We got $100 from a guest at a 'no gift' party - but it's awkward

"You guilted them into giving your daughter something even when you said not to."

A mum has asked for advice about a $100 gift her daughter got at her "no-gift" birthday party.

When Joe* and Sue* walked into the party, the seven-year-old birthday girl ran over to ask if they had brought a gift. 

"Sue saw the other gifts and looked clearly embarrassed for not having brought one, and said she thought the invite said 'no gifts,'" the mum explained.

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The awkward dilemma

"We were standing in front of the other parents who had just given their gifts so I didn’t make a big deal about it, and I said something like 'No, no, you’re right we didn’t ask for anything; she’s spoiled enough as is haha'," she went on.

"Unbeknownst to me, Sue quickly made a card and added it to gift pile. After cake, Joe and Sue’s son ran up (in front of everyone) and asked my daughter to open the card (we had not planned on opening gifts at the party).

"My daughter pulled out a $100 note and everyone gasped, and of course my daughter was elated (followed by my daughter opening the other very small, inexpensive presents). Joe seemed upset and withdrawn the rest of the party, and Sue acted like this was a completely normal gift."

After the party, she spoke to her partner to get a sense-check about whether or not they should have returned the gift in the moment, as Joe and Sue clearly felt "guilted into it."

So, what should she have done here? Commenters had a lot of thoughts...

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A missed teaching moment

"Did you prepare your daughter that it was a no-gift party? That some people may still bring one but it’s not expected? Don’t ask people for gifts," one of the comments read.

Others agreed that it was a missed teaching opportunity.

"She's only seven, so it was a natural question," wrote one group member. "Take the opportunity to teach your daughter why that question is rude. Tell her she didn't do anything wrong, but that gift-giving and gift-receiving can be complicated in the adult world."

Someone else chimed in: "You really did miss the opportunity to correct your daughter and tell Sue, 'You are correct. The invitation said no gifts — and you being here is exactly the gift we wanted'."

"YTA, your kid basically finessed these people out of a hundred bucks and you just let her lol," someone pointed out.

And others said they never should have accepted any gifts in the first place.

"YTA for stating no gifts and still accepting them," someone wrote.

It seems like the jury's vote is clear. The mum is the a**hole and put her guests in an awkward situation. 

Originally published as We got $100 from a guest at a 'no gift' party - but it's awkward