To be shocked and dismayed that DS has been invited to a joint party.

[SparklyDiscoGirl]

This party is going to be in a soft-play centre and it is a joint party between 4 of the boys in his class.

AIBU to think that this is a total cop-out on behalf of the parents involved?

DS is friends with all 4 of the boys and so it will be impossible to do anything excpet buy a present each for all 4 boys.

The parents who are planning this party clearly realise that this will be the predicament for all of the parents of invited children and yet are going ahead with this ludicrous plan regardless.

AIBU to think this is just taking the whole joint party thing waaay too far?

Just read op and I think you must give small presents to each child. My ds was invited to a 4 host party and we gave a card to each child with £3.00 in each. Buying each child a small gift seemed the simplest solution as he was not close friends with any of the children so wouldn't have been necessarily invited to their individual parties.

I thought it was a good idea on the whole but yes, a bit confusing for present givers. It would have been good if the party hosts parents had talked to each parent about the need to not buy the usual sort of presents for each child. At the time, I thought it was a bit lax of them not to say something. But I was only mildly irritated - not a big issue in the grand scheme of things.

There are all sorts of small presents you could give - look in your local pound shop, or buy four books from The Book People.

Blimey you're dull georgimama.

erm no, you told me I was a fool and then went on to explain in great detail as to why I was a fool and that I have no need to supply party bags or hire a soft play party, when it's what DS wanted.

why single me out though? why not the fucking countless other posters on this thread saying pretty much the same thing?

Dull because I think there are better ways to have a kid's party than in a rent by the hour soft play centre with the same standard buffet everyone at the party had last week at another party in the same place?

Really??? OK. If you say so.

My twins always have a joint party but invite seperate friends and I would never expect parents to buy them a present Each!! If they have a particular friend they both want to invite we toss a coin.

BUT

If they both get invited to a party I buy 2 slightly cheaper presents or 2 smaller things that can be used together.

I am amazed at parents who spend loads on presents for their kids friends. I also find it over the top when other parents buy nicer presents for my kids than I do

It's a children's party, I spend the same whether the child has pony trekking or a trip to MacDonalds (not many of the latter). It shouldn't matter what effort is made or spend by the parents, maybe they could have had a present split thing but it's your ds and his treatment and kindness to others that should be your concern, so i would buy something small and clever for each child.

Geeee whiz.

Still wondering about the name changing thing.
If you change names, is it possible for other people to see your history of name changes?
Do I have to delete my membership entirely to disassociate myself with this thread?

Also - how do you all type so fast.

I have discovered that my slowness at typing leads me to be making all sorts of comments at people that I did not intend to be commenting at.

again

Sparkly, really, do not name change. There is no need and you haven't done anything wrong. This is a very impressive first thread - it usually takes great practice to set off a thread like this. Admitting that you were actually a tad unreasonable is almost unprecedented (most people go "la la la la, can't hear you, how dare you not validate my every whim!") on MN.

And no, no one can see your history of name changes. Please don't though.

The time lag between posts and sub-replies and segues, and trying to figure out who is replying to what is half the fun.

nooooooooooooooooooo do not name change. I find it hard to remember names but I stand a chance of remembering you! We don't hold grudges and on the whole people are very good at keeping to the unwritten MN rule of what happens on one thread stays on that thread ans isn;t dragged over to another.

I have had virtual cat fights with someone on one thread and been sympathising with them on another.

Don't name change, blimey I remember my 1st post. I got ripped apart but am still here 5 years later

Sparkly - don't name change!! This is a healthy discussion. No one will hold it against you. Just move on, ignore the thread, it will die a slow death and carry on. It will drop out of Active Convo over next few days (or you could ask MN to delete it but seems daft as you have not been offensive!)

Welcome to the world of MN!

oh sparkly don't name changed, I have read most of this thread and you have said nothing to upset anyone....

it's just strange at first to have people openly disagree with you,

people love mn because they can go straight for the throat in a way they never would in real life,

you did a big thing and admitted you were wrong they don't all do that!

we type so fast from years of wasted hours practice.

and I apologise for missing your apology.....

Impressive first thread as georgimama says; you even got two people having a shouting match independently of you and the OP @ GM. Not many seasoned posters have achieved that very often

You'll fit in fine here and will be remembered

Welcome to MN!

Also, I have just discovered that I have has my knickers on inside out all day so am now tripley

MAybe that's what put me in such a bad mood

lol

See, stay, tis all par for the course - a first thread in AIBU is a bold and admirable move and now people will remember you and read your posts (I defo will, as long as you don't disappear into the furthest reachest of the scuttle bugging threads because frankly I have no idea what that is all about, and as the threads are always hundreds long I daren't try to find out in case I miss something like this which is kicking right off).

Lack, I didn't mean that I thought you were a fool at all (tis a turn of phrase although perhaps not the most tactful I admit), I just think this whole kid party thing can get way out of hand and your post was the one that made me go "HOW much" and post. It's not my style but I hope your DS enjoyed his party.

SDG, please don't name change - it was a fair question (IMHO) & you have handled the barrage of mostly critical responses very gracefully

(FWIW I would have been a bit miffed too in your place, esp as it wasn't a soft-play party (if I understood correctly), just an ordinary soft-play session, and it wasn't for 4 birthdays all on top of each other but merely a bunch of parents who know each other sharing an easy option )

Sparkly - look at it this way - you get to turn them the other way and get a second day's wear out of them

....every cloud and all that....