Can we start a mnet movement to ban party bags?

[bubble99]

Back in the dark ages, when I was a girl, we sometimes got an extra piece of birthday cake in a paper napkin to take home.

When did this 'party bag' nonsense start? From what I can see most of it is (expensive) junk and, what offends me more, is that the guests look for it.

Am I an old skinflint/curmudgeon? No honest answers required.

FGS, most parents have already forked-out for the food and the makeover/clown/entertainer/ unicycling jugglers, as it is. Isn't that enough?

love
love love

omg i am laughing like a drain at fossils in party bags!!

Oh those sad little faces, mars, those little eyes looking up in tearful confusion as they ask, 'but what happened to the party bags, daddy?'

Good for you marsy.

pointydog. How does that work, then? Is it 'pin the tail on the party bag?'

cod. You of all people should know the effect that even an occasional dose of haribou can have on the youth of today.

I like them too! Don't go overboard - a balloon, a pencil and a couple of mini choc bars. DS also loves helping me make them up - makes him realise it's not all about him. Of course then he wants one too!

Bubble, ghosty - the party didnt feel like a party at all really. Initially I thought it was because they were skint so figured fair enough but then have had to listen to all the things they are buying that and the other + how great it is to send laundry to the laundrette on a service wash to have it washed and ironed. I like party bags and with the exception of this incidence dont think badly if we get dont get one.

Bah humbug ... you got a lovely party tea and sweets and cake and a clown didn't you??? ... huruuummmmph ... party bags - NO! Be off with you, spoilt brat!

pointydog.... what sad faces? That would mean looking at the wee blighters. I'm watching the clock from 5 mins after they arrive! When it's time for them to go I open the door and start shoving! lol

Today's kids want party bags.

Tomorrow's kids will probably just want the 50p it would have cost!

pointydog. Those pleading, watery little eyes can be told that 'the money went on the sodding clown.' And that 'you little ingrates will discard it and say that Santa does a better job.'

Mars

LOL marslady @ 'that would mean looking at the wee blighters' and 'open the door and start shoving'
That's me that is

Hmm, you are raising a serious issue here and one I have never come across before. Are you saying that some kids diss their party bags?

In all my years I have never heard a kid slag off a party bag, no matter how tawdry. Blame the parents. Or give 'em all fossils - that'll learn 'em.

mars, I can tell you're kidding. I bet you're the Party Meister down your way.

i dont like most party bags. why do parents feel the need to put a tonne of haribo and artificially coloured sweets into a bag, then i have tio take it off my dd1 and check each item indovidually to see if she can have it, 9 times out of ten she cant, this is dispite mesending in with our RSVP what allergies we know dd1 to have

party bag with a bit of choc cake, and a pack of pencils and dd1 is very very happy.

oh pointy..... you sweet dear! Jest? I think not! Got a party to do a week on Friday. Do you want to come and see? 6 friends. DIY pizza, party games, cake! Go home!

None of my kids friends expect party bags at our house. I've freed up many friends from doing them too.

I don't mind party bags as long as they contain something that will be eaten/used, ie:

birthday cake (of course)
a balloon - always gets used some time
something chocolately
not Haribo I hate them.
No plastic tat, execpt those sticks that glow in the dark after you put them in the fridge for an hour. for some reason they fascinate my DS.

That's about it.

I am with Marsy too i have NEVER given party bags.

I get sick of all this pressure to do things because everybody else is doing it.

...although I would happily do without them, so yes I will join the MN bag-breakers.

I like doing them . Look out for bargain stuff - like books from the Book People - small bag of sweeties, some stickers and a balloon, done !

On a serious note. < Bubble tries desperately to summon her serious face> What offends me most is that the children are looking for them at the end of a party.

Imagine going to a friend's house for dinner and, on the way out, looking expectantly at a favourite picture on the wall or other lovely thing and expecting it to be put into a crappy plastic bag (or handmade jute, if in Islington )..... and handed over?

Ooh...must try that when I come to supper at your bubble.

Still... I got a lovely gift at the end of the last meetup didn't I? lol

"Back in the dark ages, when I was a girl, ....

we sometimes got a party!

Mars, I hope you've been feeding it well, and paying the vet's bills.

oh fgs bubble they are kids !!!!let em be excited abotu them