kids birthday party-They never cut/served the cake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The kids were definitely confused and yes did ask-but they asked their parents and actually pretty quietly. My kid definitely asked and I just kept saying I’m sure they will serve it-maybe they are just not ready to do it yet.

It was at a park so the parents just kind of moved the kids back over to the play structure when it became obvious the cake was not being served.

Nobody asked the parents-probably because it felt intrusive to ask (That’s why I didn’t-cus I don’t really know them).

To answer the question about if there were other treats-yes but like chip bags/fruit snacks that were out on display the whole party. They also didn’t really have real food either-They had a fruit tray that had some cheeses but it was very small and not enough for the amount of people that were there. The food thing is less weird to me at this point though because after 3 kids i’ve seen pretty much everything-except this cake thing. This is new.

Maybe they were worried about frosting on playground equipment

[Anonymous]

I think they either forgot the plates or someone had an allergy and they panicked, likely unnecessarily. Many of us with kids with food allergies pack our own treats for this sort of situation.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if they are broke and will reuse the cake at a family event later. Playground and not enough food = cheap/broke.

[Anonymous]

Maybe one of the kids has an allergy and they didn’t want the kids getting the cake on the playground equipment even if the allergy kid did not eat any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe one of the kids has an allergy and they didn’t want the kids getting the cake on the playground equipment even if the allergy kid did not eat any.

Then don't do cake. Do donuts, cookies, pie, popsicles, or whatever else would be safe to eat. But you don't pretend to offer then take away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would’ve asked the parents. Because it’s weird and confusing. And no I don’t think it would’ve been rude to quietly ask—“hey the kids are wondering about cake—do you need help cutting it?”

"Do you need help cutting it" is super passive aggressive. You can just ask, "Hey, the kids are wondering about the cake. Are you serving cake?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The kids were definitely confused and yes did ask-but they asked their parents and actually pretty quietly. My kid definitely asked and I just kept saying I’m sure they will serve it-maybe they are just not ready to do it yet.

It was at a park so the parents just kind of moved the kids back over to the play structure when it became obvious the cake was not being served.

Nobody asked the parents-probably because it felt intrusive to ask (That’s why I didn’t-cus I don’t really know them).

To answer the question about if there were other treats-yes but like chip bags/fruit snacks that were out on display the whole party. They also didn’t really have real food either-They had a fruit tray that had some cheeses but it was very small and not enough for the amount of people that were there. The food thing is less weird to me at this point though because after 3 kids i’ve seen pretty much everything-except this cake thing. This is new.

This is really odd time of year to have a park party. It's cold.

Also, usually park parties have the best food, like good pizza, trays of snacks, fancy cupcakes, good homemade things, because there's no restrictions on outside food.

It was a couple weeks ago when it was oddly warm for the time of year-there was a back up plan of it was too cold. But yes-it is a weird time of year to even plan for an outside party. My husband and I were just talking about it this morning which is why I posted today. It just seems so odd to me.

They sound incredibly cheap. Outdoor party in December + no food + not eating cake = Cheap AF

[Anonymous]

My bet is they forgot the knife and/or plates and figured it would be worse to announce it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bet they found out that one of the children has a severe allergy, and they didn’t bring anything for that child, so they panicked and decided the best thing to do was to serve cake to no one. But they also didn’t want to mention it because then it singles the allergy kid out. But their kid still wants to have everyone sing happy birthday, so they told their kid they would do the singing and then he could have cake at home. And it was a poor solution but the best they could think of in the moment.

Assume the best of people, OP.

This is the only thing I can think of that makes sense. It’s really, really weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My bet is they forgot the knife and/or plates and figured it would be worse to announce it.

Okay. This also sounds possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet they found out that one of the children has a severe allergy, and they didn’t bring anything for that child, so they panicked and decided the best thing to do was to serve cake to no one. But they also didn’t want to mention it because then it singles the allergy kid out. But their kid still wants to have everyone sing happy birthday, so they told their kid they would do the singing and then he could have cake at home. And it was a poor solution but the best they could think of in the moment.

Assume the best of people, OP.

This is the only thing I can think of that makes sense. It’s really, really weird.

Nah, at age 4 if the parents are bringing them to a birthday party and their kid anaphylaxes to milk or egg or gluten, the parents are well prepared at this point to 1) share with the host ahead of time and/or 2) bring a separate treat for their child, which is almost always what I've seen happen. They don't show up at the playground, see the cake, and go "oh no! we didnt anticipate a CAKE! larlo has an anaphylactic allergy to both eggs and milk, could you please not serve it to anyone?" they show up with their own treat in hand and let the birthday parent know "FYI, larlo has an anaphylactic allergy to egg and milk, so I brought his own treat, please don't serve him anything! but i'll also keep an eye on him around any of the food."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The kids were definitely confused and yes did ask-but they asked their parents and actually pretty quietly. My kid definitely asked and I just kept saying I’m sure they will serve it-maybe they are just not ready to do it yet.

It was at a park so the parents just kind of moved the kids back over to the play structure when it became obvious the cake was not being served.

Nobody asked the parents-probably because it felt intrusive to ask (That’s why I didn’t-cus I don’t really know them).

To answer the question about if there were other treats-yes but like chip bags/fruit snacks that were out on display the whole party. They also didn’t really have real food either-They had a fruit tray that had some cheeses but it was very small and not enough for the amount of people that were there. The food thing is less weird to me at this point though because after 3 kids i’ve seen pretty much everything-except this cake thing. This is new.

This is really odd time of year to have a park party. It's cold.

Also, usually park parties have the best food, like good pizza, trays of snacks, fancy cupcakes, good homemade things, because there's no restrictions on outside food.

It was a couple weeks ago when it was oddly warm for the time of year-there was a back up plan of it was too cold. But yes-it is a weird time of year to even plan for an outside party. My husband and I were just talking about it this morning which is why I posted today. It just seems so odd to me.

They sound incredibly cheap. Outdoor party in December + no food + not eating cake = Cheap AF

Not everyone has as much money as you. Stay blessed.

[Anonymous]

My daughter would have went to the mom and asked, " Excuse me, but are you going to be serving any cake?" I did recently go to a birthday party for twin boys and they wiped a smudge of icing on each other's faces and then while the cake was cut and given to everyone else, the twins did not get any of that cake. Maybe they already had some or did not want it??

[Anonymous]

Maybe there was something wrong with the cake. My mom once made cake and switched the sugar in the icing with salt by mistake. Maybe they realized a similar problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have friends who did this. They’re really weird about dye and sugar but want to have the party look right, so the cake is whisked away right after singing. My secret theory is that the parents binged on it later.

This is something you’ll see up through kindergarten, but by 1st grade most parents have chilled out and are more realistic about their ability to control kids’ behavior (theirs and others) by controlling food intake.

Your explanation makes no sense. They are grown adults who have had birthday parties themselves and gone to many. Nothing happens when children eat a piece of cake. And if they have a problem with sugar or whatever the latest scary ingredient then make something else that everyone can eat. That’s just some rude hostessing.

And why were there so many adults there?

Huh? My kid is in first grade. Every single birthday party they've attended has had one or both parents of each child stay for the entire party.

I guess at a public place like a playground that’s a big thing in the city. I don’t know. The kids go to playgrounds all the time, they go to recess together all the time, nothing special unless cake is involved …