If you are a parent, you’re probably used to taking your kids to what seems like endless birthday parties.
Some of them might be just a few games at the local leisure centre and others are fancier affairs.
But you probably expect that either costs are included and you invite the kid to your child’s party or any extra costs are noted in the invitation.
But one parent was shocked when their six-year-old daughter went to a party at a Build-a-Bear store where she created a lovely cuddly toy – only for the parents to take them off all of the guests at the end to give them to the birthday girl because she said she ‘couldn’t afford to pay for everyone’.
Posting on Reddit, the parent said that her daughter was invited alongside seven other children to the party that was being held at Build-a-Bear but wasn’t being run by the employees.
They went to the food court for cake and pizza before going to Build-a-Bear to create their toy and then headed back to the birthday girl’s house.
The parent said: ‘The invitation said each kid would get to make a Bear, and I just assumed they would get to take them home, since that is what happened at another BAB party I went to. Me and my husband even pitched in about 30 dollars as we know these things can get expensive.
‘We get to the store, and the kids go wild getting their animals and accessories. As far as I know the parents didn’t really put a limit, but I made my daughter stick to just a standard dog with a shirt, which about half the parents did as well.’
But after leaving the store, the mum of the birthday girl announced that all the guests have to hand over their bear to her daughter for her to keep.
The poster adds: ‘Cue the upset and angry kids. They all disappointingly handed over their animals, and friend wasn’t even being nice about it either.
‘Another little boy didn’t want to, and friend ripped it out of his hands. I probably should have said something, but I didn’t. The other parents seemed pretty baffled too.
‘We get back to friends house and our kids are watching as friend plays with all her new animals.
‘I left with my daughter pretty quickly, and once we got back into the car she just started bawling. I felt bad so we went to build a bear and got her a new one.’
She then goes on to ask people on Reddit if they think it’s normal and to be expected or if she is being entitled.
Most people agreed that it wasn’t very fair and the parents should have been clear from the outset so everyone could explain it to their kids.
One person said: ‘No way the parents didn’t know it was not normal. If they weren’t being underhanded they would’ve made it clear that the bears weren’t going home with the kids from the start, and they wouldn’t have waited until they had all left the store (away from judgemental eyes) to collect all the bears.
‘I’d skip the next birthday party for that kid. Those parents are jerks.’
Another added: ‘MAYBE it would be alright if they had explained ahead of time but I really can’t wrap my head around this one. I’m really curious if they all brought seperate gifts for her as well.’
The original poster clarified that most of the guests had brought gifts for the party as well.
Most people encouraged the poster to have a conversation with the other mum – and later she updated them on what happened.
She explains: ‘This afternoon at school pickup me and another parent had a chance to talk with the mom of the party. It wasn’t a long conversation, but I’ll do my best to re-enact it here. Moms fake name will be Karen.
‘Insert awkward small talk here
‘Karen- … I hope the girls enjoyed (daughters) party the other day. I know (daughter) had lots of fun.
‘Other mom- Haha yeah I was actually wondering about the whole (daughter) getting all the bears thing. The kids seemed pretty upset afterwards.
‘Karen- Oh yeah we wanted (daughter) to have a special animal decorated by each of her friends.
‘Me- Oh okay. I was just wondering why the kids didn’t get to keep their bears. I even pitched in a little bit of money, assuming the bears would go to the kids.
‘Karen- Well I didn’t have enough money for each of the guests to make their own, that would get pretty expensive! If you want your money back I’ll see about getting it back to you. I don’t really see the problem though.
‘Me- Okay, well the kids were forced to give away their new creations, obviously they are going to be upset about it. I also don’t see why your daughter needs all these animals.
‘Karen didn’t respond and walked away right after, probably offended.
‘What bothers me is she said she “didn’t have enough money for all the kids to have one”, but she did have enough for her daughter to get like 8 bears. Just doesn’t really make sense.’
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