Comments on: Mommy Wars: The Birthday Party http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/ Insert Tagline Here Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:38:03 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Michelle http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/comment-page-1/#comment-3036 Michelle Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:08:07 +0000 http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/#comment-3036 I'm really surprised reading your comments - I didn't expect to be in the minority here. Sabrina's first birthday - we had a little cake with family a couple of days before and cupcakes at home on the day of. Yes, there will be a little more fanfare when she is old enough to understand but my husband and I have agreed no over the top parties. The whole carnival in the backyard is ridiculous in our minds. We will have small, age appropriate parties or family outings. Sugar will be consumed, children will run amok then crash after the sugar wears off. I don't get the whole goodie bag thing but won't swear I will never do it because they might be cute and the mood could strike. I’m really surprised reading your comments – I didn’t expect to be in the minority here.

Sabrina’s first birthday – we had a little cake with family a couple of days before and cupcakes at home on the day of. Yes, there will be a little more fanfare when she is old enough to understand but my husband and I have agreed no over the top parties. The whole carnival in the backyard is ridiculous in our minds. We will have small, age appropriate parties or family outings. Sugar will be consumed, children will run amok then crash after the sugar wears off. I don’t get the whole goodie bag thing but won’t swear I will never do it because they might be cute and the mood could strike.

]]> By: tacomachickadee http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/comment-page-1/#comment-3032 tacomachickadee Fri, 19 Oct 2007 01:39:54 +0000 http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/#comment-3032 Hmm ... the most extravagant birthday we've done was a combo for the older two one year when I couldn't get it together in September, so in October we combined November's bday, too. We rented the gym at the local YMCA for two hours ... (less than $75), which let the kids play their heart out on slides and Little Tykes style play toys and trikes and the trampoline and so much other kiddie gym stuff, then we did cake and play. It was great. Perhaps the BEST part was Junior's 5th this year when we got a couple foam swords from Big Lots, invited the kiddo's bestest buds, and then let them run wild at Puget Park playing knights and superheros. I hear it went "play, play, play, play, eat, play play play play, gifts, play play play play" you get the picture. Hours of entertainment, great birthday, dirt cheap. Though the eldest really loved her princess themed party where we told everyone to dress up in their Halloween costumes (at this age: mostly princesses) and they just played, ate, and opened presents. I admit: I do goodie bags. But it's more creativity than expense. I hit the dollar store. We do crafts (yes, I wrote "crafts"). Stickers. I try to be thematic, and cheap. ;) Hmm … the most extravagant birthday we’ve done was a combo for the older two one year when I couldn’t get it together in September, so in October we combined November’s bday, too. We rented the gym at the local YMCA for two hours … (less than $75), which let the kids play their heart out on slides and Little Tykes style play toys and trikes and the trampoline and so much other kiddie gym stuff, then we did cake and play. It was great.

Perhaps the BEST part was Junior’s 5th this year when we got a couple foam swords from Big Lots, invited the kiddo’s bestest buds, and then let them run wild at Puget Park playing knights and superheros. I hear it went “play, play, play, play, eat, play play play play, gifts, play play play play” you get the picture. Hours of entertainment, great birthday, dirt cheap.

Though the eldest really loved her princess themed party where we told everyone to dress up in their Halloween costumes (at this age: mostly princesses) and they just played, ate, and opened presents.

I admit: I do goodie bags. But it’s more creativity than expense. I hit the dollar store. We do crafts (yes, I wrote “crafts”). Stickers. I try to be thematic, and cheap. ;)

]]> By: Ani http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/comment-page-1/#comment-3031 Ani Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:25:02 +0000 http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/#comment-3031 He's going to be 3? Where does time go? Sorry, but I'm very BIG on birthdays. For my kid's 1st birthday I said family only - well, I have a HUGE family, so there were a lot of people around. Then for his 2nd, I rented out a gym type place that has a LIMIT on the # of people you can have. Wouldn't you know it, we exceeded the limit. Luckily, they accomodated us... I plan it all - theme, invites, balloons, goodie bags, and thank you notes - SUCH fun. Yeah, the gifts are a bit much - I ask family and friends to make a donation in his name to baby home, but for the rest of his little friends - let them bring whatever they want. Happy birthday to your boy! He’s going to be 3? Where does time go?

Sorry, but I’m very BIG on birthdays. For my kid’s 1st birthday I said family only – well, I have a HUGE family, so there were a lot of people around. Then for his 2nd, I rented out a gym type place that has a LIMIT on the # of people you can have. Wouldn’t you know it, we exceeded the limit. Luckily, they accomodated us… I plan it all – theme, invites, balloons, goodie bags, and thank you notes – SUCH fun. Yeah, the gifts are a bit much – I ask family and friends to make a donation in his name to baby home, but for the rest of his little friends – let them bring whatever they want.

Happy birthday to your boy!

