they’ll do cake/candles as pudding if I supply enough cake for her pack to all have some (this is what DD wants me to do) - if I do the latter option I'd just buy cupcakes and DD can have 1 candle on a cake.

The reason I’m asking if AIBU is my family keep saying I shouldn’t let her go and she should realise that it’s a clash and people want to see her on her birthday and the weekend around it. I’m also apparently spoiling her already with a party and a day out (usually it#s one or the other but it’s a big birthday so it’s both this year, next year it’ll be day out, year after party) as she also always gets a day out with Ex-PILs for her birthday. They said by letting her go and ExH paying for it I’m teaching her she can have everything.

She is aware that it’ll mean less presents from her dad, she actually says she doesn’t care about getting things and quote “Would love love love to do all the activities and have an extra special sleepover with all her friends”.

Obviously I want to spend time with her on her birthday but I also don’t want to hold her back or her to resent me for letting something like a date in a calander a big deal. She lives with me 95% of the time (EOWend with her dad) and I work Term Time Only, so I can always celebrate with her properly a few weeks later.

We'd have an hour or so in the car as I'd have to drive her to take her and ExH will pick her up on the Sunday and bring her home but obviously it's not a full blown birthday evening together due to it.

So AIBU to let her go?

OP posts:
Coffeeismyfriend1 · 27/03/2024 07:03

Kids is happy, you’re happy with it, her dad is happy with it and offering to pay for it as part of her present. I can’t see an issue here and other people need to sod off. ‘People will want to see her on her birthday’ isn’t about her, it’s about them! She want to spend the weekend with her friends at Brownie Camp which is a great experience for her.

AlmostThere2023 · 27/03/2024 07:12

My DD actually went to Brownie camp last year on her birthday. Exact same set up as you, her birthday was the Friday. She had school that day, finished at 3pm we did a light dinner & cake before dropping her off at 5pm to the bus. She went away and had the most amazing birthday weekend with her Brownie friends. Pack leaders did her cake (which I supplied) after their evening meal, everyone sung to her and had a great time. Definitely let her do it, it’s a birthday she will never forget! Ignore negative family comments, they’re actually being selfish demanding DD miss out on an amazing experience.

PrimalLass · 27/03/2024 07:13

Of course she should go

Rosesanddaisies1 · 27/03/2024 07:33

Of course she should go, it’s her choice. Your family are really weird about this

CurlewKate · 27/03/2024 07:54

We always have "flexible celebrations" (Mother's Day was two weeks late this year!) It's essential as they get older and busier.

QueSyrahSyrah · 27/03/2024 08:06

Of course she should go, it sounds like the best birthday ever! Our annual whole school trip to Alton Towers once fell on my birthday and it was the highlight of my childhood Grin

Yellowpingu · 27/03/2024 08:17

What a fabulous birthday she’ll have with all her pals, there’s no way you could supply the amount of fun she’ll have for £120 elsewhere. If you don’t let her go she’ll be miserable and then your family will probably complain and ask why she’s so grumpy on her birthday.

WonderfulSkye · 27/03/2024 15:24

It’s her birthday and she should be doing what makes her happy. Your family are being totally unreasonable.
Let her go to camp and join them with cupcakes like you suggested.

stichguru · 27/03/2024 21:29

People who are saying " I shouldn’t let her go and she should realise that it’s a clash and people want to see her on her birthday and the weekend around it." should NOT be seeing your DD on her birthday or really at any other time. Generally a person's birthday is the one day a year that THEY should get to decide what they want to do! I really don't get HOW anyone would fail to see this. The only reason I can think of for family saying this, is because they are massively self centred, don't care about anyone else and think that they massively deserve to be the centre of attention all the time. You need to cut people like this out of your life and you daughter's life for good. Definitely let her go to the camp!

456pickupsticks · 27/03/2024 21:38

Definitely let her go, and flag to the leaders that it'll be her birthday.
Send her with a big cake, get her a badge and she'll have a fantastic time!

Perhaps you could arrange for your family to come round on another day - either the Thursday evening, or at some point the next week, for a birthday tea? If she's keen - her being able to tell them all about her Brownie adventure will probably be fab too!

