9 year old served ‘birthday drinks’ at sleepover

[Calpi]

My daughter recently attended a birthday sleepover. The girls are 9 years old which I thought was slightly on the young side so I was a little hesitant but agreed.

I have just seen some pictures and I really am not happy. The girls were given ‘birthday drinks’. They were only squash and obviously no alcohol was used but they were served in actual plastic flutes. The drink was bright pink with fizzy sweets in the glass but I’m not happy.

The mum in question parents very differently. Her 9 year old gets bought VERY expensive skincare products. And her daughter acts like a
full on teen - we’re talking crop tops, Stanley cups, skincare, TikTok dances, eyeshadow etc. I have been in the girl’s bedroom and she has a dressing table completely covered in drunk elephant etc. The mum is into that overconsumption stuff she sees online. Fine, parent how you want but I want my daughter to have a childhood and to not be adultified.

AIBU in thinking this was massively inappropriate? Why couldn’t they have just made milkshakes or smoothies? Or an ice cream sundae?

Blimey. My brownies always have 'cocktails' at their Christmas party. The most disgusting blends of various fizzy pops, sweets and cherries they can come up with. With paper brollies and sparkly things too. They love it and no parent has had an issue in the 35 years we've done it.

I agree. I expected it to be they’d been given a tiny glass of Prosecco

Though coming from a Mediterranean family, a 1/4 glass of cava at celebrations was normal for kids in my childhood and none of us are raging alcoholics.

Hahahaha 🤣🤣 I thought you were going to say they'd actually been served some weakened shandy or something - in which case you have a right to be angry! But all that happened was they were given soft drinks and sweets at a birthday sleepover? ... that's absolutely fine OP! Actually I think it's really cute they were served them in fancy glasses, and pink fizz! Fab!

I hope that they all had a lovely time, it sounds fabulous.

Bloody hell. DD has been drinking her apple juice at big occasions out of a sherry glass for years! we all have wine glasses, she has her little sherry glass.... she loves it.

9 for a birthday sleepover is also a perfectly reasonable age.

Stanley cups are actually genius - DD drinks more water than she ever has AND it was her most wanted item last birthday... brilliant, her main gift cost less than £50.

Be honest, you don't like this other family, you judge the mum. YOu don't sound a lot of fun frankly.

Stanley cups?, that needs to be reined in it is just one step from Tupperware then where would you be

Don’t let your precious DD go then.

Don’t try to stop the fun for anyone else.

You’re going to hate the teen years

Oh dear, my 6 year old makes herself a 'cocktail' every few weeks. It's usually a fancy glass with an umbrella, straw, plastic sticks and lots of ice with water - I wasn't aware this would be judged!

In a side note - I wouldn't have given them sugary drinks so close to bedtime as it may have sent them hyper, but that was for her deal with.

Anyone else remember buying those sweets that looked like cigarettes?

Maybe OP should have some squash in a fancy glass and chill out a bit.

Lock n Lock?

Dont let her have access to QVC

Very good point!

I did mocktails for my 10yo's birthday. Totally innocent. I hardly ever drink alcohol.

I suspect it's in the context of the clothes and makeup etc that you're feeling it's pushing alcohol culture but in isolation I feel it's totally fine.

I know someone who served a bunch of ten year olds NoSecco at a sleepover. Apparently the parents were pretty annoyed about that.

My 9 year old has sips of wine from me. I’m not massively uptight. But I was just uncomfortable with the concept of the mocktails being referred to as birthday drinks and being served to look like alcohol. It’s all too grown up in my opinion.

You know what the parent is like - you know what she does for her kid - you let you child go - bit rich greetin’ now.

At least they didn't bring out sherbet cocaine

Yes, the context I’m sure plays a part

Quite the drip feed

Nothing better to do on a Friday OP? 🙄

Or should I say 'sip feed'

I used to try and make fizzy drinks by crushing up Refreshers sweets and mixing with water 😂
(Spoiler.......it never worked)

Sorry I can’t include every life detail of mine in the original post

I would have no problem with this.

Omg this is absolutely fine! My eight year old is into skincare and mocktails. I thought you were going to say they were served alcohol which obviously is a no no but if you complain about this you are a total idiot.

9 isn’t young for a sleepover. Brownies go on pack holiday from age 7.
It was pink fizzy pop with a sweet in a pink plastic glass? It sounds very normal for a girls sleepover party.
I don’t see how a milkshake is any different to pink lemonade.
Don’t send your dd to Guides at 10 they have a mixology badge (smoothies and Mocktails - always very popular)
If you don’t want her to go just decline next time.