Mum's the Word: Keep count when catering for parties

WHY go to a lot of trouble when you can pass the buck and hand over a few bucks?

Not sure who got the worse end of the deal - the kindergarten or the parent. Picture: Zoonar RF

I'M NOT sure whether I'm a genius or the worst parent ever.

I may have just stumbled across the easiest birthday party to put together without having to raise more than my arm to reach my wallet to grab a few small notes.

Miss Three is about to turn four.

Last year she had a big party. I mean huge. Her first 'proper' party with everyone she knew invited.

I paid through the nose for a party host dressed as Captain America and served up tables of food to keep the bored parents occupied. And she loved it.

This year as her birthday drew closer, I laid the foundation for her to understand this year's birthday wouldn't be like last year's.

After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing I managed to work out all she really cared about this year was cupcakes, balloons and pass the parcel. Done.

But even better, I didn't have to do it, her kindergarten would.

Miss Three's birthday falls on a kinder day this year. Nearly everyone she wants to invite will be with her all day, so I don't see the need to bundle them all up and take them home with me for a crazy couple of hours.

Instead, I put on my best smile and politely asked her kinder teacher if they would mind if I brought in cupcakes for Miss Three's birthday. "No of course not," was the answer.

This was expected, but the next answer was not.

"And she just loves pass the parcel. Would you mind if I made one up and brought it in for her to play with all of her friends?" I asked. "No of course not, we can do that."

Wow. Had I really just got away with palming my daughter's party off to her kindergarten? Was I okay with that? Did it make me a bad parent or a bloody brilliant one? Would Miss Three care?

All of the above raced through my mind in the blink of a second before I said "Wonderful, how many kids do I need to cater for on that day?"

"22," came the reply. "You better make it 23 in case."

Turns out the joke might actually be on me.

Originally published as Mum's the Word: Keep count when catering for parties