I Refused to Let My 10 Y.O. Son’s Friend Join His Party, He Didn’t Bring a Gift
Parents often want to protect their children from unnecessary hurt, especially during moments meant to bring joy. One mother, Stana (37, F), faced this challenge when her son’s friend showed up to his birthday party empty-handed after repeatedly promising an expensive toy. Did she do the right thing? Read on to find out.
Here’s her story:My son had been counting down to his birthday party for weeks. He was especially excited because his friend Leo’s mom had promised him a toy race car, something my son had talked about nonstop.
When the day finally arrived, Leo showed up empty-handed. My son looked confused, and before I could say anything, Leo’s mom laughed and said, “Oh, he decided to keep the toy. He likes it too much to give away, and honestly, it was too expensive to hand over as a gift.”I took a stand for my son.
My son’s face fell and he ran to his room crying. I was stunned. Who says that to a child on his birthday? I took a breath and said, “If you didn’t bring what you promised, and you don’t see a problem with hurting another child’s feelings, then this isn’t the place for you. I think you should leave.” Leo didn’t look upset. His mother shrugged, grabbed his hand, and walked out like nothing had happened.
Apparently, it wasn’t the first time.Later that evening, another parent messaged me to say this wasn’t the first time. Apparently, Leo’s mother always promised extravagant gifts to kids: gaming sets, drones, and designer toys, but never brought anything. The kids would get excited, only to be disappointed. My heart broke all over again, not just for my son, but for every child who had believed her.
