Is it fair to charge guests for your child's party? Photo / Getty Images
Is it fair to charge guests for your child's party? Photo / Getty Images
A mother has revealed she was asked to pay £25 (NZD$50) for her 10-year-old daughter to attend her friend's birthday party - just two days before the bash.
The unnamed woman explained how the other mother had messaged her at the last minute to see if her daughter could come,before explaining that she would have to pay, reports The Daily Mail.
Posting on parenting forum Netmums, she questioned whether she should still buy a gift for the child, adding that she "wouldn't dream" of asking a cash contribution for her own daughter's birthday party.
Other parents described the demand as "really odd", suggesting her daughter had been asked "to make up the numbers".
Posting on Netmums, the unnamed mother explained how the other mother messaged her two days before the actual party. Photo / Netmums
Explaining the situation, the mother said: "My 10-year-old daughter has been invited out for a friend's birthday, there's about 10 of them going and we've only been given two days' notice.
"The mum messaged me and asked if she could go to which I said yes, she then replied with a price it would cost. Altogether I'm going to be expected to pay around £25.
"I wouldn't have minded so much if the cost was made clear in the beginning but it was only after I accepted the invite. Should I still bring a gift?"
She added: "Maybe this is a done thing but I personally wouldn't dream of inviting my DD's [darling daughter's] friends to a party and asking for a contribution!
Posting on Netmums, the unnamed mother explained how the other mother messaged her two days before the actual party. Photo / Netmums
Photo / Netmums
'If I couldn't afford for her to do something with that many friends we wouldn't do it or we'd cut the guest list down! Opinions? Maybe I'm just being unreasonable.'
Other mothers were quick to agree, with one posting: 'What a cheek! There is no way I would hold a party and then expect people to pay for it!"
Another added: "Hell no! That is insane! Be completely blunt and instead take your child out for ice cream lol."
Some were more sympathetic, with one commenting: "[Maybe] they are extremely hard up and this is the only possible way they can do it. Very bad organisation though too - two days! Poor kid may not get many yes-s on that basis."
Others said it would make more sense if the children were older, and had split the bill after going out together.
"Maybe older children arranging to go out themselves would pay for themselves but not an organised party," one commented.
