The ‘confrontational’ RSVP this mum got for her 8yo son’s birthday party

“Their child will not be attending… it’s one less mouth to feed honestly.”

Laura Jackel

2 min read

June 13, 2024 - 7:04PM

'my kids' party theme goes against this mum's beliefs'

Primary School

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Organising and hosting a kids’ birthday party can involve a lot of work, but coming up against a confrontational RSVP was an unexpected twist for this mum on TikTok.

“Yesterday I received a text message from a parent of a child who was invited, letting us know that their child will not be attending because it is ‘against their beliefs’,” mum Jolene said of her son's Taylor Swift themed party.

“Initially I wanted to respond and ask them to elaborate because I'm not exactly sure what belief system they have, and what religion is out here saying, ‘thou shalt not listen to Taylor Swift’.

"But me and my husband talked about it, and we decided that their text message seemed a little confrontational because they could have just said ‘no, thank you, we will not be attending’."

Joelene went on to say she thought it was for the best that they weren't coming because they wouldn't want someone who felt uncomfortable at the party.

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Image: TikTok @jolenedolo

"He's always liked the pretty things in life"

“My husband and I have been parents for eight years and our son has always liked the pretty things in life,” Jolene who is a self-described ‘gender creative parent’ says in the viral clip.

“So we are very used to parents and people gendering things like clothes, hobbies and toys. I wasn't exactly sure how music fell into it. I know Taylor Swift is very girly pop but I was wondering if it works both ways?

“Are little girls not allowed to listen to male artists or just certain male artists who give off ‘masculine vibes’, because I've always found it kind of weird that we don't want boys liking women like that, or looking up to women.

"What's the problem in boys liking girls?"

“What's the problem in boys liking women? Isn't that what the goal is for some of y'all? Because girls are allowed to look up to girls and girls are allowed to look up to boys. But boys aren't allowed to look up to girls? It's almost like you think it would be a downgrade for them to look up to women or something?”

Jolene ends the TikTok by letting people know that luckily for her son, plenty of his friends like Taylor Swift so the drop in numbers was not a problem.

“There's no shortage of little kids who like Taylor Swift, so we have a full house and that just means one last mouth to feed and I’m a cheap ass person so that makes me happy.”

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"Just move on, and keep smiling"

The thousands of comments were mostly enquiring as to whether or not their kids could come to her son’s party instead, or affirming Joelene’s decision to steer clear of the other mum.

Like this one user who said:”It’s a good thing when problematic parents/kids filter themselves out of your life. Just move on and keep smiling and being grateful.”

Another was complimentary of Joelene's inclusive style of parenting, “so happy you’re supporting your child with what they like. You are a wonderful parent.”