NO parent wants their child to be left out when it comes to attending birthday parties.
But one mother found herself in a sticky situation after her son was charged £20 to attend his friend’s birthday party.
She took to Facebook to reveal how confused she was after receiving an invitation for her daughter to attend a local trampoline park, along with the request for a financial contribution.
But that wasn’t the worst part for the mother.
As she read a little more, she realized there was also a long wish list for gifts.
After the mother of two took to social media to vent about the issue, a debate erupted and the matter went viral.
She wanted to ask other parents what the correct etiquette was when organizing parties and whether she was wrong to think the request was unreasonable.
The mother revealed that she agreed to pay the fee because she understood that people are under financial pressure due to the cost of living.
She also didn’t want her son to miss the event.
However, she highlighted that the wish list was also expensive, with items costing between £35 and £65.
On top of all this, the mother noted that this particular father had never brought gifts for his children to his children’s birthday parties.
The mother believes that if the parents do not have the money to organize a party, then it should be reduced or choose a cheaper option.
She also believes that parents should budget appropriately and not put pressure on other parents.
Many other parents rushed to the comments section to share their thoughts.
One person said: “I understand if they go for some kind of paid activity, but a ‘bucket list’ – cheeky, you need to teach kids to be grateful for what they get as a gift.”
Another person wrote on Facebook: “I wouldn’t be outraged at all. I would just laugh and say ‘I’m not going to attend’.”
Dinner and guest etiquette
Whether it’s your first time welcoming friends to your new home or you’re a regular dinner guest…
Fabulous associate editor Rebecca Miller has put together a list of dos and don’ts when it comes to dinner parties and guest etiquette — and that doesn’t include sending the guest a bill at the end of the night!
Show up on time – a 10 minute grace period is allowed, but anything beyond that without letting the host know is just plain rude.
Don’t show up empty-handed – unless you’re grabbing a quick coffee, you should always show up with a little token of appreciation for the host and their efforts. Flowers, a bottle of wine, a candle, or contribute to the dinner by making a dessert.
Don’t start eating until everyone is seated – what may be an obvious rule, is something that many forget. Preparing a meal for a group of people takes a lot of effort, so wait for the host to park, say thank you, and wait for instructions.
Don’t wash the dishes, clean the table – everyone has their own way of cleaning and tidying. If you walk into the kitchen and start scrubbing, it could be seen as an insult. Then help clear the table and ask if there’s anything else you can do – maybe fill everyone’s glasses?
Get off your phone – few things can make a person feel less seen or important than sitting behind a cell phone. Keep it in your pocket and check for anything urgent during bathroom breaks.
A third said: “Simple solution… don’t go to the party. The parent organizing the party should not hold one if he cannot pay.
“Calm down,” said another person.
A fourth added: “If you are asking parents to contribute then the best thing to say would be to not give a gift.”
“The only thing parents should bring are gifts,” shared another.
Another person concluded: “I like to think I taught my kids to have fun without spending money on everything and without embarrassing those who are invited but don’t have the money to go.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
