A five-year-old child who chose to visit with his grandparents over attending a friend’s birthday party just got billed by his friend’s mother for being a no-show. Because we just can’t coddle these kids anymore, you know. They have to learn to be financially responsible, even years before they are legally allowed to hold a job. Life is hard. That’s just the way it is.
Alex Nash, the aforementioned five-year-old, was looking forward to a super-fun birthday party with a bunch of fellow schoolkids at a local ski slope before the holidays. When the mother of Alex’s friend approached Alex and his father before the party, a verbal agreement was exchanged stating that Alex would be attending. This, according to the birthday boy’s mother, was seen as a legally binding contract, so when a scheduling conflict involving the boy’s grandparents arose, Alex went from beloved little playground friend to filthy, law-breaking Flake of the Century.
After the holidays ended and school reconvened, Alex came home from school with a brown envelope containing an invoice. Not a handwritten note, nothing containing contact information so this could be discussed, just a sterile, chilly, business-grade invoice asking for £15.95 for one (1) “Childs [sic] Party No Show Fee” to be charged to the “Parent/Guardian [of] Alex Nash.”
Because they are normal people, Alex’s parents tried to reason with this control freak of a mother, but she wasn’t having it. And she threatened to take them to small claims court, which would cost more to do than the amount on the invoice. But the saddest part is that now Alex’s friend, Birthday Boy, won’t play with him anymore. Probably because Birthday Boy’s mom appears to be a bitter petty monster.
Alex’s father Derek personally went to the boy’s mother’s house to try to talk to her, but that seemed to go nowhere. After that, Alex’s mother Tanya started contacting Birthday Boy’s mom on Facebook, and that also went nowhere except Obnoxious Town. Here is their full Facebook conversation:
Tanya: Hi Julie. This is Alex’s mum. I don’t know what has happened between you and my partner, Derek. I was very shocked to see the invoice in Alex’s school bag. I did not realise that you had to pay for each child, as you never mentioned anything about money when we spoke. The only reason Alex did not attend the party was because his nan and grandad were going away for christmas and the only day the kids could go see them was on the same day as the party. I did not know this. On the day Alex decided that he wanted to spend time with his nan and grandad. I apologise for not letting you know, but I did not have a phone number or an e-mail for you to let you know the situation(I also didn’t know your first name, or I would have looked you up). If I had known that I would have to pay if Alex did not go, then I would have paid you the money, no problem. I do not like fighting with people, and would prefer to settle this amicably.
Julie: Hi Tanya, I didn’t mention the money when we spoke because it was a child’s party, it doesn’t matter if you have to pay per person or for a group if people agree to going, I confirmed that with all parents on the Thursday before the party that they were going as I had to pay that day, and Derek told me Alex was looking forward to it and would see us there, to me that is confirmation. My phone number was on the invitation that was sent out to Alex. I don’t like fighting with people either, and was not best impressed when Derek turned up on my doorstep, and said you won’t get any money out of me, rather rudely, I do admit it rattled me. This is not the first time Alex has not turned up to a party that he has been invited to, either. the amicable way round this I believe would be to pay me the money and let a lesson be learnt, I hope this is agreeable ? Julie
Tanya: Hi Julie, who’s party is Alex supposed to have gone to? I did speak to another mum about a party but she never got back to me with details, other than that I don’t recall any other confirmed invites. The only reason Derek was angry was because of the fact that the envelope was put into Alex’s school bag, when it has nothing to do with the school. He spoke to the headteacher about and she said that it’s against school policy to do that kind of thing. Birthday invites are fine, but not personal items. Like I said before, no money was mentioned when we spoke, and I feel it would be inappropriate to pay you the money, when I don’t know what it’s actually paying for. Alex was very excited to go to the party. I didn’t know until the day about his nan and grandad, and he decided he would rather spend the day with them. Like I said before I didn’t have your number to let you know. And exactly what lesson would I be learning. I am not a child, so please do not speak to me like I am one. So, to answer your question, unfortunately no. This is not agreeable.
Julie: You are paying for 1 x child’s party at the ski slope including snow tubing and tobogganing and lunch, to with you said Alex was attending on the Thursday
Tanya: Just so you know, small claims court cost #60 just to start a claim. Also I’m not paying for something we didn’t use.
Julie: It doesn’t cost that much
Tanya: It does. Also I don’t think the school are very happy with you involving them in this either. I don’t know why you are out for our blood and slandering us. I’ve told you the reasons why alex didn’t go. I also told you why I couldn’t call. You also don’t seem to understand that I never ran away from you. I didnt hear you calling after me. I have to get to my daughter at carbeile. So if they let alex out last then I have to rush a bit because evie, my 2 year old, walks slow. So maybe that’s why you thought I was rushing off. I had no reason to run to run away from you. So please do not state things as truth when you do not have all the facts. Maybe if you actually spoke to me rather than making your own mind up about what happened then none of this would be happening right now. If you had come up to us the first day back and explained about the money, then I could have explained about alex, then maybe we could have sorted something out. Instead you send an invoice.
Something tells me that Julie is the kind of person who misuses the word “myself” on a very regular basis and has trouble finding productive sources of power in her life. So she chooses passive-aggressive non-confrontations with five-year-olds. But that’s okay. She probably has a great sense of humor hiding underneath all that insecurity.
Source: Plymouth Herald