What the hell has gone wrong with the world?

[Rhiannon]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39656299

[Robbie]

Not the world, just a few.  A craze which will not last and most thinking people wouldn't even consider.

[floo]

I was sickened when I read that. People are starving in this world, but those stupid parents, who obviously have more money than sense, spend £800 on that madness.

[Robbie]

The article states - A cake smash party can cost £800

Can't see anyone paying that for something you could organise yourself with little effort.
Also can't see many doing it at all!

[floo]

The article states - A cake smash party can cost £800

Can't see anyone paying that for something you could organise yourself with little effort.
Also can't see many doing it at all!

It is a sick idea! It says parents in the UK have been joining in.

[Robbie]

To the tune of eight hundred pounds?

Chavs the lot of them.

A craze that will soon be over.

The BBC must be short of news, more worthy of MSN. At worst, it's advertising this new craze!

[Bubbles]

Weird!

[Rhiannon]

It seems to be designed with sharenting on Facebook in mind. Baby as a lifestyle accessory.

[floo]

It seems to be designed with sharenting on Facebook in mind. Baby as a lifestyle accessory.

People like that shouldn't have kids, imo.

[Nearly Sane]

And then this


https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/19-year-old-mcnugget-sauce-sells-for-dollar14k-and-the-world-is-doomed?utm_source=dmfb

[Bubbles]

I think it's business trying to find new and inventive ways of separating  parents from their money.

Baby showers are the same sort of thing. The idea is good parents indulge their children or others in events costing money.

Whereas real love, costs nothing, just a bit of effort,is an expression of love ❤️.

Many parents cook their child a chocolate birthday cake, which the child uses one slice to make a real mess, from this advertisers try and convince parents to overdo it by giving the child the whole cake to trash.

It's nonsense.

You can't commercialise real  love and caring , not really.

Then as the child becomes aware of the commercial side, you get the pressure to conform to peer pressure, to supply the party that is in fashion.

I've succumbed to the macDonalds party etc I admit it, but it's all about being talked into what's important to the child at the time.

Businesses abuse this, we all draw lines in different places.

But real love isn't about what we are pushed into, sometimes by our children.

Businesses know we all want to make our children feel loved.

It's a weakness parents have.

[SweetPea]

Absolutely, Rose.

My daughter didn't really want a baby shower (her second child is due next week) but her friends threw her a surprise one.... much to her surprise! She really wasn't expecting anything. They booked afternoon tea in a Solihull hotel (as you might imagine, not cheap) and my sister (her aunt) and I couldn't get over the presents.... completely over the top with 'nappy cakes' included! I've been to four now (as this coming baby will be my fourth grandchild) and watched while these crazy get-togethers have become more and more extravagant and ridiculous. I think it's rather sad really that, as Rhiannon says.... what is happening to society.   

[Rhiannon]

I don't seriously think that society is ending, just that we seem to be morphing into a species of utter pillocks.

[Bubbles]

I don't seriously think that society is ending, just that we seem to be morphing into a species of utter pillocks.

I'm not sure anyone said anything about it ending.......

[Rhiannon]

I'm not sure anyone said anything about it ending.......

NS provided a link. You don't need to click on it, just read the wording of the link itself.

[Bubbles]

NS provided a link. You don't need to click on it, just read the wording of the link itself.

Yuk!

I thought finding very old cheese in fishermans pockets was bad enough 🤢

[Robbie]

I didn't know baby showers were so lavish. Thought they were a get-together of friends in someone's house who bought little gifts for the baby (babygro, rattle, toiletries, that sort of thing).  I'd never even heard of a nappy cake but looked them up;  quite pretty but I'm sure one could be knocked up cheaply.  No-one has to pay a fortune but if people want to and can afford it, I suppose it's up to them.  They probably have a good time.  It's a bit like hen parties nowadays when girls go away for a weekend but used to just go for a meal or to the pub.

Quite honestly I can't imagine many people spending a lot of money on a cake for a baby to demolish.  The media have made too much out of this news.

[SweetPea]

I didn't know baby showers were so lavish. Thought they were a get-together of friends in someone's house who bought little gifts for the baby (babygro, rattle, toiletries, that sort of thing).  I'd never even heard of a nappy cake but looked them up;  quite pretty but I'm sure one could be knocked up cheaply.  No-one has to pay a fortune but if people want to and can afford it, I suppose it's up to them.  They probably have a good time.  It's a bit like hen parties nowadays when girls go away for a weekend but used to just go for a meal or to the pub.

Quite honestly I can't imagine many people spending a lot of money on a cake for a baby to demolish.  The media have made too much out of this news.

Robinson, the first baby shower I attended, for my daughter-in-law pregnant with her first child, was very much how you describe in your above comment.... and I really enjoyed it, we played some (quite) fun games too, but as the years have passed, as I say, they seemed to have become more lavish. The nappy cakes are a scream.... can be anything up to 2ft in height, wrapped in cellophane with a lovely bow. The baby showers I've attended, they have all been made by the friends/relatives themselves. Yes, the items they contain are useful for the mum-to-be, and re the nappies, as long as they are not cheapo.

There's something not quite right about letting a baby smother itself in cake. I dunno.... something rather 'animal level-ish' about it. A baby getting food all over the place when he/she is learning to feed themselves is a whole different thing.

 

[Rhiannon]

I don't think it is animalistic, any more than sitting a baby down with paint is, and it's safe. I think that what makes me uncomfortable is the idea that the baby is put in a situation that is for the entertainment of the adults around it. Something about it feels exploitative.

[ad_orientem]

Baby showers! Can I be sick? Another bloody thing that's come from the Yanks. Never heard of before Seinfeld and Friends.

[Robbie]

I don't think it is animalistic, any more than sitting a baby down with paint is, and it's safe. I think that what makes me uncomfortable is the idea that the baby is put in a situation that is for the entertainment of the adults around it. Something about it feels exploitative.

Yes it does. What happens if the baby is having an off day and decides to scream for an hour? Poor little thing.

Ad-o there's nothing wrong with a baby shower even if the idea did originate in the States. In fact it's quite nice & friendly for people to get together, have some laughs and buy useful gifts for the baby.What is stupid is going to extravagant venues and spending a fortune.

[Sassy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39656299

Some people have too much time and too much money on their hands...