Oh! Colombo

I have such pleasant memories of the birthday parties I had during my childhood. They were full of fun. Relatives and buddies from school were the guests. The short eats and other goodies made at home or by a kindly neighbour or family member were so tasty. The games and loot bags and other frills that went with the children parties of those times were such a joy. What a good time was had by all.

Parties were held at home and the parents or designated responsible adults could keep an eye out on the happenings and very few nannies were seen hovering around.  At these parties the invited children’s parents were assured that their children would be looked after by the parents hosting the party.

Years have flown by and not being a parent or having any children of my own I have forgotten what a children’s party is like since I am not invited to any modern day children parties. Recently, I happened to be in the vicinity of a hall that had been hired for a children’s party.

I assumed that hiring a place to have a party was the best option since many live in apartments now and crowding an apartment is not possible. Not having to cope with the cleaning up after the event was also an advantage to the party giver if a hall was hired for the event. 

Glancing into the party area I noticed a DJ playing some very erotic music, more commonly played at nightclubs, with loads of obscene words in the lyrics and lots of kids dancing to it - gyrating their hips to the hip music and attempting to mimic pelvic movements which they probably saw on TV. Some of the nannies watching over their charges and the parents who were at the party kept clapping and egged the children to go. 

Realizing how I surprised I was at my reaction to this sight, I laughed at myself and thought that I certainly seem to have an old fashioned mind when it comes to children. I was then curious to see what sort of entertainment was available to the children. There were two individuals painting the kids’ faces, some sort of merry go round thingy.

I also noticed the rush towards something called ‘the bouncing castle’ where air had been pumped into this funny looking castle and children inside it bopping up and down. I also noticed the dust that was bouncing out from the contraption along with the children, some kid’s stuffed egg flying out of her hands and some other child who seemed to have a grouse with another spitting at her. Watching this I wondered about the hygienic standards of this bouncer which seemed to be very much in demand.

The other not so very nice sight at present children parties are the nannies who have to hang around to ensure that the kids are fed and enjoying themselves. The nannies themselves are not entertained even with a drink leave alone anything to eat. Sad but true. This does happen at most children parties and it seems very few consider their domestic aides/nannies as part of their families.

The world is changing rapidly and it seems to be starting at a very young age…….