My mom hates the menu for my preschoolers birthday party

[Anonymous]

It's your mom ffs and your menu is bad. Carrots sticks, I'm guessing the blandest cheapest salad in a bag? You can do better than this for people coming in from out of town.
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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's your mom ffs and your menu is bad. Carrots sticks, I'm guessing the blandest cheapest salad in a bag? You can do better than this for people coming in from out of town.
.

+1. I can’t imagine making something I knew my mom wouldn’t eat and not having an alternative for her. She’s your mom.

[Anonymous]

You’re mad she’s offering to bring a healthier dish? Let her supplement with whatever she wants...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone hates your menu.

It doesn't matter as long as the birthday child likes it. When it's your birthday, you can decide the menu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone hates your menu.

It doesn't matter as long as the birthday child likes it. When it's your birthday, you can decide the menu.

Right!!!

[Anonymous]

If you invite adults - even your parents- you should provide a healthy option

[Anonymous]

She is coming from out of town- presumably this is not a frequent occurrence.
You know her food preferences.
She is your mother and your child’s grandmother.
She is offering to make something.

I don’t understand why this is an issue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone hates your menu.

It doesn't matter as long as the birthday child likes it. When it's your birthday, you can decide the menu.

Right, of course. Welcome to dcum, where 4 year olds call the shots.

[Anonymous]

I typically make a fancy salad because I figure there will be someone annoying like your mom at every party. Like a summer strawberry salad.

[Anonymous]

Just have a couple of bowls of protein (small cubes of chicken and cheese) to add to the salad for the adults

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone hates your menu.

It doesn't matter as long as the birthday child likes it. When it's your birthday, you can decide the menu.

Right, of course. Welcome to dcum, where 4 year olds call the shots.

No...the mom is calling the shots by being fine with birthday kid preference. See how that works?

It’s one meal. It’s a kid’s birthday party. It’s fine. Really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone hates your menu.

It doesn't matter as long as the birthday child likes it. When it's your birthday, you can decide the menu.

Right, of course. Welcome to dcum, where 4 year olds call the shots.

No...the mom is calling the shots by being fine with birthday kid preference. See how that works?

It’s one meal. It’s a kid’s birthday party. It’s fine. Really.

OP never specified that it was the kid's preference, just that she is "keeping it simple". So it's about what's easiest for mom. See how that works?

[Anonymous]

She’s allowed to refuse to eat certain foods, and she’s welcome to make herself something. You will be busy with birthday prep but are delighted to open your kitchen to her.

You both sound really limited. This is so easy to solve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone hates your menu.

It doesn't matter as long as the birthday child likes it. When it's your birthday, you can decide the menu.

Right, of course. Welcome to dcum, where 4 year olds call the shots.

No...the mom is calling the shots by being fine with birthday kid preference. See how that works?

It’s one meal. It’s a kid’s birthday party. It’s fine. Really.

OP never specified that it was the kid's preference, just that she is "keeping it simple". So it's about what's easiest for mom. See how that works?

Yes, and? Even if that is 100% the case...good for her. I know I'm feeling a bit run down at the end of the school year, coming off of pretty busy time at work. Throw in months of dance classes and a recital and two hours of semi-parenting at a kid's birthday party at someone else's house and a hot dog with ketchup and relish sounds pretty good at the moment.

I like how there's no mention of dad at all on this thread. If the party menu is so freaking bad, maybe he can step up and cook a few things. Think he was the mom putting together the guest list, getting email addresses or phone numbers of the parents of any kid invitees, figuring out a time that would work for the majority of attendees, etc.?

It's a four-year-old's birthday party. And you're scoffing at the idea of a mom wanting to make it easy? Uh...yeah. There's a time to really put in entertaining effort. This ain't it. Kids are happy with a handful of M&Ms and the opportunity to bounce on a trampoline. Any parents looking for fine dining and ambiance at a child's birthday party can manage their disappointment and desperate hunger for a full two hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She’s allowed to refuse to eat certain foods, and she’s welcome to make herself something. You will be busy with birthday prep but are delighted to open your kitchen to her.

You both sound really limited. This is so easy to solve.

NP. On principal (as far as principal is the right word for a NBD scenario like this), OP is right, mom shouldn't be criticizing or complaining. That said, yes, PP's solution here is 100% on point, this IS an easy "problem" to solve.