When my oldest had her first birthday, I went about planning it as though it was a wedding. I even had napkins printed for the occasion! While I laugh about it now, I really do love a good party, and I enjoy the planning and preparing, but Daly Kay’s first birthday was just as much a milestone in my life as it was for her. We had survived the first year!
Every child’s birthday is special. We celebrate each one as an occasion, although as my children have gotten older, their mode of commemoration has changed. The oldest ones love an entire special day with just Mom or Dad. The middle aged ones seem to prefer a special date with just Dad. As a family, we celebrate each wee one’s birthday with a special evening at home including their favorite meal or maybe an activity of their choosing.
It’s not that we don’t do big parties anymore, but I have learned something. The big parties, as fun as they were and as much as I enjoyed the planning and the crafting and so forth that went into them, I was not able to ENJOY the celebration or time with the children during the party because I was busy entertaining. How about you? Have you found a unique way to celebrate birthdays? I would love to hear about them!
jamiecoggeshall says
We do have parties. I love them and so do the boys. I love to entertain, but do to other circumstances, that happens very little during the year. Birthday parties are my excuse to throw a party. Now that Preston is older, he helps plan the games or activities. Although their favorite part is the cake I make for them. They get to pick a theme and I design a cake.
Lyette Reback says
That’s awesome Jamie! Now that mu big girls are so good in the kitchen, lots of times they make a cake or cupcake for the younger ones…I’m not the best baker 🙂
Deborah Logan says
Great timing! Our daughter is turning 13 today. We have 8 children, so going “all out” for parties isn’t possible. On their birthday, each child gets to choose their birthday dinner and dessert. Generally, it is just our family or maybe some grandparents if they happen to be visiting at the time. Our children now get allowances, so they are able to buy gifts for each other, and it doesn’t have to come out of our pocket. My husband takes each child out for several days for their 13th birthday. He prays about what each one needs and plans activities and conversation around those needs. The trips have varied. When we lived out east, he took one daughter to NYC and opened her eyes to life outside of her own world. He took a timid son zip-lining and camping. Next weekend, he is taking a daughter to an amusement park/water park to have fun with her and enjoy just the two of them.
Lyette Reback says
I like how you make one birthday a big adventure! Great ideas! 8 kiddos – wow! Good for you guys and keep sharing your ideas! We can all learn from everyone’s experiences! xoxox good job mama!
Melanie says
I’ve learned from listening to my children, going to other LOs birthday parties as well as other moms that kids really just want to be with the people they love (maybe family and friends, or just family…), have fun and eat cake! Therefore, I do not do much more than meet those needs. Our parties are at home (on our back patio…not inside) with a handful of the kid’s friends and their parents. I time the party so that I’m not responsible for a whole meal and dessert…just the cake. I do not plan set activities that have to be completed. I provide a couple of fun places to play, i.e. our pool and a water table. There are floats, water guns, rings, pool basketball, etc. I give the kids a safe and fun place to play with their friends and family and then we sing happy birthday and eat the dessert/cake of their choosing. That’s it!! And most importantly I either will request no gifts be given (if the child is still young) or if I’m allowing gifts I will put them in a corner as soon as the guests arrive and not allow my child to open them until that evening after all the guests are gone. I don’t do party favors, personalized decorations or fancy invitations. Just the people they love, something fun to do and cake. That allows me to be able to enjoy the party instead of host guests! And the parents tell me they like the simplicity too.
Lyette Reback says
Love it Melanie! I sometimes like to have people, sometimes keep it just family…but I like your ideas too! Enjoying the day with them instead of entertaining FOR them is a big distinction and I like how you balance that!
Kellyburi says
I LOVE entertaining. (duh! ) But 5 full on birthday parties each year (plus holidays, Paul and I’s birthdays, and I love to throw a good BBQ every couple of months) is way too much for us. It naturally had become that 1 kid a year gets a big party and the other kids that year get special family events. For example, the south Florida fair comes into town near two of my children’s birthdays and that’s been an amazing birthday event! Or the glow in the dark mini golf at Shipwrecks…..
We keep each each birthday fun and special by starting the day off with a wonderful breakfast on themed partyware and ending the day with a cute cake and presents.
Lyette Reback says
That sounds like fun Kelly! I like how you alternate between big and small ideas!
Isabel says
I have 3 boys ages 12, 6 and 3. Regardless of the age, I have 2 little traditions:
1. I always bring a handful of helium balloons in their bedroom before they wake up. They absolutely love seeing their room filled with balloons first thing in the morning.
2. I set up the kitchen table with a colourful table cloth for the dollar store and party paper plates and cups. That day all meals are party “style”: pancake breakfast, pizza dinner, and a smash cake.
Now, for the little ones they get to pick a place they love and we spend all day there: they usually pick the aquarium or the local petting farm. For my pre-teen, it’s a bit different. He gets to pick to go on a date with me or the hubby.
I feel like I am throwing a party that day but the good thing is that the people that I am entertaining are my kids!
They absolutely love it and always look forwards to it. I have done the birthday party thing with a theme going on and what not. It’s exhausting. It’s expensive. Its no longer what I do.
Lyette Reback says
Those are great ideas Isabel! Thank you for sharing!!!
Janice says
My twins like to plan the menu and sometimes a theme;
They prefer grandparents and parents small special dinner.
Balloons and 2 dozen roses..its all about being together.
Mindy Moyado says
I have 4 little ones – 4,3,2 and a 4 month old… I too wanted to go all out for their birthdays but ended up stressed and bought to many party favors and not everyone showing up (which would always hurt my feelings not sure why) So I just had to keep it simple. Every 1st birthday was spent at Chuckie Cheese. When I planned a party I would just keep it simple with a small group. I do look forward to when they get older to have the daddy and mommy dates 🙂 and visits at school.
Lyette Reback says
I like the simplicity! Great job mama!