]]> By: Lee http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/comment-page-1/#comment-3028 Lee Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:29:04 +0000 http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/#comment-3028 NO GOODIE BAGS!!!!!!!!!!!! I agree with the Grandma's. Auntie Lee NO GOODIE BAGS!!!!!!!!!!!! I agree with the Grandma’s.
Auntie Lee

]]> By: annmarie http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/comment-page-1/#comment-3024 annmarie Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:09:00 +0000 http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/#comment-3024 Do those goody bags have boos in 'em? We haven't had a birthday party yet but I plan on just having family. My son doesn't have friends yet so that saves me aggravation. When he gets to kindergarten I'll reconsider the friends thing...we just can't fit them all in this place. And goody bags? Is this the trend? I am clueless... Do those goody bags have boos in ‘em? We haven’t had a birthday party yet but I plan on just having family. My son doesn’t have friends yet so that saves me aggravation. When he gets to kindergarten I’ll reconsider the friends thing…we just can’t fit them all in this place. And goody bags? Is this the trend? I am clueless…

]]> By: Ingelaurie http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/comment-page-1/#comment-3023 Ingelaurie Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:06:20 +0000 http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/#comment-3023 What you mean you aren't celebrating Oleg's birthday month. That's what we are doing in the office for JP. Take this time and just enjoy. They only turn 3 once. What you mean you aren’t celebrating Oleg’s birthday month. That’s what we are doing in the office for JP.

Take this time and just enjoy. They only turn 3 once.

]]> By: DebiP http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/comment-page-1/#comment-3022 DebiP Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:38:48 +0000 http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/#comment-3022 OMG why am I just now realizing that O and Griffin are only days apart...man now I have got to meet you in person so that our kids can raise some craziness together...ever get to Chicago?? OMG why am I just now realizing that O and Griffin are only days apart…man now I have got to meet you in person so that our kids can raise some craziness together…ever get to Chicago??

]]> By: Catherine http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/comment-page-1/#comment-3021 Catherine Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:24:48 +0000 http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/#comment-3021 I said no big party -- and then did one for Alex's 3rd this year. I did a family-godparents only 2.25 party when we got home last year (since I missed his 2d b'day by one month in Russia). This year I did a late afternoon BBQ buffet party in the backyard for family, friends and neighbors....it got bigger and bigger....I did invitations with a "no gifts" mention -- some people went along with it but lots of people didn't. I invited neighbors because they have been so welcoming and great with Alex -- we live on a cul de sac and everyone knows everyone else. Alex is the youngest on the street and has been given lots of cool pre-used toys, vehicles, etc by the older kids who will give him their stuff that they don't play with anymore but otherwise wouldn't give up. We had very large crowd and it was really more a party that happened to have a train cake and balloons than a 3 year old BD party (all the other kids were 2 or more years older). No gift bags -- just extra cake sent home with some. Alex loved it and we all had fun. I said no big party — and then did one for Alex’s 3rd this year. I did a family-godparents only 2.25 party when we got home last year (since I missed his 2d b’day by one month in Russia). This year I did a late afternoon BBQ buffet party in the backyard for family, friends and neighbors….it got bigger and bigger….I did invitations with a “no gifts” mention — some people went along with it but lots of people didn’t. I invited neighbors because they have been so welcoming and great with Alex — we live on a cul de sac and everyone knows everyone else. Alex is the youngest on the street and has been given lots of cool pre-used toys, vehicles, etc by the older kids who will give him their stuff that they don’t play with anymore but otherwise wouldn’t give up. We had very large crowd and it was really more a party that happened to have a train cake and balloons than a 3 year old BD party (all the other kids were 2 or more years older). No gift bags — just extra cake sent home with some. Alex loved it and we all had fun.

]]> By: Nancy http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/comment-page-1/#comment-3020 Nancy Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:22:23 +0000 http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/#comment-3020 Another Mom who goes overboard! I am not a fan of treat bags, they offend me. But, I don't want my kids to be know as the ones who don't give them out at their parties. So as a compromise I give a gift certificate to Baskin Robbins, cheap and easy and then if we have a piniata, the kids get the candy they've picked up. I thought my birthday was a HUGE deal as a kid, so I'm treating my kids the same, it's our day to tell them how special they are. We go all out with themes, home made invites, cakes, bouncers what have you (I also did this because with all boys at the time I knew the parties would end up being those boring pizza video game things soon enough) and just make a big deal about them. We go easy on the gifts from Mom and Dad as the party is party of the gift. I know as a parent it is so hard, I want my kids to be happy with a simple life, so I work on that all year and Christmas and Birthdays are big deals, the rest of the year I make them go without, lol. Another Mom who goes overboard! I am not a fan of treat bags, they offend me. But, I don’t want my kids to be know as the ones who don’t give them out at their parties. So as a compromise I give a gift certificate to Baskin Robbins, cheap and easy and then if we have a piniata, the kids get the candy they’ve picked up.

I thought my birthday was a HUGE deal as a kid, so I’m treating my kids the same, it’s our day to tell them how special they are. We go all out with themes, home made invites, cakes, bouncers what have you (I also did this because with all boys at the time I knew the parties would end up being those boring pizza video game things soon enough) and just make a big deal about them. We go easy on the gifts from Mom and Dad as the party is party of the gift.

I know as a parent it is so hard, I want my kids to be happy with a simple life, so I work on that all year and Christmas and Birthdays are big deals, the rest of the year I make them go without, lol.

]]> By: Barbara http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/comment-page-1/#comment-3019 Barbara Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:24:43 +0000 http://www.lifeofelle.com/2007/10/17/564/#comment-3019 My daughter is in daycare and received an invite to a party at McDonalds for a someone in her class who was turning 3. I thought it was a bit crazy and didn't go. I'd recommend a craft that can be both an activity at the party and a take home treat. It seems what comes in goody bags is usually junk - food or toys - and I have enough of that in my house already without anyone helping me. My daughter is in daycare and received an invite to a party at McDonalds for a someone in her class who was turning 3. I thought it was a bit crazy and didn’t go. I’d recommend a craft that can be both an activity at the party and a take home treat. It seems what comes in goody bags is usually junk – food or toys – and I have enough of that in my house already without anyone helping me.

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