Mrsgus · 27/03/2024 22:15

Why are you even questioning this? She's going to have an absolute blast with her friends experiencing something she'll remember forever and then get extra celebrations with you later. Family can just do one if they can't be happy for her and what SHE chooses to do!!

JustMyView13 · 28/03/2024 04:02

It’s her birthday. If she wants to go on the trip & you and her father are not cost constrained, then let her go! She’s going to miss out on so much by not going, all because an auntie or similar wants to see her on a specific date? Sorry but they need to be more flexible and less selfish.

As for spoiling her, so what!? It’s her birthday. You’re only young once. In no way from your post did I get the impression she is a ‘spoilt’ child, it sounds like her father is around and supportive too. It actually strikes me as co-parenting done right. Forget other people’s opinion, if it’s what your daughter wants & you and her father are happy then I say let her go and make memories. Life is too short to spend it appeasing others.

ASimpleLampoon · 28/03/2024 05:34

It's what she wants to do, you and her Dad are ok with it.

No one else's business!

My DD is going abroad with her school , will be away for her 12th and we won't even see her on the day. It's what she wants to do so do that's what she's doin!

CeeceeBloomingdale · 28/03/2024 05:38

She wants to go therefore her opinion top trumps the wider family's opinion.

Lifetooshort23 · 28/03/2024 06:58

YANBU??

if your daughter, the birthday girl herself is happy, who cares about anyone else??? I do NOT understand these people who obsess over a day and cannot possibly just “move” it

DragonGypsyDoris · 28/03/2024 07:12

Weird - she is not a possession. Life goes on ... just wait until the years when you don't see her on her birthday at all.

Mummyofbananas · 28/03/2024 08:08

Let her go- I have an almost 11 year old and all she's interested in right now is her friends. Her birthday can be celebrated before or after.

Blondebrunette1 · 28/03/2024 10:45

Who on earth are the 3% that voted yabu 🤦🏼‍♀️. You absolutely should let her go, it's her birthday and she really wants to go, why on earth would anyone who loves her want to spoil her day, they can see her another time.

Also, would you let her go if it wasn't her birthday and would you pay it if it wasn't? If so, how can they say your being ott with paying for this on top of celebrating and giving presents. Do these people even like your child? They're either weirdly possessive or they have no idea how much these experiences mean to children, she'll remember it forever.

Heidi75 · 28/03/2024 11:24

BrowniesGoingAway · 25/03/2024 12:21

@MidnightPatrol They have a thing about birthdays being family occasions, and it being celebrated before or after being the "wrong" thing to do so they won't come to her birthday party (well her same age and slightly older cousins will) the week before as it's not her birthday.

They won't come to her birthday party as it;s not on the actual day - they sound like seflish, entitled people - it's not about them it's about her and her birthday and what she wants to do, she should absolutely go, couple of my kids have had birthdays whilst away with school - we sent cake and they had a great time. As a lesson for the future, this will be a good break with what family demands so next year do as you please also.

Bikesandbees · 28/03/2024 11:42

Let the poor kid do the thing that she’s excited about for her birthday.

I really can’t understand why people are so precious about birthdays being celebrated on the right day. Your family needs to take a step back and let the kid be happy. Her birthday is not about them.

tinofbeans · 28/03/2024 12:52

My DD went on a rainbow sleepover on her 6th birthday and absolutely loved it. They'd made her a special cake and took really good care of her all weekend. I'd been unsure about sending her, but DD was keen so we went with it, on the proviso I'd collect her if she struggled.

If your DD wants to go, let her! It will be a birthday to remember ☺️

ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 28/03/2024 12:55

I had my birthday in brownie pack holiday once. I think I turned 9yo. It was great, I didn’t think anything of being away for my birthday and had a fantastic day .

Bsgpuss · 28/03/2024 14:11

Shouldn't she choose what to do on her Birthday? She can have a small at home Birthday another weekend.

outsidethemug · 28/03/2024 15:22

I grew up with an expectation that I had to be available on my birthday for my extended family to come visit me. It wasn't what I wanted but that didn't matter... I'm glad you're letting her go!

mammaCh · 28/03/2024 15:39

Why do you care what other people think or say?
If you and your exH are happy to make your daughter happy, doing what SHE wants on her own birthday, then why does anyone else come into it?
Let her go and have fun.