Anonymous wrote:A card with cash is fine.

rofl the pure entitlement
sure, cash "is fine"
how generous of you. just because youll gladly extort parents of elementary schoolers for cash it doesnt mean that you should BRING A FKN GIFT TO A NO GIFTS PARTY!

I’ve done no gifts and people just brought gifts anyway so stopped putting it on invite. I have my kid make a card and put something in the envelope like a friendship bracelet or keychain or small squishy toy when we attend no gift parties.

Anonymous wrote:Bring a card. Nothing else. Don’t worry if other parents didn’t follow, the host will be glad you listened.

This! I got invitation " no gifts" about 8 years ago. I thought it was a joke or so, and nevertheless brought a small gift. The host mom appeared to be upset and said " I said no gifts, but thank you". I was taken aback and pissed. Never again will I do this mistake. If they say no gifts, they mean it!

Op, take a small gift like the card games you suggested. Every child loves gifts. The parent, not the child, put “no gifts” on the invitation. Maybe they want everyone to feel comfortable attending even if they cannot bring a gift. Cannot being a gift could mean cannot afford to or parents were too busy to make a special trip to a store or order something. It happens.

The first “no gifts” birthday I took a child to my child was in the very small minority that didn’t bring gifts. Lesson learned. I’ve hosted several “no gifts” birthdays when I’ve invited the whole class. All, except the one last year, most children arrived with gifts. The one last year I planned with only a week’s notice to parents so I assume people didn’t have time, which was completely fine and the reason I said “no gifts”.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bring the gift OP. I’ve never seen anyone not bring a gift when it says ”no gift” . Don’t look like the a-hole.

At our no-gift birthday party, only 1 family brought a gift. While we were entirely gracious, they clearly felt embarrassed.

I’ve been the no-gift person at too pant DC parties lately where we were the only people not bringing gifts and each time they actually opened gifts during the party. I was mortified!

This wouldn’t have bothered me at all. I would have wandered off to find more free food and drink while contemplating whether I want to spend any more time around people who don’t know how to read or follow directions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a parent but mentor a family. Through an activity I take one of the kids to, he has been invited to a birthday party. Birthday invite says "no gifts, please." Do we follow this? Bring a gift anyway (and if so, ideas? I had been thinking about a card game like uno or taco cat goat cheese pizza, plus some candy or Takis or something)? Still bring a card? Birthday kid is early elementary and is dcum middle class (lives in mostly gentrified DC neighborhood). I want the kid we mentor to fit in as much as possible!

"No" means "No".

Those suggesting you bring something are trying to get you ostracized or start conflict.

No gifts at parties are for two reasons. Either the kid/parents doesn't want the typical bday gifts people bring,
or it's to spare the feelings of the poorer or more awkward kids who cannot afford or wouldn't know what cool gifts to bring.

Kids want gifts. Don’t have a party if you don’t want gifts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bring the gift OP. I’ve never seen anyone not bring a gift when it says ”no gift” . Don’t look like the a-hole.

At our no-gift birthday party, only 1 family brought a gift. While we were entirely gracious, they clearly felt embarrassed.

I’ve been the no-gift person at too pant DC parties lately where we were the only people not bringing gifts and each time they actually opened gifts during the party. I was mortified!

This happened to me at a bridal shower recently. The invitation said No Gifts and suggested a donation to a specific charity. I was one of the few guests who didn't bring a gift and then they spend an hour opening and thanking everyone- so awkward!!

That's terrible form on the hosts part, the gifts should have been left in a discreet corner of the room or venue and opened at home. Was there a registry? What were people buying?

my mom would not let me do a wedding or baby registry. Maybe there is more to it. I appreciated gifts we got.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bring the gift OP. I’ve never seen anyone not bring a gift when it says ”no gift” . Don’t look like the a-hole.

At our no-gift birthday party, only 1 family brought a gift. While we were entirely gracious, they clearly felt embarrassed.

I’ve been the no-gift person at too pant DC parties lately where we were the only people not bringing gifts and each time they actually opened gifts during the party. I was mortified!

This happened to me at a bridal shower recently. The invitation said No Gifts and suggested a donation to a specific charity. I was one of the few guests who didn't bring a gift and then they spend an hour opening and thanking everyone- so awkward!!

That's terrible form on the hosts part, the gifts should have been left in a discreet corner of the room or venue and opened at home. Was there a registry? What were people buying?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bring the gift OP. I’ve never seen anyone not bring a gift when it says ”no gift” . Don’t look like the a-hole.

At our no-gift birthday party, only 1 family brought a gift. While we were entirely gracious, they clearly felt embarrassed.

I’ve been the no-gift person at too pant DC parties lately where we were the only people not bringing gifts and each time they actually opened gifts during the party. I was mortified!

This happened to me at a bridal shower recently. The invitation said No Gifts and suggested a donation to a specific charity. I was one of the few guests who didn't bring a gift and then they spend an hour opening and thanking everyone- so awkward!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is the problem. No one actually means no gifts in NW DC.

Will you teach your kids that girls don’t actually mean no to sex when they say no, too?

We’re talking about 5 year olds birthday parties. Take your trauma perversion elsewhere you sick freak!