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An Australian woman has taken to Tiktok to showcase the unusual birthday gift she takes to children’s birthday parties.
Speaking from the handle turan.spideys.mum, the woman released a video showing a bag of cleaning equipment that she deems essential for these functions.
She justified the initiative in a caption, saying that more “plastic” toys were the last thing parents needed in their homes.
Highlights
- A mom on TikTok sparked major backlash after revealing her go-to gift for kids’ birthday parties: a bag of cleaning supplies
- While she defended the usefulness of this gift, netizens slammed the idea as insulting, bizarre, and even offensive
- After her video went viral, the mom doubled down with a follow-up post to clarify her intentions
- Others feel that the woman may be on to something.
Despite her logic, the video has triggered a furore on social media, with netizens criticizing her over the inappropriateness of said “gift.”
RELATED:
The TikToker’s bag of tricks contains detergents and cleaning rags
Image credits: Getty Images
According to the TikToker, toys gifted to children at birthday parties more often than not “end up in the landfill.”
And so, she has decided to bring something different to the party.
“You know when you go to a party and everyone wants to help but nobody knows how to help because they don’t know where any of the cleaning stuff is?” she explains.
Image credits: turan.spideys.mum
“Who knows how to find the cleaning products in someone else’s house?”
“I bring my cleaning rags… Glad Wrap, I like to bring dishwashing fluid…cleaning product,” she says into the camera.
A great part of the public said that they would be offended by the gift
Image credits: turan.spideys.mum
This unconventional “present” polarized the social media platform and it got personal straight away.
“Wake up to yourself,” wrote one, “taking your junkie son and a bag of cleaning supplies to a kids birthday party.”
“I run a pretty tight ship and if someone brought this to my house at my daughter’s birthday, I would take offence to it,” wrote another.
@turan.spideys.mum Here’s my favorite present to bring to a kids birthday party. To be honest, I think the last thing any parent wants for their kid’s birthday is a whole bunch of extra plastic in their house that’s going to require work to house and keep tidy and keep clean. #mumsoftiktok#australia#wewanttohelpturanspideytohelphimselfclub#autism#coercivecontrol#family#substanceusedisorder#friend#friends#friendship#alcoholusedirsorder#bagofrags#reducereuserecycle♬ original sound – Turan Spidey’s Mum
But not everyone was against the idea. One netizen who was in favor of it wrote: “As someone who lives in a seemingly constant state of overwhelm, I would love this gift.”
The TikToker tried to remedy the negative feedback with a second video
Despite the negative reactions, the video racked up more than 2200 likes and 600 comments in the week after it was posted.
Image credits: Getty Images
Spidey’s mum also got the idea that she had not made it clear enough her bag of cleaning equipment was not per sé a gift to the birthday kid.
She tried to remedy this in a second video where she acknowledged the controversy, and explained herself again.
“What I gave the kid was more time with their parents, so at the end of the party, the parents don’t have to be cleaning up and doing stuff that will take them away from their kids,” she said into the camera.
Image credits: Getty Images
TikTok’s reaction to this update was for some parts, just as acidic.
Netizens made it personal and dragged her son into it
“I am starting to understand why Spidey (her son) is now,” said one user, going straight for her offspring, who is a sensitive area due to challenges he faced in his life.
Image credits: turan.spideys.mum
“You shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near anymore kids,” a netizen shot back. “WTF is wrong with this woman,” wrote another. “[She] seriously goes to a party with a bag of rags to clean.”
Not everyone was against the idea and Spidey’s mom seemed to receive more positive feedback to the second video–which garnered over 1500 likes and close to 300 comments–than the first.
The video was not without positive feedback
@turan.spideys.mum Replying to @Lo • Friends Bringing my bag of rags to a seven year-old kid’s birthday party was a controversial take, but the mamas in the chat understand what it’s all about. #bagofrags#mumsoftiktok#australia#wewanttohelpturanspideytohelphimselfclub#autism#coercivecontrol#family#substanceusedisorder#friend#friends#friendship#reducereuserecycle♬ original sound – Turan Spidey’s Mum
One person, taking an objective approach, asked if she informed the households and hosts of her unique “gift” beforehand. Another weighed in, saying that backlash in the thread was due to critics not being able to see past “their consumerism.”
“As a mother myself, I get it,” wrote another appreciative netizen. “All my son’s birthday parties. I’ve basically missed half the fun. Because I’m either setting up food, cakes, cleaning up or preparing the next birthday game.”
The proactive, unconventional mother with a penchant for housekeeping has not indicated when she started the habit, and how many parties she has been invited to since.
Many feel that children should should get conventional presents
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What do you think ?
StrangeOne 5 months ago
It took me a while, but I get it. However she explained it in a way that made it sounds as if she was giving either the kids or the parents her cleaning supplies. She could have saved a second explanation by initially just saying her gift is for the kids to spend more time with the parents while she cleans up with the cleaning products she brought from home, so the parents don't have to worry about someone else rummaging around looking for stuff. That's it. It's not even a Tiktok worthy announcement, really.
Rachel Pelz 5 months ago (edited)
Imo it can be really thoughtful if you communicate beforehand and "give" whatever help the parents feel would lessens their party-related stress. Maybe that's not the cleaning afterwards but something else? It's the attitude of "this is what everybody really appreciates (most)" that is a bit irritating. Heck, I wouldn't want somebody to use a maximum-non-eco cleaning spray in my household (I am aware she seems to use/advertise a rather mild detergent). (not *anybody either ;) )
Load More Replies...
Mel in Georgia 5 months ago
There's no reason you can't help the mom during the party while still giving the kid an earth-friendly gift (book anyone?) Parents just want to give their kids a good time at their party. No one's asking for maid service.
StrangeOne 5 months ago
It took me a while, but I get it. However she explained it in a way that made it sounds as if she was giving either the kids or the parents her cleaning supplies. She could have saved a second explanation by initially just saying her gift is for the kids to spend more time with the parents while she cleans up with the cleaning products she brought from home, so the parents don't have to worry about someone else rummaging around looking for stuff. That's it. It's not even a Tiktok worthy announcement, really.
Rachel Pelz 5 months ago (edited)
Imo it can be really thoughtful if you communicate beforehand and "give" whatever help the parents feel would lessens their party-related stress. Maybe that's not the cleaning afterwards but something else? It's the attitude of "this is what everybody really appreciates (most)" that is a bit irritating. Heck, I wouldn't want somebody to use a maximum-non-eco cleaning spray in my household (I am aware she seems to use/advertise a rather mild detergent). (not *anybody either ;) )
Load More Replies... Mel in Georgia 5 months ago
There's no reason you can't help the mom during the party while still giving the kid an earth-friendly gift (book anyone?) Parents just want to give their kids a good time at their party. No one's asking for maid service.
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