The bond of fatherhood
And how stuck up can some of our CM wives be
Apparently this was the big discussion yesterday on CM and my only thought on it was how stuck up can people be. Anyway, here's the situation: A couple is throwing a birthday party for a three year old boy and one the invitations it stated NOT to bring any gifts, but to bring a covered dish food item. The question that was being asked was if doing such a thing for a party was socially acceptable. The overwhelming response of the CM girls was that such a style of gathering was both tacky and a major social faux pas for having a huge party for the kid rather then expecting people to bring a ton of toys.
Now, I don't know about you guys, but I've been to more than my fair share of potluck parties in my life for all sorts of ocassions, and that is exactly the type of party in question. Personally, I like potlucks, mostly because I like to eat (also why I know how to cook). You get to sample a bunch of different foods, beverages, and generally have a good time. As for the toys, admittedly my son isn't three quite yet, but get him outside and his favorite toys are things like sticks, rocks, bugs that don't bite, and so on. Also, most three year olds I have met would rather play with the box a toys comes in rather than the toys itself many times. My question is what to we as father's think of this concept?
Now, I don't know about you guys, but I've been to more than my fair share of potluck parties in my life for all sorts of ocassions, and that is exactly the type of party in question. Personally, I like potlucks, mostly because I like to eat (also why I know how to cook). You get to sample a bunch of different foods, beverages, and generally have a good time. As for the toys, admittedly my son isn't three quite yet, but get him outside and his favorite toys are things like sticks, rocks, bugs that don't bite, and so on. Also, most three year olds I have met would rather play with the box a toys comes in rather than the toys itself many times. My question is what to we as father's think of this concept?
Tags: ettiquette, opinion, parties, potluck
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Reger on -
Well, my 3 yr old daughter couldn't live qwithout her toys, and granted there are times when she would rather play with the box something came in but most of the time she is aching to get that packaging off so she can get to the toy inside. A perfect example my daughter got a remote control vehicle not oo long ago and the entire way home she played the the remote and ran the batteries down, so by the time we got home we had to replace the batteries already. And as soon as we got home she was begging for us to take the packaging off so she could run it on the floor. My only thing about it is that she pulls on the vehicle by the remote and taht is going to break it some day soon but she is enjoying it while it lasts. so from my experience, which is only with my one daughter, Toys, unless they already a have a bedroom so full that they can't fit another toy in there are a perfect thing for a 3 yr old. Especially if it is their favorite things which some of have clearly defined by that age.
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Permalink Reply by Charles Ward on -
I think that it is actually a good idea. It takes away the materialistic part of the childs birthday, and brings in the celebration part. Too many children now a days seem to be too enthralled by toys and games and such that they dont care about what they have because someone is always going to get them something else. My gf has a huge problem with her 4yr old. Her toys mean absolutely bunk to her, not because she doesnt want to play with them, but she doesnt appreciate anything she has. Mainly because she gets spoiled rotten by other people so she is always getting new toys. We took away her toys as a punishment and she just looked at us and said her grandparents would just get her new ones anyway. She is four, she shouldnt be saying things like that. So I applaud parents for doing potlucks for the party instead of bringing in the material stuff instead.
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Permalink Reply by Dragon Daddy on -
That's what I liked about the idea myself. My son has a ton of toys that he only play with occasionally. Most days he simply wants to color (thank the gods for color wonder), play with his play-doh, or simply just go outside. So I think he would enjoy that type of party himself. With your 4yr old it sounds like you do already have a problem with her taking things for granted, and I see this a lot with other children. I think as a culture we really need to rethink the values we are showing our kids, and a birthday party like those parents are doing might be a good way to start.
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Permalink Reply by Lonestar on -
my daughter has a moving box full of toys in the living room, she dumps them everyday to play in the box. But picks them up before nap time, and then dumps them out again, to play in the box. Then picks them all up before bed (a spongebob squarepants episode comes on every night at the same time, after its over, she cleans. Then its bath time, then bed, we don't tell her anything. She just turned 3 on the 9th, I'm stationed in Germany so there weren't any family, and the only people we really socialize with are back in the states for a month, so we had a little party of our own. She bypassed cupcakes (she's obsessed with them, and had been trying to get into them all morning) for her toys. She made us open them, then she took the toys, put them away, and then played with the boxes all afternoon.....we went outside that evening to play on the playground here, she played with a flower, the same one, for an hour.
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