Apparently some sort of crime occurred sometime around 10:27 AM on Saturday in Target. More specifically, the I pointed out a few of the choices in which I wouldn't be shelling out the big bucks to Henry. Perfect, the 8-pack of Slinky's for $3, it's exactly a Henry-thing. I grabbed three of them and threw them in the cart. This will cover the preschool addendum in the preschooler/parent handbook that requests not to bring in a birthday treat, but a small toy for the inclusion of everyone (another words, some mommy with too much time on her hands who insists to facility that sending a goody baggie home with children doesn't foster materialism and that every child deserves a present when it's someone else's birthday, but I digress).
This shopping trip was a family affair.
My husband speaks up "aren't you going to get something for the birthday party to give to the kids?"
I shrug and respond "no."
He continues "but that's what everyone does, don't you think that they will expect it?"
I reply "well, let me be the first". I'm not about to put more money into Henry's birthday party for a stinkin' goody bag that half of the kids forget there and the other half are thrown away by the parents when their children go to bed.
At least that's what I do.
Here's to hoping that Henry's birthday party on Sunday doesn't end with 10 or so children crying their eyes out because Henry's horrid mother put her foot down and refused to hand out goody bags at the end of the party.
And if all else fails, Henry will still have his preschool friends, who will be happy
24 comments:
Oh I here ya! sometimes I think I put more into the goodie bags then the guests parents put into the gift THEY bring..
A word to the wise though.. I tried this one.. being the rebel that I am.. it did not go over well at all! I could have cared less about the parents who turned their noses up at me. But when one little kid said to me "I thought a goodie bag said thank you" Obviously this came from a parent's mouth but boy did it kill me to hear him say it.
I've given in and become part of the goodie bag mafia (fyi pass up Target.. OMG did I say THAT?!.. hit the dollar store.. kids dig stickers and they are cheap!)
As a mother of small children who acquire crap from treat bags at birthday parties, I give you a hearty THANK YOU. I wish more were like that. I can see that the goody bag could be a form of a thank you to your guests. How about a good old fashioned thank you note sent via snail mail? I with ya sister.
I HATE goody bags!! HATE THEM!!
Hate getting them (bags full of plastic crap and candy that I throw away anyway) and HATE trying to think of what to put in it that won't break the bank!!
AMEN sister!! Do it! Don't give them plastic crap. If they are truly in shock they can swing through McDonald's on the way home and pick up their own plastic crap!!
THANK YOU! I am in complete agreement with you. What the heck is the deal with the junk bags that foster materialism, cavities, trash my car and cause sibling rivalry for no apparent reason. Thank you. I don't give them out either. They are insane. I will confess that Avery's grandma and aunt found these super cute vintage aprons at a flea market in TX for 25 cents each, so we washed them twice in super hot water and gave one to each girl that came to her party. But otherwise I say forget gifts for guests of birthday parties!
that was funny. you were pretty intense about it. "Well, it stops with me" :)
Just went to a party the other weekend. And you are right. MORE than half of the bags were left. Pretty sad that the parent put all that money into them, and time and thought, to have them left there. And I read what Dipaola Mom wrote, and couldn't believe that a child(well parent) would expect a goodie bag as a thank you. Isn't that what a "thank you" if for? Or a thank you card? To have the parent expect something is even worse then when the kids expect it! It always gets me that you provide food, beverage and dessert to people for helping you celebrate with your child and they still wnat more! I think I just may follow in your footsteps and be a rebel too!
I hate getting goody bags full of crap - I still have pieces of one floating around my car from a party 3 weeks ago. ugh.
That said, I do understand not bringing birthday treats to daycare - even though I've always been one to bring cupcakes or ice cream treats, etc., to celebrate my first born's birthday. Now that my little one (12 mo) was diagnosed with food allergies and cannot have anything with milk, egg, or peanut, my heart breaks for her that she cannot indulge in birthday treats. I'm afraid she'll feel left out over, and over, and over in her life and would be happy to find a way to protect her from that.
I suspect your daycare's rule of no birthday treats may be connected to liability and some child (that you may not be aware of) who could not eat them...
Sorry to be a downer on an otherwise hilarious post. I always love your take on things. :)
I'm one of those parents who have to battle the kids after a couple days, after another kids party, to throw the crap out! Normally, I have to do it when they're not looking. Those little items end up all over my house/floor.
However, I still tend to pass something out at my boys parties...I know, Im a hypocrite.
high five and a big AMEN sister!!
seriously we should start a plastic crap revolution...and you can be our leader :)
Found you through SITS. My name is Beth, too. Well, it's Bethany, but I go by Beth. Anyway, cool name...cute blog! :)
I would love the party. I detest the goody bags my kids bring home that will just make a mess :)
Beth, Bravo to you! I ended up spending over $400.00 for Annika's stinking birthday party. 13 kids. Each of their present packs ended up being like $15.00, plus the matching table cloths. The activities, matching puppy plates and everything. Never again in my life will I do that. That money is going to a charity. And I'll let Annika pick which one. Or, maybe, we'll make a game of it at her party next year.
Welcome to my followers! Oh I have to say how proud I am that so many moms here say they hate the bags.. yippie! I'm making take home cookies for my 9 year old's glam party .. NO BAGS! It's a revolution started here today.. history has been made, moms stand together against the plastic crap brigade! Onward to party favor freedom!!!
Thank YOU! Yes! Yes! You said it perfectly. Perfectly. Awesome. Thank you.
OOOOOO!!! I love love love that you feel this way!
Why don't you get a pvc pipe and cut everyone a piece?
i love the idea from 3boys1mommy. we could do it with the string again. it will bring down the house :)
Give them a sticker and call it a day. Kids don't remember that stuff anyways.
Saying hi from SITS!
I totally agree Beth! For Kera's party I ended up buying cheap little bottles of bubbles (because I felt guilty about not having a goody bag) and not one child took one home. What a waste! When I was a kid I remember loving going to parties to have fun with my friends. We never expected anything other than a slice of cake!
Whew - hot topic! I don't know anything about these goodie bags, and I'm maintaining my ignorance as my alibi when we have children. They already get cake and fun and the parents already get a free babysitter. Geesh.
Hi Beth. Thanks for inviting us to the party. I'll download the photos here after the dog stops barfing up his bone on the carpet (!). The kids were exhausted from crying all the way home. And...if we only had a slinky or three to distract them. Ha ha ha. I stepped on a high school musical ring this morning and it instantly cracked into four new pieces of landfill (Calvin has another birthday party on Saturday-THEY had candy AND rings in their plastic baggies). :-)
I don't see the point in goodie bags really if they're being invited to a party and eating cake! Isn't that enough?
Stopping by from SITS...
Good for you! I personally HATE getting goody bags at parties and I do throw them out too.
(I do make special treats for parties, but most of the kids eat them at the party)
Hope your son has a fabulous birthday!
* Popping over from SITS.
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