Class Parties :: Stop The Trinkets

I love any excuse to celebrate and be festive. One thing, though, I cannot get behind: trinkets for EVERY holiday at school! Seriously, it is not just Valentines we are passing out, we are “welcome to bring treats” for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Presidents’ Day, Groundhog’s Day, Easter parties, etc. As I write this I am staring at a bag of heart shaped silly putties with googly eyes that I begrudgingly scooped up at Target before the cheap trinkets run out. It is great that my son’s school is enthusiastic about holidays, and I am thankful that they do class parties. The kids enjoy the parties, and I enjoy having the opportunity to spend time with him and his class. But why are we encouraged to send trinkets?

Let’s make some memories and go home empty handed. The games, cupcakes, and pizza are enough. The trinkets and treat bags are excessive. The kids don’t pass out the treat to their friends. The teachers put them in the kids’ bags. So when we get home after the party, my son gets really excited for 5 minutes dumping his bag of loot out onto my living room floor. He checks everything out, eats some of it, plays with some of it, and then it’s over. I am left with torn plastic baggies, packs of donuts decorated like a snowman, and love bug jello cups to clean up. It all makes it way into the trash can. It is so sad. Some of the moms are very creative and put a lot of time and money into what they send to school. I am throwing away other families’ money.

My older son’s school has a strict no trinket policy. No complaints from him or our carpool friend. The kids would be fine and holidays are a busy time. Honestly, it’s always a busy time if you’re a parent, right?! The trinkets are just another item on the long to do list. Can we try a 90s theme class party? Let’s get sugared up wearing a themed hat we made in art class and pass out old school Valentines (a card with a lollipop taped to the front).

Amanda Blaum
Amanda is her name and sequins are her game. She can never be too extra with fashion or fun. Boymomming keeps her busy. In between playdates and ballpark games, she enjoys dates with her husband of 8 years and girls nights with her mom squad.

5 COMMENTS

  1. As a mom who spends her hard earned money to make these cute treats for her kids and their classmates, I am saddened and even a bit angry. How terrible for your child to have to bring home treats from his friends at school. It’s a shame that he doesn’t get to enjoy a snack or candy after a class party because you think it’s garbage. And clearly this is an exaggeration because I have never heard of a class party centered around Groundhog’s Day, much less treats being given out for it. I truly hope your sons don’t adopt your attitude toward the fun things in life.

  2. Let me quote:
    “I love any excuse to celebrate and be festive.”

    “… I am thankful that they do class parties.”

    “…I enjoy having the opportunity to spend time with him and his class.”

    “Let’s make some memories and go home empty handed. The games, cupcakes, and pizza are enough.”

    WHY are ya’ll crucifying this woman over this article? How in the world is she selfish or self centered, or having wrongfully placed priorities by wanting to spend time and make memories?

    She’s talking about 50 cent trinkets that go in the trash eventually…. Making memories, having snacks, and celebrating are all enjoyable. Why are we bashing right now?

    Good for you and your homemade trinkets. And good for her if she doesn’t like them.

    Hopefully your children don’t adopt your attitude towards respect someone else’s OPINION.

    Go make some slime and leave her alone.

  3. Well said. As a mom of 3, on party days my car is wrecked by $0.05 plastic junk x’s 3. I can imagine the landfills full of slinkys, bubble bottles and finger puppets.

  4. I think that to say anything is mandatory at any school function is ridiculous. I think she needs to tone down the negative Nancy attitude. Who cares if her child comes home loaded down with cheap trinkets. It’s no different than going to a Mardi Gras parade. Guess what? You can throw away whatever you want, whenever you want. So, instead of complaining about the fact that she is feeling inadequate in her ability to supply $2 worth of stuff from the dollar tree to her child’s class a few times a year, she is bashing other moms who choose to be creative and maybe go a little overboard. And maybe she needs to have her articles censored for over exaggeration and lies while we are on the topic.

  5. I love this. We loose sight about what the holidays are really about. It’s needs to be more about the experience and memories. With 3 kids I feel like I am swimming in toys and junk on a daily. It’s just not necessary for every little holiday.

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