Kids party no food

[Thebabewiththepowerof]

Quick one

Aibu to think the recent move towards not providing party food at kids parties is a bit odd?

Just picked up DS from yet another party where no food was provided (and no it’s not a cost thing, not in this case anyway) just a doughnut 🍩.

The kids don’t care I’m sure but I wasn’t planning on doing a “dinner” tonight so had to come home and produce something from nothing because he was hungry. If you aren’t providing food then at least tell us in advance so we know!

Anyway, am I?

ps for context he is 8, appreciate if he were 16 this would all be a bit weird 🤪

Do you ever think that kids who regularly go to birthday parties where there is food or snack provided don’t notice that there is none at Little Tommy’s? Kids are not stupid. Plus at this age they don’t have the sense not to ask Tommy why when they go back to school. It is not the norm to not serve food at a child’s party which is evident from this thread. You can debate the right’s or wrongs of it all you like but the VAST majority of parents provide some kind of food. Sure the kids will see other kids there at other parties getting food. Why choose somewhere like that to have a party if your budget doesn’t stretch? Loafs more affordable options available.

I wouldn't expect a meal if the party was not at all in the 12-2pm or 5-8pm timeslots. Something like 1-3pm I probably would but would have given something for elevenses expecting a later lunch so if there wasn't much food it wouldn't be a big deal.

Where I come from also adults get food and drinks. I was a bit shocked the first time at a kids party here where we were given a set time of two hours and adults were just standing behind their kids eating at the table 🤣

From what I can tell, your parents raised you to be judgemental and lacking in humanity.

But go you because you’d offer kids a grotty 30p sausage stuffed with testicles, arseholes and other remnants.

Better than offering fresh air at a PARTY 😂

Softplays parties are notoriously expensive.

No one from a "less privileged background" can afford to invite 40 kids to a soft play!

Cheaper parties
Less guests

You must be really privileged to start with if you can invite 40 kids to a soft play. You just come as rude, and clearly weirdly judgmental, if you don't provide food.

They've managed to afford the venue! And a doughnut!

YABU.

Most parties my DC have been to have provided something like a meal of sorts, but there have also been some with just snacky food, like crisps and fruit, particularly if the party is not over a mealtime.

Regardless, I wouldn't consider food at a party 2-4pm (likely would have been fed at 3ish) dinner... So I would have been preparing dinner anyway for them to have at their usual time. They may have eaten less or (more likely) they may have eaten their normal amount if what they had eaten at the party at 3 had just been snack-size.

Wouldn't your DC have been hungry for dinner anyway even if they'd had a few sandwiches at the party?

It can be a filled doughnut rather than a ring one

😆 🤣 😂 definitely gotta bring out the wrestling moves at times like this!

They could have saved all year or even two years as their child really wanted soft play

A doughnut is what I'd expect for a party between lunch and dinner. Or equivalent such as a selection of bite size cakes/slices and some crisps. I wouldn't expect sandwiches or sausage rolls or anything like that.

My son has no shame he would sit in the kitchen and ask where the food is

Good grief @Spudthespanner Calm down. People are entitled to an opinion that doesn't coincide with yours.

And WTF is a party purist? 😆

Also, you should NEVER throw a party.

If I had to whip up some party food in a hurry and on a tiny budget, I would go for ham sandwiches, cheese sandwiches. Popcorn in a few bowls, own-brand crisps in a few bowls. Jugs of diluted orange squash or just water if budget really tight. And one of those little tray-bake party cakes. Skip the party bags as they're usually a waste.

Maybe they blew the budget on a really fancy cake 😂

😂
It's because the husband took all the food into work...

Your misguided outrage is quite sweet. Bless you.

😂😂😂😂

Why choose somewhere like that to have a party if your budget doesn’t stretch? Loafs more affordable options available.

This. Its not "privilege" to suggest you don't choose an expensive soft play for a party if it means its unaffordable.

You can do a good party for far less. A village hall type party can cost a fraction, including offering food.

Fair enough I can only base my expectations on what I have either done myself or experienced and it was the uptick in this approach I was more curious about. And no, I wouldn’t expect him to want more than a snack at home after because where food has been available at parties it’s been more of the pizza variety as that’s easy to portion, pretty universal and inoffensive.

However you say YABU but then go on to say that
most you have been to have food or at least snacks. This wasn’t that so you can see where my thoughts might have come from perhaps?

@LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway

People are entitled to an opinion that doesn't coincide with yours.

Why do people say inane things like this? I know they are... 🤷🏻‍♀️ and I'm entitled to mine.

Glad we've got that sorted.

Party purist? It was a lighthearted comment based on there being another thread tonight with posters flocking to bollock the OP for having a party they don't agree with. Utterly bizarre.

Have you read this thread? Apparently a party without hot dogs, sandwiches and popcorn is the height of rudeness in a civilised society.

A party with absolutely nothing is far ruder.

Oooooooookay.

I definitely didn’t say this in the OP

I never said anything was rude

I asked if my own expectations were unreasonable

some might call this introspection and an effort to learn new ways of living in this tumultuous society where mumsnet is the font of all knowledge

YANBU. A party with no food is the height of batshittery!