It took me eight years but I’ve finally thrown in the towel. I can’t do it anymore. I simply can’t plan another over the top, cartoon/video game/activity themed child’s birthday party. I’m not renting another bounce-house or petting zoo. I’m not stressing over finding the perfect party favors. No more agonizing over whether to get the cake with minions or mine craft or Frozen or whatever it is that’s in at the moment! I will not be spending hours finding the perfect invitations only to decided could make them by hand better. Oh wait I never did that. I mean that is crazy, right?
Every child’s first birthday is always “an occasion,” right? That one big party is reasonable. But how did it evolve into this monstrous undertaking requiring shelling out hundreds of dollars on the party before you buy one present? And believe me, you are not getting out of a Chuck E. Cheese birthday extravaganza for under $350. And they don’t even serve wine.
And when I am honest with myself I have to admit that I take on this insanity not for them but because I want to be able to be that working mom who can put together a party that says to the world “she puts her kids first!” And there’s more than just a little working mother guilt driving me to prove to my children how important they are to me. Like three hours at Dave & Busters with ten of their closest friends will make my children forget my late nights and out of town travel for work.
And really is there any better way to teach your child to be entitled than to have them expect an over the top birthday extravaganza every year? I think not.
So I’m going to start kicking it old school. I’m busting out the Duncan Hines cake batter and making “home made” cake just like my momma used to! I’m envisioning sleep overs with scary movies or backyard water balloon fights. I’m talking low tech and low cost but lots of heart and lots of fun! Happy Birthday, kids! Your momma loves ya!
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