Party bags have become a mainstay of children's birthday bashes — but is it OK to push back? (Credit: Getty Images; illustrated by Joseph Riccobono) For more than a decade I have been entrenched in ...

Pencils. Slime. Kazoos. Bubbles. Generic Slinkies that don't work. Squishies that will become hairballs within 48 hours. Tiny cars you'll eventually step on later. Just the thought makes me shudder.