what no pressies??

[bloom73]

Had daughter's lush 8th birthday party in the park ystd, no to pressies no to party bags, yes to fun, swings, hammocks, tree climbing, berry picking, jelly, ice creams and cake!

Instead of pressies we passed round a hat & collected fifty quid for birthday girl to spend in oxfam over the coming weeks. She's happy to be helping towards the Nepal earthquake thro' oxfam, and not to be creating more environmental impacts - trad' parties can breed waste (making new toys= more resources used & more pollution) ,when they should be about bringing friends together and having fun.

We're off to spend some of the donations with a couple of her pals after school =more fun than a pile of uneeded/chosen toys (tho granted some pressies can be cool, but lots don't get used).

We did buy her some pressies by the way - she loves her new trapeze swing & bike!

I'll step down from my soap box now please share this idea to reduce the impacts of lots and lots of kids birthdays Imagine the good that could be done and the damage to our lovely world avoided!! thanks CPx

You passed round a hat???
Are you completely nuts?

Time to get your head out of your backside I think.

I hope you asked everyone in that pictures parents permission to use that photo on a public website?

So she's going to buy second hand tat instead that won't get used

Arrrr mumsnet, always good for a laugh!

What a lousy party

Did you put a begging poem in the invite?

Please join us to DDs party.
We'd prefer that you don't bring a pressie.
She doesn't need tat
but will be passing a hat.
So make sure you bring plenty of money.

Weirdo.

In the interest of fairness to the OP, Jason, whilst it would be the civil thing to do, the OP doesn't have to ask anyone's permission. Apart from the fact no one looks particularly identifiable, the photo isn't being used for commercial purposes and it was taken in a public space.

Come to our party
But don't expect fun
we'll be passing the hat out
Before you can run

This has made me laugh out loud. Are you always so dreadfully sanctimonious? Do feel a bit sorry for your DD, though. Do you suck the joy out of everything or just her birthdays?

Jason

Maybe invitees would bought from a charity shop or enjoyed going to the toy shop and choosing something for you dd. Maybe some of your guests were put in an uncomfortable position because they couldn't regift rather than having to out their hand in their pockets for cold harsh cash.

I think passing the hat around is awful. It's really tacky and grabby. You can often find brilliant bargains that you can give as birthday gifts - asking for money means removes that options. Did you tell the guests you were going to do it beforehand.

The Parenting threads keep featuring this type of thread that seems to be borderline wind-up. Lots of exclamation marks and finished with a kiss It's boring.

I hope if anyone was stupid and wasteful enough to bring an actual present you explained exactly where they were going wrong. And then made them put extra in the hat to compensate.

I'm also a little concerned about the jelly and ice cream. I do hope they were home made from organic and fair trade ingredients.

That would all have been very fine and worthy were it not for the "passing round the hat" - wtaf? That's dreadful!

I went to a party that was much greener than that - the party girl's mum requested that all presents be something recycled - brilliant! Her DD was totally on board with it too, they were green campaigners, some of the ideas were excellent.

Can't believe you passed round a hat

Did you play Pass the Parcel with sticks wrapped in reusable nappies?

I went to a party that was much greener than that - the party girl's mum requested that all presents be something recycled - brilliant! Her DD was totally on board with it too, they were green campaigners, some of the ideas were excellent.

Nothing wrong with that, At christmas my sister has a "homemade presents" thing in place for her.

youre making your bairn spend her birthday money in a charity shop? You handed a hat round at the party?

You thought it would be a good idea to post that on here?

I actually cringed on your behalf OP.

Not really 'no to presents' at all then. She did get presents and a princely sum of cash to boot.

Um, yay for you? Careful your halo doesn't slip and accidentally throttle you .

hilarious responses glad its provoked some amusement to your day, we had a great time, see ya

OP I assume from this that you also make sure you only have gifts from Oxfam on your birthday?

All sounds bit smug to me

Um, yay for you? Careful your halo doesn't slip and accidentally throttle you

That's how Bob Hoskins Died!