Mom Complains That Kid’s Birthday Party Charged $9.99 For Unappetizing Buffet For Adults

Aug 02, 2023

It's normal for parents to set some expectations about children's birthday parties, such as anticipating a delightful spread of candy, food, and other treats, to create an enjoyable experience for both young and adult guests. However, a mom's online video has stirred up a heated discussion on birthday party etiquette after she revealed her bad experience as a chaperone at one kiddie party.

The video, posted on TikTok on July 18, 2023, captured her dismay as she was asked to pay $9.99 for a so-called "mandatory" pizza buffet in Texas. In the viral piece that has since received over 480,000 views, the mom documented the unappetizing spread of banana pudding, pasta salad, tuna salad, and a suspicious-looking apple cobbler. She expressed her disappointment about the food for the adult guests and admitted that she opted to have saltine crackers instead of the questionable buffet offerings. 

Paying the mandatory fee and eating the food might not be worth it. According to the CDC, one in six Americans gets food poisoning every year, which means it's fairly common.

The mom also revealed that the pizza buffet wasn't the only disappointing aspect of the party. She admitted she forgot to include a photo of the unappetizing "hot dog station" that was also part of the set-up. This revelation only added fuel to the fire, with commenters expressing their disbelief and disappointment over the entire catering situation.

As the video continued to gain traction, hundreds of viewers expressed their dismay and shock over the party's food arrangements. The event also became a hot topic, with netizens sharing their own experiences and opinions on whether it's appropriate to charge guests for food at children's birthday parties. 

Partygoers who had attended parties at the same venue in the past chimed in, recalling their own less-than-stellar experiences with the food offerings.  

"Oouu that buffet look ROUGH," one person stated in the comments. "That apple cobbler looks like it might give you cancer," another commenter chimed. 

"Banana pudding with fish flakes, so delicious!" another user remarked with a hint of sarcasm after seeing the video. "Also, who wouldn't want a radioactive cobbler? I hear you have invisibility powers afterward."

Though they generally agreed that the food should be edible and presentable, some users defended the host's decision to charge the adults. They argued that it was a common practice to have parents pay for their own meals while the host covered the expenses for the children. 

"It was not mandatory for you to stay," one commenter said. "Of course, the parents who hosted the party only paid for the kids." 

"Either drop your kid and leave or stop being rude," said one other person, and another mother said she would just wait in the car while her kids were inside. 

However, the Pragmatic Parent believed that it was proper etiquette to also have food and a "grown up fare," including adult beverages prepared for the parents. 

"If they’re included they’ll also be more likely to pitch in to help,” the advice stated. “Include parents in the headcount for cake and cupcakes too!"  

In a similar scenario, an etiquette expert told Parents that while it was prudent to tell the parent about having adults pay, it's best for the rest to keep opinions to themselves unless they are privy to the financial situation of the host. It can get challenging when a parent is hosting a child’s birthday party on a budget, and then some adults decide to stay. 

Have you been to a kid's birthday party where the adults were charged for their food? What's your take on this? Do you know anyone with a similar experience? Pass this story along to someone who can relate!