moonglowCharity Begins at Home (Even if You're 6 & it's Your Birthday Party)
March 15th 2008 04:15
My regular babysitting of the world's brightest and most eccentric six year old, gives me untapped access into the heady world of a very particular breed of person - the North Shore-ite. To be honest, it is a breed of person I am very familiar with following my years of schooling, but at some point, around the early 00s (I will be presumptuous as to pinpoint) something happened - the North Shore father got awfully (nouveau) riche and the North Shore mother began spending less time playing tennis and more time competing with their child in the precocious stakes. The North Shore got all LA.
A function that has always been at the very heart of proving ones social mettle, is the child's birthday party. Fuck it up and you are the outcast of the mother set. And, of course, the theme of your child's party all depends on the current social climate - and that current climate is all about Brangelina. Charity, my friends, philanthropy. No more (nipped and tucked) mothers in twinsets outdoing each other in the 'I can bake 60 perfect cupcakes and a Michelin rated punch simultaneously' stakes - now, it is all about the (still nipped and tucked) yummy mummies in white linen pants and grey Country Road singlets using birthday parties as vehicles of social awareness.
A recent example appeared whilst I was perusing the fridge door, waiting for my six year old to find her leotard so she could do an impromptu dance performance before bed time. Under a fairy magnet was pinned a birthday invitation for, let's call her Jaksyn (in keeping with the new wave of such names) who was turning 6 that Sunday. Everyone was invited to come dressed as their favourite character from a book and, if parents wanted to stay it was required they notify the hosts so they could be catered for. All seemingly normal, until this little postscript - 'Jaksyn does not want any presents, so please, instead, bring $1 donation for the year 1 World Vision Sponsor Child.'
Now, that's lovely. Good on you Jaksyn. But I am going to go out on a limb and say Jaksyn wouldn't mind a few presents. Nothing big - just a little token from her pals. There is no need to one up each other in the gift department, as families of this echelon are apt to do. But it is this child's 6th birthday party - how much harm can a $5 Little Miss book do? If it is a lesson these parents are trying to teach their children, then that's all well and good (although, I am sure Jaksyn could learn a lesson and enjoy some birthday presents simultaneously - like, pick three of her least favourite presents and give them to impoverished Australian children, but that's just me) - but I have a sneaking suspicion everybody's favourite philanthropist couple might have something more to do with it.
Let's not lie, the parents of Jaksyn secretly fancy themselves the Brangelina of the North Shore. An innovative name for their spawn (Jaksyn = Shiloh) an awareness of the poverty stricken 3rd world countries (yet none for the similarly plighted babes of their own country) and the adoption of philanthropy as the antidote to the perceived decadence of their social sphere.
Once upon a time, it was all about the Woman's Weekly birthday cake, pass the parcel wrapped in newspaper and an assortment of presents you may or may not love, but learnt to thank the giver profusely for. And then it was the sumptuous and competitive bashes of the indulgent 90s. Now it is all about Earth Mummy hosted soirees where the children eat vegan food and sombrely donate the contents of their dollarmite accounts to World Vision. Presents are discouraged - how else will this healthy, educated child know how a starving African baby feels? - and, if you absolutely insist on bringing one, you may find another little post it attached to the professionally printed invite, instructing you as to what type of present the birthday child would prefer. I guess the theory behind that one is 'waste not want not' right? I mean, what is little tomboy Savannah going to do with the inevitable Barbie she will receive? Throw it out, of course, or chop of its hair. So if you are going to insist on depriving World Vision of its dollar, at least make sure Savannah appreciates her birthday present.
But, perhaps I am not giving enough credit to the globally aware parents of Jaksyn, or Savannah. Perhaps they truly do believe in the change they are promoting through their offspring's birthday parties. But I'd hazard a guess, come Monday morning, Jaksyn's Mum will be talk of the afternoon-pick-up - 'such a beautiful woman, and so thoughtful'.
And lets see how long it takes before the next birthday party is an actual trip to an African orphanage. No presents please, just knitted garments for the newborns.
A recent example appeared whilst I was perusing the fridge door, waiting for my six year old to find her leotard so she could do an impromptu dance performance before bed time. Under a fairy magnet was pinned a birthday invitation for, let's call her Jaksyn (in keeping with the new wave of such names) who was turning 6 that Sunday. Everyone was invited to come dressed as their favourite character from a book and, if parents wanted to stay it was required they notify the hosts so they could be catered for. All seemingly normal, until this little postscript - 'Jaksyn does not want any presents, so please, instead, bring $1 donation for the year 1 World Vision Sponsor Child.'
Now, that's lovely. Good on you Jaksyn. But I am going to go out on a limb and say Jaksyn wouldn't mind a few presents. Nothing big - just a little token from her pals. There is no need to one up each other in the gift department, as families of this echelon are apt to do. But it is this child's 6th birthday party - how much harm can a $5 Little Miss book do? If it is a lesson these parents are trying to teach their children, then that's all well and good (although, I am sure Jaksyn could learn a lesson and enjoy some birthday presents simultaneously - like, pick three of her least favourite presents and give them to impoverished Australian children, but that's just me) - but I have a sneaking suspicion everybody's favourite philanthropist couple might have something more to do with it.
Let's not lie, the parents of Jaksyn secretly fancy themselves the Brangelina of the North Shore. An innovative name for their spawn (Jaksyn = Shiloh) an awareness of the poverty stricken 3rd world countries (yet none for the similarly plighted babes of their own country) and the adoption of philanthropy as the antidote to the perceived decadence of their social sphere.
Once upon a time, it was all about the Woman's Weekly birthday cake, pass the parcel wrapped in newspaper and an assortment of presents you may or may not love, but learnt to thank the giver profusely for. And then it was the sumptuous and competitive bashes of the indulgent 90s. Now it is all about Earth Mummy hosted soirees where the children eat vegan food and sombrely donate the contents of their dollarmite accounts to World Vision. Presents are discouraged - how else will this healthy, educated child know how a starving African baby feels? - and, if you absolutely insist on bringing one, you may find another little post it attached to the professionally printed invite, instructing you as to what type of present the birthday child would prefer. I guess the theory behind that one is 'waste not want not' right? I mean, what is little tomboy Savannah going to do with the inevitable Barbie she will receive? Throw it out, of course, or chop of its hair. So if you are going to insist on depriving World Vision of its dollar, at least make sure Savannah appreciates her birthday present.
But, perhaps I am not giving enough credit to the globally aware parents of Jaksyn, or Savannah. Perhaps they truly do believe in the change they are promoting through their offspring's birthday parties. But I'd hazard a guess, come Monday morning, Jaksyn's Mum will be talk of the afternoon-pick-up - 'such a beautiful woman, and so thoughtful'.
And lets see how long it takes before the next birthday party is an actual trip to an African orphanage. No presents please, just knitted garments for the newborns.
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Comment by jon
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Thanks,
Jon.