I wrote a little while back about children’s birthday parties and how I yearn to go back to the good old days of traditional birthday parties which you can read here.

Having heard about the latest ‘fad’ for children’s birthdays,I am even more convinced, that we should go back to the plain and simple days. What was wrong with a few sandwiches, a bit of cake, a few fun games. a nice present and of course the cheese and pineapple hedgehog?

Well, quite a lot actually judging by today’s standards. Two stories have caught my eye, on this very subject.The first one regarding a female singer/musician, who had originally made it big by winning ‘Pop Idol’ or something similar when it first started. and who is now a household name.

Anyway, her young daughter attends a private school, and has been invited to a couple of her classmates’ upcoming birthday parties. The problem was, one other mum in the class decided to send out a group e-mail on behalf of these two children’s mothers. Apparently the mums asked that cash donations be made in order that one parent could buy a Kindle for their child and the other a desk.Money should be put in an envelope and deposited in their children’s school bag, Oh and the ‘suggested amount’ is £10.00.

This celebrity was enraged. especially as they received another e-mail soon after reminding her about it, although of course she was under ‘no pressure’ to participate. She e-mailed back a scathing reply, basically setting out that she would like. and made it clear that the kids will ‘get what they are given.’

My God, it does take the fun out of it for the kids if the ‘present police’ are making sure that the right gifts or donations are made. I thought us parents were deemed responsible enough to be let loose in the shops to buy a child a birthday present, Especially as we normally have one of our own a similar age, and therefore have some idea of what to get. How bloody ridiculous!

The second story was even worse. This occurred around Christmas time. A 5-year-old boy returned home from school with an envelope for his parents. When they opened it up, they were speechless to find an invoice for £15.95 for a ski centre trip their son had missed. This was a fellow classmate’s birthday treat to which their son had been invited to but could not attend,

The parents of the absent child had tried to contact the birthday boy’s parents to inform them that their son could not attend, but could not reach them. They were told if they did not pay the invoice then they could be taken to court. This just defies belief in my opinion!  These sorts of things happen, and cannot be helped. How sad that some parents have taken it so personally.

I thought parties and birthdays were supposed to be fun!