Office/School Birthday Treats
Call me scrooge but I’ve never participated in the ‘bring in a treat to share with others on your birthday’ at work or school. I remember asking my mother in grade school, why I needed to bring in a treat on my birthday (people should be bringing me stuff!) and her reply was:
Mom: Do you eat the things people bring in for their birthdays?
Me: Yes
Mom: Well that is why you bring in a treat.
After much ribbing from co-workers a few years ago, I agreed to bring in a treat. I went to Sam’s Club and bought a case of Cup-o-Noodles and stacked them along with spoons and napkins in my cube. I then sent out a mass email asking people to “stop by for a treat to help celebrate my birthday!”
The look on people’s faces as they rounded the corner and saw the treats was priceless.
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8 Comments:
I guess the phrase, "using your noodle", should apply, but I'm not so sure. I know I'd be calling you "Soupy" after that one.
LunaPierCook at 2:04PM on 05/29/08
OMG, that's hysterical.
Here's the thing. Some of us really like to bring baked goods and treats to work. I've been known to bake an entire batch of scones on a Sunday, just because I want one - then bring the balance to work on Monday and watch them get scarfed right out of the break room. It gives me pleasure, others get a nibble, everybody wins.
These days, it's near impossible to send a home-made treat to school. There are rules that no home-made goods be distributed to other children without signed releases and such stuff. I only thank God I raised my kid when we could still treat the class (and teachers, BTW) to a home-made sweet in the afternoon. When my daughter turned 12, I brought a cake to school large enough to feed all three of the 6th grade classes. Everyone loved it.
If you do not want to bring goodies to work for whatever reason, it's clearly your prerogative. I would still cheerfully offer you something I prepared. Frankly, if no one else brought stuff to work, I would still have brought the scones, cakes, party leftovers, you name it. It's about being happy - not keeping score.
chiff0nade at 2:34PM on 05/29/08
This is brilliant, I can't stop laughing!
But I agree with chiff - when I worked in an office, I would bring goodies to work quite often, mostly because I truly liked people I worked with, and if I come across something good (whether a book, a film or a croissant) I enjoy sharing it with people I like. Just like chiff, if I had a sudden craving for some ricotta & spinach filled puff pastry, I would bake a whole batch, and most of it would inevitably find its way to my office the next day. We had a total of 6 people working in our section, and all of us would bring something from time to time, whether homemade or store bought, not because we felt obligated, but because it was fun.
brooke29 at 2:56PM on 05/29/08
Forgot to add - as far as birthday treats go, I preferred not to make any fuss out of my birthdays, but once my coworkers figured it out, they actually threw me a surprise birthday party. It was truly moving (and made me speechless, teary-eyed and grateful:-)).
brooke29 at 3:20PM on 05/29/08
@brooke29 - that was where I was coming from (I neve want to make a big deal out of the day - I'd prefer it pass with no one noticing).
@chiff - you are right, I often bring in "extras" my wife has baked and enjoy that others have a morning or afternoon treat. I'm not that much of a scrooge.
jasonbrink at 3:31PM on 05/29/08
My coworker asked everyone to bring food to celebrate her birthday. I thought while standing there staring at her, *bubble above my head* "if you want to celebrate your birthday so badly, bring your own crap instead of begging people for gifts and food."
So I told her no...thanks.
I think it's fine for the birthday person to bring something to celebrate their birthday or if someone other than the birthday person asks others to bring food to a birthday party.
Ooooh! I love Nissin shrimp Cup O Noodles! I don't care for the other brands or flavors of noodle soup in a cup. Noodle soup in a bowl from Japan, now that's another story. Mmmmm!
Cassaendra at 5:50PM on 05/29/08
You're wicked funny.
wookie at 6:02PM on 05/29/08
Oh, I would much prefer noodles to cake/cookies any day! What fun!
Library Lady at 11:41AM on 05/30/08