I should have known.
Just when I shout my love for Cleveland from the rooftops, I read this –
Goody bags gone bad
Kids today expect pricey birthday-party favors, and parents are getting sucked in
Monday, March 03, 2008
John Campanelli
Cleveland Plain Dealer Reporter
At the conclusion of the lovely kids birthday party, with cake and ice cream and games, the hostess bid each guest farewell with a smile and a goody bag. A 6-year-old boy grabbed his, peered inside and said, “This is a rip-off!”
At another party, a mother decided to do the unthinkable and not even give treat bags. A group of 7-year-olds cornered her and complained: “You should have told us before we came!”
Still another mom called her child’s friends to invite them to an upcoming birthday bash. At least one of the kids refused to accept the invitation . . . at least until she told them what was going to be in the gift bag.
When another party ended without swag bags, a group of outraged 10-year-olds bum-rushed the birthday boy and . . . beat him up.
When I was growing up, the birthday parties I attended were different from the ones today but we were all given goody bags when it was time to leave.
The major difference is the contents – instead of paper noisemakers and costume jewelry, today’s birthday party gift bags include iPods and gift cards.
I won’t deny that there will be gift bags at Luke’s birthday party next month.
And I’m in Manhattan – capital of the goody bag craziness.
But I’m personally just a bit more reasonable with the goody bag contents and always will be — no matter what expectations the kid attendees may have.
Planning a birthday party? What will be in the gift bags?
Not doing gift bags at all? Attended a party where the parents got sucked – suckered—in?
(Or post a comment below if you aren’t shy.)
