To think this is OTT for a child’s party

[TheFluentGoldNewt]

took my 4yo to a party for a child at his nursery at the weekend. It was jungle themed and Ive never seen any parent go so all out for a party before. The whole place (church hall) was outfitted in themed decorations all handmade. I’m not kidding when I say it must have been HOURS of work in making these decorations. I’ve been to weddings that were less decorated than this. I’m talking themed handmade bunting going back and forth, themed balloon decorations (made not bought), a table runner, homemade props everywhere etc.

is this seriously what we are doing for parties now or is this parent seriously out of touch?

I honestly can’t imagine spending my evenings up to my elbows in glue and faff for a 2 hour party for 4year olds!

I am the loads of balloons, disco lights and store bought cake mum. I love seeing creative mums/dads flexing their skills like this. I can cook a great meal, but a Persian feast isn't well received by children 😆

Your post is a tiny bit bitchy OP. I assume it made you feel inferior or envious. It's not a competition. The parents to avoid are the "one-up" types, this party sounded fun though!

Soooo what???

How does that affect your life in any way?
Does it make your food costs go up?
Does it raise your heating costs?
Does it raise the price of petrol?
Does it cause police brutality?
Will your taxes skyrocket?

The only thing going up here is your blood pressure.

I bloody wish the wounded party would show up for threads like these. It must have happened before... I’d love the drama.

To be fair you did basically say you couldn't be arsed spending hours faffing on for something that would make your kid happy.

They may well remember, they're 4 not 2!

But even so, we should still do nice things for children, even if they won't remember it. I can never understand that mentality.

Why do you care? It looked cool, your child had fun, it was age appropriate. The end.

We went to a super elaborate one last weekend with my 5yo, looked like a lot of work, but it was amazing!!!! It's been the talk of the playground all week, and the kids had an amazing time. They even fed the adults 🙌🏼

Some people are creative, and they get joy out of it, it sounds like it was brilliant, I'm not, mine would look terrible so I pay people to do it fory kids party! if she enjoyed it and all the kids enjoyed it then it was a huge success.

GarlicBun · Today 19:38
This reply has been deleted
Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our

Can't remember what I posted menopause but oh the irony for op or a supporter reporting something that she finds ....not in the spirit.......

Just remembered, must have been for saying OP was actually a random jealous SIL trying to post something that would make the host doubt herself and be paranoid about which of the nursery parents posted it. It didn't actually say that the OP was a troll.

To be honest I thought you were going to say they had spent £5000 on a Kardashian's type party! And even if they had, so what? But to be honest I would just be in awe of the amount of effort they had gone to, to make so many lovely hand made decorations. I think good on them for putting so much love and time into it. We throw money at our kids parties because we can afford to, but we ensure they are minimal effort for me and DH. We order in food or take them out for the day, get gaming vans, go to restaurants, arcades, bowling, trampoline parties, theme parks, cinema trips. Spending hours and hours making hand made decorations and planning a party in so much detail takes so much more thought and planning and i say good on them! You do you, you don't have to compete though.

I don't think this thread went the way the OP was expecting!

How delightful everything was handmade. Actually awesome. I would have loved this. I don't have the skill or time to do it, but I admire those that can.

Very mean spirited. I bet it looked amazing.

Sounds like they went to a huge amount of effort to give some young kids a wonderful afternoon. I think that sounds very kind and thoughtful of them.

Oh god this has got me worried now. It’s my dc’s 4th birthday next weekend and I’ve made loads of effort for their party 😳 it’s their first ever party and I want to make it special, hopefully the parents won’t be judging me !

My 22 year old godson was actually saying the other day he remembers his 4th where we went to town on the streamers and decorations - he loved the memory!

I hate doing decorations but some people love that stuff so I bet you the mum really enjoyed doing all that. It's not a competition so you don't have to think about doing the same and you don't have to think it's ott because as I said the mum must really love decorating and being good at it (wish I was😊)

Only if they’re spiteful like the OP

You better check MN after the party😄. I think most parents are just in awe like me. Like I would envy your capabilities and admire your investment but I wouldn't think it to be ott. We all have got different abilities and mine is definitely not decorating 😅

Haven't read the full thread, but this mum/dad sounds just like me 😊. I love love love getting ready for my children's birthday parties! I love planning them, getting the decorations, getting the take home bags ready etc.. I'm rubbish at crafts so wouldn't have been able to make stuff like the person in your OP, but if I was capable, I certainly would!

What is sad is that every time I plan a birthday or other party for one of my children, I start thinking and worrying about the judgement "am I being too much?" "Will the other mum's think this is OTT?", "maybe I should tone it down so I'm not judged/hated/talked about?.."

I really enjoy seeing the children that come to our parties smiling and happy and having fun! My children often choose expensive activities and while I could easily say no, I often want to say yes. But I am always mindful to try and stay within the realms of normal so other mum's don't judge! I also try really really hard to stop myself getting expensive or OTT take home presents because I fear being talked about 😥 It's not that we have loads of cash to splash, it's just that I really enjoy planning and putting on fun activities for my children! and getting fun take home pressies! I want my children's lives to be full of so much fun 😊 and I love seeing them and all their friends enjoying themselves.

How I choose to.parent my children may be different from.others, but it's my way! I'm not aiming to bring any hate or hurt, so I wish people wouldn't judge! I expect this poor person that made all those decorations was just having fun and doing her best. Sad she has been judged when she's done nothing wrong :(

As I often find myself saying on Mumsnet these days - wouldn't it be nice if we could all support each other more, tolerate individual difference better, and judge less. Life would be so much easier ...

What an unpleasant post. It really comes across as very unkind. The mum was nice enough to host you and your child at their child's party and you turn to mumsnet to post a sneezy, unpleasant thread about her.

How about you took your child to a party, where the parents had gone to a lot of effort to make it very special for this child and guests? This is so bitchy, OP.

DH used to do this - he'd make it all with DC and really enjoy it. Do you think building sandcastles is a mad waste of effort too? It is fun to create something beautiful and temporary - and as PP said it is a hobby - better than everyone being on an ipad every evening surely?

Exactly. I bet that it was fun making it. I love a bit of creativity.

I don't doubt that many children are perfectly happy with a much simpler sort of party, and it's ok not to go all out like this parent did, but how lovely for your child to get an invite to something that looks beautiful and that their parent most likely enjoyed spending their time and money on.

Sounds lovely and I'm guessing the mother maybe enjoyed putting it all together.
My thing was a handful of kids invited to my sons party and coming up with something different to party bags.