'My family refused to attend my son's fifth birthday because of the theme'

“When I brought it up to my other siblings … they didn’t seem thrilled,” Kaya said.

For as long as her kids have been around, *Kaya’s kids have adored Shrek.

It’s a movie her two sons obsess over and watch regularly; it’s always playing in the background of the house, and the kids can't stop thinking about it.

So it was no surprise when her son, Jake*, suggested a Shrek-themed party to celebrate his fifth birthday.

But when she invited her family to attend, she was shocked by their response. 

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

Jake desperately wants a Shrek-themed party for this birthday. Picture iStock, Dreamworks

“Is it outlandish to have a Shrek-themed birthday for a 5yo?”

Kaya grew up in a very strict and religious household and could only consume what her parents allowed. 

“I went to a Catholic school my whole life and pretty much only hung out with Christian friends,” Kaya told Reddit. 

RELATED: The disturbing detail in Shrek you have completely missed, until now

“Growing up we really didn’t watch, read, play anything that wasn’t specifically religious-centred,” she continued. 

“While I respect my parent’s beliefs”, Kaya no longer shares the same values as her parents.  

Despite her parent's beliefs, when Kaya had a child, she wanted to raise them differently.  But once Kaya told her family about her son’s birthday party theme, they were shocked.

Introducing our new podcast: Mum Club! Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

The same was said about his brothers and sisters. “When I brought it up to my other siblings, who are still … religious, they didn’t seem thrilled,” she said. 

Then came the bombshell. 

“I was later informed by my younger brother that my nieces and nephews [would] not be coming to my son’s birthday party because of the theme,” Kaya said. 

According to Kaya’s siblings, the family was “very offended” that they “thought [the Shrek theme] was appropriate for a kid’s party”.

Now Kaya is stuck with a major problem; she wants her nieces and nephews to attend he son’s birthday, so they can celebrate his fifth birthday as a family. 

She explained that “growing up super religious sometimes makes you question every decision you make, especially as a parent". However, the last thing she wants to do is change the theme of her son’s birthday.

“Is it outlandish to have a Shrek-themed birthday for a five-year-old?” she asked. “Should I be more sensitive to my niece’s and nephew’s upbringing?”

RELATED: Calling all Shrek fans: the ogre’s famous swamp is on AirBNB

“Tell them to get ogre it!”

The Reddit community were baffled with the idea of changing an entire theme for a kid’s party.

“What is their problem with Shrek? That it has magic? Music? Dancing?” a person asked. 

“Shrek is a kid’s movie,” said another. “Your kids want to use this as the theme of their party why wouldn’t that be appropriate.”

“They sound like some real Farquaads,” added another.

One person offered an easy solution to the issue. "'I'm sorry that you're unable to attend.' That's all that you've got to say," they said.

Some argued the family missed the entire plot of Shrek. 

“The whole thing with Shrek is loving people (or ogres) for whom they are, not how they look!” someone wrote.

Others considered taking drastic measures. 

“I'd be throwing a Shrek-themed Christmas and Thanksgiving too,” read a comment. “I would make every gathering Shrek-themed,” another agreed. 

“Bless your heart, baby,” said another. “That’s just sad and ridiculous. Oh well, take lots of pictures and post them of everyone having a good time. That’s life and life goes on.”

“Tell them to get ogre it!”

*Names have been changed

Originally published as 'My family refused to attend my son's fifth birthday because of the theme'