Ms. Manners
A question was posed recently on a message board I visit occasionally and it has really been weighing on my mind.
The poster was saying how her kids want for nothing and how they were trying to think of a tactful way to ask the guests to bring specific gifts to their birthday party to be donated to charity.
Now, while I think it is admirable to want to give to charity instead of spoiling your children, it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Isn’t it presumptuous to think assume that people are bringing gifts? In this age of registries and lavish parties for 1 year olds have we forgotten some basic manners? I remember being so incredibly thrilled when I got to invite friends over for my 7th birthday that I didn’t care if they brought gifts, I just was happy to have cake to be shared with someone other than my brother.
I advised the poster that if she were worried about ettiquete then she should leave any mention of gifts off of the invitation and that the subject should only be discussed if the respondent brought it up in the RSVP. But then, people don’t RSVP anymore so….
Sigh.
