As you’re reading this, I’m in this weird birthday party limbo, having hosted my son’s first birthday party in March and having my daughter’s third birthday coming up in June.
Here’s the thing: I hate big parties. There’s always this build-up and planning and stress and, by the time the party gets here, you despise all your guests and just want them to leave. The pressure is even worse when planning parties for your children: you have to juggle planning a kid-appropriate party that’s also beautiful enough to impress the other parents.
When I was a kid, if the weather was nice for my summer birthday, we’d spend the day at the pool and I’d get a thrill if my birthday was announced over the loudspeaker. I was usually able to invite a friend to the movies and then we went back to my house for cake and ice cream.
I’ve attended kids’ parties with actual circus big top tents, popcorn machines, a near-life size castle. The amount of time and effort we as parents put into our children’s parties is astounding. I mean, I get it. By all means, if you have the energy to put into your kids’ parties, go for it and I salute you. But I’ve begun to take myself out of the competition.
I’m not going to lie--I went all out for Holdy’s first birthday party, including making rainbow cupcakes that required at least four practice rounds to get right.
For her second birthday, instead of a big party, we took her to the Maryland Zoo and then had pizza and cupcakes with the grandparents back at the house.
Of course, for GB’s first birthday party I felt I owed him some kind of party, so I hosted a family gathering at York City Pretzel Company (which I happen to own).
I actually did make the decorations (shocking, I know), but I outsourced all of the food. See, I’m learning as I go.
But now that Holdy is in preschool, she’s getting invited to all of her friends’ birthday parties. A bounce house party. A garden party. What’s a mom to do? The idea of renting a venue and putting together goodie bags and entertaining (impressing) other parents I barely know is enough to give me a panic attack. I honestly still haven’t decided and her birthday is a month away.
Check out ohbotherblog.com and follow us on instagram (@nomiddlenamemeg) for updates on the direction we took for Holden’s Third Birthday.