Sahail AshrafAnd She Calls That A Kid’s Party??
April 26th 2007 11:11
Every day Princess Toddler and I eagerly await the arrive of the postie – me because after several emails insisting my manuscript is still of interest I’m waiting and waiting for THE LETTER to come (but that’s another story.) She waits eagerly because, well, pretty much everything’s exciting when you’re a toddler.
Today was especially exciting though. No, no publisher’s cheque in the mail. It was exciting for Princess Toddler. She received her very first party invitation by post. Actually, it was technically the second. So let me rephrase, it was her very first TODDLER invitation. I was actually more thrilled than Princess Toddler. I rapturously explained that the mail was for her, and pointed out her name on the envelope.
We raced inside. Well, I raced inside and then waited for her to lose interest in the sticks, gum nuts and grass outside, before finally make it to the lounge room, so we could open the damned letter. I half let Princess Toddler open it herself but I quickly became too impatient and I pulled out the contents of the envelope. First I grabbed a glossy flyer that promoted a party plan kids’ clothing company. Okay, kind of weird to be sending it with the invitation, but I didn’t give it another thought and reached into the envelope again.
I gleefully retrieved the party invitation, complete with a cute little picture of the party boy and colourful graphics saying ‘second birthday party.’ “Ooooh, look,” I exclaimed, and proceeded to show my daughter the invite, telling her she was invited to a party. As I was showing her the invite my eyes scanned the fine print and my excitement quickly turned to disbelief. Beneath the words ‘second birthday party’ was the name of the kids’ clothing company, a time, and the word ‘brunch.’
I couldn’t believe it. Had I read it wrong? I skimmed the invite again. No, I was right. The ‘second birthday party’ was actually a party plan invite. My brain went into overload telling me this is wrong on so many levels. What a fabulous idea! Your kid’s party will be a bunch of mums sitting around, trying to keep their kids quiet, so they can hear about the latest range of children’s clothing. Followed by brunch. No need to guess who the catering is for, certainly not the children. I just can’t wait to go. My daughter will not only miss out on the expected party games, party food, party play time, but her mum will be coerced into purchasing items she has absolutely no interest in.
Why not rewrite what a birthday is all about? Forget it being a happy occasion to mark the passing of a year. Forget it being a celebration of your birth. Forget it being a chance to share with friends your existence. No, a birthday is about consumerism. Why don’t you sit back while us mummies buy things we don’t need. Observe us as we talk about what we want to have and then share with you a portion of our brunch – so long as you didn’t make too much noise during the presentation. Let us show you how to become materialistic and engage in some pressure purchasing. As I was quietly deliberating all this, and seething beneath a calm mummy face, I quickly changed tact. Oh, look, your friend sent a photo of himself. Isn’t that nice. You remember him don’t you ….. Let’s just hope I didn’t make too much of a fuss about the invite as I allow it to magically disappear from the refrigerator door overnight.
Today was especially exciting though. No, no publisher’s cheque in the mail. It was exciting for Princess Toddler. She received her very first party invitation by post. Actually, it was technically the second. So let me rephrase, it was her very first TODDLER invitation. I was actually more thrilled than Princess Toddler. I rapturously explained that the mail was for her, and pointed out her name on the envelope.
We raced inside. Well, I raced inside and then waited for her to lose interest in the sticks, gum nuts and grass outside, before finally make it to the lounge room, so we could open the damned letter. I half let Princess Toddler open it herself but I quickly became too impatient and I pulled out the contents of the envelope. First I grabbed a glossy flyer that promoted a party plan kids’ clothing company. Okay, kind of weird to be sending it with the invitation, but I didn’t give it another thought and reached into the envelope again.
I gleefully retrieved the party invitation, complete with a cute little picture of the party boy and colourful graphics saying ‘second birthday party.’ “Ooooh, look,” I exclaimed, and proceeded to show my daughter the invite, telling her she was invited to a party. As I was showing her the invite my eyes scanned the fine print and my excitement quickly turned to disbelief. Beneath the words ‘second birthday party’ was the name of the kids’ clothing company, a time, and the word ‘brunch.’
