HOw do I manage all the presents my 6 year old will be getting for birthday

Zazen999

creased-leach wrote: »

I can't be doing with people feeling obligated to keep up with the Joneses, and the seeming need for parents to outdo eachother all the time.

Where will it all end?

Nail > head.

What's wrong with having one or two chums round, running round the garden and playing a few games after pizza and chips? 30-40 for a party - talk about wasting money and consuming for the sake of it.



Dear Psychotherapist.

My life was never the same after my mum took all my birthday presents away. I never really knew why. I was only 6.

robpw2

Zazen999 wrote: »

Dear Psychotherapist.

My life was never the same after my mum took all my birthday presents away. I never really knew why. I was only 6.

sorry this has made my night

SammyD_2

Janepig wrote: »

Next year it might be an idea for you to just invite those from your "background". :rolleyes:

Jxx

Now this is getting ridiculous and offensive. Although the OP's question seemed odd, she has explained she is from a different culture. Why should she not ask? It is hard when you are not familiar with the culture. I am from New Zealand, but even then I struggle with little subtle differences in culture between where I grew up and the UK.

The overwhelming opinion seems to be (a) no to asking for vouchers and (b) if you don't like dealing with the presents, cut down on the kids.

It is my son's 6th birthday tomorrow:j. We had the issue where he wanted to leave two boys from his class off his party list. Told him he couldn't do that so we are having the lot of them over. Would be interested in others view on that (but only if there are no insults suggesting I only invite New Zealander's to the party thanks!)

aliasojo

SammyD wrote: »

Now this is getting ridiculous and offensive. Although the OP's question seemed odd, she has explained she is from a different culture. Why should she not ask? It is hard when you are not familiar with the culture.

Nothing wrong with asking at all, it's how we all learn after all. I think some of us may have felt that the OP wasn't happy at first to accept what she was being advised. She seemed to want to justify her thoughts by bringing culture into it, when in reality this isn't relative as she is dealing with people from the Uk and not from her own background. It was basically put to her that if she wants to do things her way, that's fine but really the only people who will not see any problem with her way, will be people from the same culture as her. The majority of people in the UK (which is after all who she will be dealing with) will have very different views and she may end up the butt of some pretty negative opinion amongst the other parents).

We had the issue where he wanted to leave two boys from his class off his party list. Told him he couldn't do that so we are having the lot of them over. Would be interested in others view on that (but only if there are no insults suggesting I only invite New Zealander's to the party thanks!)

Do you think anyone may have an issue with that?

Two things spring to mind....first, I think it's kind of you to want to include everyone. Second, it's a shame if your son has to share his special day with boys he just either doesn't play with much or simply doesn't like. So...how's that for fence sitting? :rotfl:

If he's not too bothered either way, then I would do what you have done too and invited the lot.

Oh and btw...I think general opinion is that it should be no asking, full stop. Not just for vouchers.

Zazen999

SammyD wrote: »

Now this is getting ridiculous and offensive. Although the OP's question seemed odd, she has explained she is from a different culture. Why should she not ask? It is hard when you are not familiar with the culture. I am from New Zealand, but even then I struggle with little subtle differences in culture between where I grew up and the UK.

The overwhelming opinion seems to be (a) no to asking for vouchers and (b) if you don't like dealing with the presents, cut down on the kids.

It is my son's 6th birthday tomorrow:j. We had the issue where he wanted to leave two boys from his class off his party list. Told him he couldn't do that so we are having the lot of them over. Would be interested in others view on that (but only if there are no insults suggesting I only invite New Zealander's to the party thanks!)

Does he not like them for a reason - bullying for instance? I'd delve into the reasons why personally.

Mumto2

SammyD wrote: »

It is my son's 6th birthday tomorrow:j. We had the issue where he wanted to leave two boys from his class off his party list. Told him he couldn't do that so we are having the lot of them over. Would be interested in others view on that (but only if there are no insults suggesting I only invite New Zealander's to the party thanks!)

I sat with my son (to be 6) yesterday to do his list (using his class photo as a handy guide! ). He chose all the boys except one and about 4 girls (I knew easily which girls he would ask).

I felt the same that you can't invite all the boys and leave one out. On questioning, it was because that boy had taken my sons hat off today and ran away with it :rotfl:. I suggested that by the time it was his party, they would probably be playing together again, so he is now invited.

I too would feel awkward at that age leaving just one or two kids out.

SammyD_2

No, I think my son just plays with some kids and not others. While I don't think being invited to my son's party is the be all and end all, I guess I wouldn't like to think anyone had hurt feelings by being singled out as not included.

I don't expect him to be invited back - he is inviting kids who did not invite him, and I have no problem with parents only inviting a small number of kids - everyone has their own likes/dislikes and tolerance levels, not to mention budgets!

And on the subject of presents, when I had my sixth birthday (many years ago) the girl next door came from a very poor family. She didnt come to my party although invited. Finally my Dad went over to her house (he was her teacher) and asked why she wouldn't come - she said it was because I would not like her present. She had two crocheted doilys as a present. Of all the presents I got, it is the only one I remember, and the only one I still have. My daughter uses them in her dolls house (as I did) for mats. I guess that means more to me than a voucher would have done.

nelly05

HappySad wrote: »

My background, to give just for the sack of it is rude! Wasting their money & consuming just for the sake of it. If I gave your child a knife you would be rude by taking that dangerous present from him/her as it does belong to her. For me it is wrong for my son to be swamped with a mass of stuff & it is against our values.

People enjoy giving & people want to give whether the present is wanted or not; so I will ensure that much less fortunate children can have a much valued Christmas.

If it is against your values maybe then tell the parents he wants no presents at all and just the children bweing there will be present enough!!!

myrnahaz

I think parties & associated gifts will always invite controversy. A girl in my 12-year-old nephew's class has a birthday party each year, but, since she was about age 6, she always asks that people donate to her nominated charity instead of giving her a present.
I don't know whether these are anonymous donations, but I can't help but wonder whether it would generate some competition among the invitees as to who was the most generous. And would she tend to invite only the wealthier of her schoolfriends to ensure she broke her targets each year?

Errata

Why would people need to dictate how their guests behave? Whose need is being met ? If it's the inviter does that mean they believe their needs are more important than those of their guests ?