(sorry) @: parties for kids

[georgeharrison]

Did you always have a party (with friends) when you were a kid?

If not, what did you do instead?

If you have kids or have thought about it for future kids, what do you plan to do with your kids?

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I am asking because we have always had a party for Tman except his 2nd birthday. We skipped it because the 1st birthday was exciting, but the 2nd he was too young to care and we had just moved.

Last year as his party approached and we only have one RSVP (a bro and sis, so 2 kids), I had a major panic attack and burst into tears in bed one night thinking of if we threw this party for him and he only had 2 kids show up. I can anticipate the look on his face - excited and expectant and then having his countenance drop.

His party turned out fine with 9 kids including Tman (it was really perfect size), but because of my stress from it, James suggested that we not have parties for him every year, but instead just have them occasionally and on the years that we have no party for him, he can invite one friend for a "day of fun." Tman is fine with this.

We are doing it tomorrow, but since we did Disneyland for his birthday, we are doing it small: just lunch and playing at Chuck E Cheese. I feel kind of bad that he's not getting a big party, though. I guess it's just fun watching him be the center of attention to his friends, and it's also fun (stressful, but fun) putting it all together with a cool theme and cake and decorations and stuff.

The truth of the matter is, though, that when I was a kid, I remember maybe 3 birthday parties. I hated being the center of attention, though, so I guess I probably didn't want them.

So it got me thinking if birthday parties were the norm for the Seattle GBCNers growing up or not, and if the moms on the board are planning on doing parties every year for their kiddos.

FWIW: Tman celebrates his birthday at least two other times with grandparents (my divorced parents have to do it separately).

[Deleted]

Did you always have a party (with friends) when you were a kid? I think almost always, but honestly, I can't remember for sure.

If not, what did you do instead?We always had family parties for sure where you got to pick your favorite food for dinner (or place to go eat, which was often Sizzler's for me) and mom would make the cake flavor you wanted. After age 7 when my parents split, I usually had 2 family parties then.

If you have kids or have thought about it for future kids, what do you plan to do with your kids? I had a friend with a "rule" that I thought was really great: age = number of friends that can be invited +1. So if the child is turning 5, they can invite 6. That seems like a good way to manage it, especially at younger ages when the more the crazier. I think I would also change up years so that they don't always have a party. Some years, I would definitely go with the one friend for one day of extra fun activities.

[picksthemusic]

My parties were mostly slumber parties, and then it was bowling/skating/restaurant parties, and then it was slumber parties again... and I was happy with those. And yes, they were with friends. Not a ton of people, but around 10 or so.

Depends on the birthday, I guess. If it's a big number (5, 10, 13, 16...), then the party might be "bigger" or have more things to do, or may be made to be more special than others. But I think it'll all have to depend on what M wants to do.

[sarack]

first- i don't think you should feel bad at all that there are no friends there, especially because it's during the summer and you're going on vacation.

i didn't really have parties, and the ones i did have were joint with my gma, her bday is 3 days before mine. so they were just with family. i remember my 12th bday i had a BUNCH of friends then i don't really remember bdays after that. ok, my 16th and 18th. but otherwise nope. we just always did something with family. i think we'll just do family bday parties until they're in school.. and then, we'll see what they're into and decide from there.

[georgeharrison]

Aug 1, 2012 16:29:28 GMT -5 sarack said:

first- i don't think you should feel bad at all that there are no friends there, especially because it's during the summer and you're going on vacation.

Yeah, that's where my anxiety comes in. He's always had a good turn out, but I'm always anxious that he won't because of vacation time and stuff. Plus, he goes to a small private school, so his circle of friends is pretty small.

Oh wait, are you talking about Chuck E Cheese this year? Yeah, he's having one friend go with him tomorrow - maybe two, but we haven't asked the other kid yet, so I don't know.

[karebear219]

Did you always have a party (with friends) when you were a kid? Nope. I think it was only when we were in grade school and maybe not every year.

If not, what did you do instead? Just a family party

If you have kids or have thought about it for future kids, what do you plan to do with your kids? I don't have anything set. I know for bkb first year we plan to do a big party, but I don't know about the future. I think every year is over kill. When she's Tman's age I'll just see what she wants to do. Sometimes it would be nice to just have a small celebration with immediate family. If we have more than one we won't be able to afford to throw a big party for the both of them.

[Deleted]

Did you always have a party (with friends) when you were a kid?Nope. I had 2 parties as a kid.

If not, what did you do instead?I only ever had birthday dinners with family.

If you have kids or have thought about it for future kids, what do you plan to do with your kids?
I really don't know. We had his 1st birthday and will probably do a birthday party each year just for family until he goes to school and makes friends.

[jennlin]

Did you always have a party (with friends) when you were a kid?
nope. i had my first b-day party (that i remember) when i was 6. and then it was either 12 or 13...and then i think that was it.

If not, what did you do instead?
we'd always have a dairy queen cake at home for dessert. and we'd go out to eat as a family. usually red lobster or black angus..those were "our" favorite restaurants as a family. i think a few years we'd go to funtasia (arcade with mini golf, bumper cars, etc) with a friend and her family

If you have kids or have thought about it for future kids, what do you plan to do with your kids?
big party for 1st birthday, small family parties for all non-milestone years. probably only big ones for 5, 10, 16. she can throw her own 18th bday party.