Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Loot Bag Mary

I know I’m not first, but I curse the parent who invented the Loot Bag.
     Maybe it was a stay-at-home mom with too much time on her hands, or even the best of intentions, but she ended up creating an inexorable rise in birthday-party expectations that began in her neighbourhood and spread outward like a virus. She was Patient Zero in an epidemic of conspicuous consumption made all the more insidious because it masks itself as a kindness to children.
     I may not be the first to curse her, but I’d really like to be the first to find her.

Image from Goodie Gum Drops.
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9 comments:

  1. Roy SchulzeApril 3, 2012 at 11:43 AM

    Posted to ABC Wednesday.

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  2. Roger Owen GreenApril 3, 2012 at 12:12 PM

    The one we gave for my daughter's party was a packet of seeds and a biodegradable set of pots. I liked it.

    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  3. CarverApril 3, 2012 at 12:41 PM

    I know what you mean about the loot bags. I think with very young children it makes sense because it's harder for them to understand all the gifts going to the birthday child but after pre-school I don't think they should be necessary although I did them too when my child was growing up and having parties. Carver, ABC Wednesday Team

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  4. zongrikApril 3, 2012 at 5:43 PM

    loot is fun as an adult too when you go to a conference


    loose collars

    verification makes it really hard to comment. you'd get more comments if you turned it off

    ReplyDelete
  5. Leslie:April 3, 2012 at 6:13 PM

    I've noticed a trend lately towards gifts for others (NOT the birthday child) that can be donated to charity OR the birthday child tells everyone that he/she is donating to a charity of his/her choice in lieu of gifts and/or loot bags. I like this a lot! It makes kids think of others less fortunate rather than themselves.

    Leslie
    abcw team

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  6. Yogi♪♪♪April 3, 2012 at 10:12 PM

    Yes if we could only go back in time... and chang e the expectations!

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  7. Chubskulit RoseApril 4, 2012 at 11:27 AM

    I think I am a lousy Mom when hosting a birthday party for my kids. I don't really give loot bags, I concentrate on feeding the guests more.

    Littlest Petshop
    Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

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  8. Jerla Oh lalalaApril 5, 2012 at 1:37 AM

    we got one for our son for his graduation party :D

    mine is up http://jerlalou.blogspot.com/2012/04/l-o-v-e-r-s.html hope to see u

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  9. Sharp Little PencilApril 7, 2012 at 10:19 PM

    I agree 100%. One mom was so anal about them, she also passed out "thank you" cards for gifts AS THE KIDS WERE LEAVING. Her daughter didn't write personalized responses citing what the gift was or anything. Yuck. Thanks! Amy
    http://sharplittlepencil.com/2012/04/07/loathsome-lothario-abc-wednesday/

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