A mother's decision to charge children for attending her twin sons' birthday party have left some parents bemused.
Single mother, Ruma Ali, 29, who is in her second year at De Montford University studying for her degree, will be hosting a birthday party for her twin sons, Shiyan and Kiyan, for their 5th birthday, at Fun Valley, Evington, Leicester, on 11th February. She has invited 60 children from the boys' school and it is said that she has asked for parents to contribute £6 per child to the costs of the party.
One parent anonymously posted on Facebook stating, “My 4-year-old has been invited to a classmate's 5th birthday party. The said parent has hired Fun Valley and stipulated a payment of £6 per child on the birthday invitations. My older kids are in secondary school and in all my years of hosting and being invited to kids parties, I have never been asked to pay for attending a party. Is this the done thing nowadays?”
Although Ruma Ali included her contact number on the invitation, the parent had not contacted her personally.
The twins study in separate classes and their mother didn't want any of their friends to be left out, hence, decided to invite them all. However, she isn't afford to pay for them all on her own. She said, “I didn't want anybody to get left out. I thought I don't want to pick and choose which friends can come. I thought, invite the whole class and then nobody's upset. I thought they [the parents] would understand [the charge].”
Apart from the anonymous poster on Facebook, no other parent have questioned the fee. Ruma Ali said that she completely understands if a parent cannot afford the fee and would still like their child to attend the party.
She added, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But this was the best way to me.”
There have been many people who have defended her on the Facebook post that caused a lot of speculation. Someone posted, “Not all parents can afford to pay for parties but also they want to make their child happy by having a party for them. Instead of buying a gift you could pay the £6 and buy a birthday card.”
Another person added, “I personally feel if you want to attend and pay then do so, and if you don't that's fine too.”
