A mom expressed her frustration with the mother of a birthday girl after she sent her guests a “strict”set of ruleson what to (or what not to) get her daughter.
TikTok user Brittany Robinson, with the handle shay27xo, one of the parents whose kids are on the guest list, stated that the demands are “extreme” and that birthday parties are“getting out of control.”In her post, Robinson shared, “My daughter was sent a birthday party invitation, and we RSVP’d. Three days before the party, the mother sends out a text to all parents [saying], ‘We have a strict rhetoric we would like parents to follow when picking out gifts.’”
HighlightsA mom expressed her frustration with the mother of a birthday girl after she sent her guests rules on what to get her daughter.The birthday girl’s mother asks for toys with no color, make no noise, and is waste-free.The TikTok post got divided reactions about the gift rules, with some agreeing and others criticizing.
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The TikTok user criticized the gift rules, saying that “birthday parties are getting out of control”
Image credits:stock.adobe (not the actual photo)
According to theTikTokvideo, the gift guide sent to parents stated that the acceptable toys should have no color, make no noise, be waste-free, and not be made of plastic.
When Robinson went online to look up what “waste-free” exactly meant, she found out that the said toy should have no disposable packaging and be made from environmentally friendly materials, which could be recycled.
Robinson says the message detailing the gift rules is “extreme”
Image credits:shay27xo
Upon getting the message just days before thebirthday party, Robinson expressed that at this point they didn’t even want to attend it anymore.
“I don’t want to make a mistake and be the one that broke the rule. It was so much easier in the 90s.”
Even though the initial thought is for the good of the environment, enforcing such rules on party guests is open for debate.
Montessori gifts make for an ideal gift option for kids
When a commenter recommended Montessorigiftssuch as wooden or refurbished dolls under the post, asking how old the birthday kid would be, Robinson replied that she wasthree years oldand that both her daughter and the birthday girl actually go to the same Montessori school.Montessori toysare made from sustainable materials and are often simple, avoid sensory overload, and cater to specificchild developmentstages. These toys help children learn practical skills like counting, tying their shoes, or using cutlery and are designed to teach one skill at a time, encouraging independence and problem-solving.
The post received divided reactions about the gift rules, with some agreeing with them and others criticizing them
Some joked about the extremity of the rules, suggesting, “So a beige bath towel” and “Go to Home Depot and buy a block of wood!”
Replying to a mocking user’s comment, “Weird. My kids suddenly have fevers that day,” Robinson said. “Exactly what we did.”
One user asked, “Are you friends with any of the other moms? What are they doing? This sounds stressful.”
An expert thinks gift registries help make buying gifts for children transparent
Image credits:Kateryna Hliznitsova/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
The idea of choosing sustainable and natural toys was agreed upon, as one commented, “We have the EXACT same gift rules, we said we’d rather not receive a gift than receive a noisy colorful obnoxious toy that we will not use and donate.
“We don’t do toys that are too bright, have any sounds, and we try to stick to recycled materials and such.”
Image credits:cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo)
Etiquette expert Catherine Newman, according to her interview withTODAY,believes that setting rules for gift-giving “feels kind of gross.” She states, “It makes gift-giving feel obligatory and transactional, when we want it to feel voluntary and heartfelt.”
Image credits:Kaboompics.com/Pexels (not the actual photo)
Nonetheless, she agrees with gift registries, adding, “On the other hand, gift giving is obligatory, unless an invitation specifies otherwise.
“So I appreciate that the gift registry is just transparently out there with it: Yeah, you’re going to have to buy my kid a gift, we both know that. Here are some things they actually want. Plus, I like the idea of avoiding duplicates and waste.”
Users commented, “Please don’t bring my child anything that would bring them joy”
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