How would you react to this kid's birthday party invitation?
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Anonymous
| It's a great idea. My guess is that the ones who are complaining, are miserable in their personal life and their response has nothing actually to do with the idea. People who are secure with who they are and where they are in life have a high tendency to find the positive in about any situation. Again, great idea and life lesson. |
Anonymous
| Sure, whatever the family wants would be fine. |
ThatSmileyFaceGuy
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| I know of a mom that had a party like that for her son. Collecting donations for the local animal shelter. She raised several hundred dollars in food, toys, and giftcards. Took it to the shelter and get a receipt to take it off of her taxes. |
Anonymous
I have to say I agree with this PP. I'd go along and keep my feelings quiet, but I don't like this trend. It annoys me. |
Anonymous
If the donations came from others, it is fraudulent to take the deduction (not to mention skanky). |
Anonymous
| Forced charity seems to be the IN thing nowadays. |
Anonymous
| As long as people (or animals!) in need benefit, I think it's a fine idea and can teach both children and parents to be more charitable. People in this area could certainly use that lesson. |
Anonymous
Quite a rant. I'm surprised you'd rather be hit up for traditional gifts than for gifts that help other people. As for resenting that you have to use your income to buy an extra can of soup, are you saying your child buys birthday gifts with her or his own money and not yours? I would assume not. Money is money; I'd rather mine go to food for a food bank than to yet another toy for a kid who already has too many. Something about the logic doesn't quite hold up here. At any rate, OP, I would not be annoyed by this kind of invitation. Nor would I impute to you the motives that this poster does. |
Anonymous
I assume the point of bringing a canned good is to collectively do something that will benefit people who are in need, no? |
Anonymous
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It smacks to me as a veiled boast and socail posturing.
"Look how well off we are. Our child is just so BLESSED with so much ABUNDANCE that she is happy to forgo receiving presents in exchange for donations for the needy. Aren't we so rich...I mean FORTUNATE?? I mean, from whom much is given, much is expected, right?" not to mention the more subtle: "Look what good parents we are. We are teaching our children about giving and selflessness. We will not be those 'greedy' parents who allow their children to accept gifts on their birthdays to fill their already full and overflowing toyboxes. By making this part of our child's birthday invitation, everyone will get to see and be a part of our wonderful generous actions. Aren't we so generous and selfless people?" Instead, you could tell you child that they could choose to keep the gifts they received and donate an old toy to charity, or donate the new toy to Toys For Tots. But that doesn't make the socail statement you are looking for. Frankly, the money you are spending on the party may likely be more than the value of all the gifts she would get combined. Why not just tell you are going to skip the party this year and give the money you would've spent to the needy. Make a special dinner at home. Bake a cake with her, blow out the candles and mail a check. Much more generous but with less social fanfare. Unless you decide to send out an email announcing your decision to do this, of course. |
Anonymous
| Look, no one's going to love 100% of the things you do. Just do whatever you think works for you and your child, and go with it. |