I couldn’t believe it. Had I read it wrong? I skimmed the invite again. No, I was right. The ‘second birthday party’ was actually a party plan invite. My brain went into overload telling me this is wrong on so many levels. What a fabulous idea! Your kid’s party will be a bunch of mums sitting around, trying to keep their kids quiet, so they can hear about the latest range of children’s clothing. Followed by brunch. No need to guess who the catering is for, certainly not the children. I just can’t wait to go. My daughter will not only miss out on the expected party games, party food, party play time, but her mum will be coerced into purchasing items she has absolutely no interest in.
Why not rewrite what a birthday is all about? Forget it being a happy occasion to mark the passing of a year. Forget it being a celebration of your birth. Forget it being a chance to share with friends your existence. No, a birthday is about consumerism. Why don’t you sit back while us mummies buy things we don’t need. Observe us as we talk about what we want to have and then share with you a portion of our brunch – so long as you didn’t make too much noise during the presentation. Let us show you how to become materialistic and engage in some pressure purchasing. As I was quietly deliberating all this, and seething beneath a calm mummy face, I quickly changed tact. Oh, look, your friend sent a photo of himself. Isn’t that nice. You remember him don’t you ….. Let’s just hope I didn’t make too much of a fuss about the invite as I allow it to magically disappear from the refrigerator door overnight.
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Comment by charliesgirl_992000
Histeries, Mysteries and what not
Lifes little slices
Mystical Creativity
"That is just sooo wrong!!!"
LOVED this part!!
"....as I allow it to magically disappear from the refrigerator door overnight....."
"Hope she forgets abouit the party, Um, i mean, uh, HMmmm,don't have a good name for this except maybe ""WRONG!!!" <smiles>
Take care, Tammy
Comment by Candice
Thankfully, she hasn't mentioned the invite - we're too busy talking about her own birthday party this Sunday!
WRONG is definitely the right word for it!
Thanks for visiting.
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I agree ... "Wrong" is definitely the right word.
Good luck with that. Have a great day.
A.
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
people will find a way to commercialize EVERYTHING for profit!! Even their own children's birthday party...What rot! I'd of thrown it away too...
What next?? Sending out empty money envelopes in your wedding invitations so people can send money BEFORE the wedding takes place? Lord, is nothing sacred anymore! lol
Great post!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Tiff
Thank Goodness there are parents out there like you who have the common sense to say 'no' and raise thinkers.
Comment by Candice
Yes, at least she's young enough at the moment that I could just make the decision not to go. I'm sure it will get much more difficult to avoid this type of thing as she gets older. I can understand how parents say they are faced with battles about teaching values when confronted with these type of things.
Thanks for the good wishes for the birthday party. Princess Toddler had a wonderful day yesterday and was surrounded with people who love her and who she loves back. And it was complete with a very daggy home-made birthday cake, balloons and kids being kids!
Comment by Candice
Yeah, it's a scary world and being a parent is definitely showing me that there are some ugly things out there - and some battles to face.
I'll be looking out for that blank envelope from this family in about 25 years time!
Comment by Candice
Thanks for your comments. I would have thought it was common sense to have a kids birthday party where the children could run around and play and have fun and eat party food and sing happy birthday .... Maybe not?
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I am amazed by parents and the parties that they throw their kids... everything always had to be bigger and better than everyone elses and the gifts just get more and more ridiculous don`t they? what happened to cake and kids playing pass the parcel and pin the tail on the donkey?
ash
Comment by charliesgirl_992000
Histeries, Mysteries and what not
Lifes little slices
Mystical Creativity
Tammy
Comment by Candice
That was pretty much my reaction when I read the invite!
I have great memories of playing kids' party games at birthday parties and it's really sad that the simple things like that are getting lost.
It must put a lot of financial pressure on parents too - like you said it always has to be 'bigger and better'. Reflective of many things these days hey??
Comment by Candice
She enjoyed every minute of her party, and I had a lot of fun planning it and seeing her joy! I think making things like birthdays special is one of the best things about being a mum.