So Sick...

mshah · #1 July 14th, 2011, 08:00 PM

...of moms who think they need to throw a b-day party for their kids every.single.year. Ok, I get the 1st. But they dont remember their 2nd, or even care. 3rd, maybe they know what it is from cartoons, 4th is redundant, 5th is a good, solid number. So do it every other year, MAX! Every **** year I feel obliged to attend these birthdays and it just gets obnoxious and expensive! I'm sick of it!!!

Does anyone else agree with me that it just becomes rude? I mean, come on!!! I understand you want to celebrate each birthday, but they can be private family affairs. Stop making me feel like I have to buy another toy every year.

Thanks, rant over.

Jeanie915 · #2 July 14th, 2011, 08:10 PM

I understand. We will probably only do family/close friend parties until Hallie is old enough to have actual friends. I hate the idea of people feeling obligated to buy my child anything. Therefore, only close people for now.

mommydiva · #3 July 14th, 2011, 09:18 PM

It really depends on the person on if it annoys me or not..lol

I think family affairs are fine. But nothing all extravagant.

Other then that I agree with you

stephie1012 · #4 July 14th, 2011, 09:33 PM

really?? i dont find it rude or odd at all. we all have had bday parties for the kids, every friend we have and family member. you dont have to get the kid anything, thats your choice, maybe they like having everyone together to celebrate their special day.
i have never heard of someone complaining about a bday party ever year, if it bothers you that much dont go.

Juliebird18 · #5 July 14th, 2011, 10:47 PM

It doesn't bother me. You're right, the kids don't remember but the parents do and I think it's fun. I do agree that it can get expensive though, so if I didn't know them very well I wouldn't go.

krislati · #6 July 15th, 2011, 05:11 AM

We have birthday parties every year as well, I don't expect people to come or buy a gift. I love to celebrate the birth of my children with everyone who cares too. I feel the opposite, I feel I have to invite everyone or their feelings will be hurt if they are excluded. I just say if they are not close family or friends, don't go if it bothers you.

Irish_Wristwatch · #7 July 15th, 2011, 05:58 AM

We will do parties every year, but we will never do a big birthday party because that isnt our thing, just family and close friends. But honestly I couldnt imagine not having a party every year, once Ross is old enough to be in school and want to invite friends we will probably do a small family party at home and then something with friends

sunshyne57 · #8 July 15th, 2011, 06:24 AM

We do parties every year as well.....however it's only family (my parents, DH's mom, my grandma, siblings, cousins)

Keira will be 6 this year and if she wants to invite some friends over, that's totally fine with me. Owen and Alivia are a little too young since they don't have any friends outside of family yet, but when they do, the more kids the merrier!

My parents threw a party for me every year and I loved it! I loved having all of my friends over at the same time to play and for cake and ice cream. I want my children to have those same memories. Kids remember more than you think.

Heck we even still get together for birthdays for the adults in the family. It's not about the gifts, it's about getting together with family and friends.

I agree with the other ladies. If it really bothers you, then just politely decline in going.

amhk · #9 July 15th, 2011, 11:15 AM

We have been trying to figure out a way to ask people not to bring presents for Kinley's bday for that very reason. We don't live close to family, but we want to have a party for her, and I don't want friends to feel obligated to buy presents- it DOES get expensive when you have tons of parties to go to every other weekend. A lot of my friends are doing financial peace university and I know they don't have a lot of extra money to spend on buying presents, but I want them to come over and celebrate with us.

Irish_Wristwatch · #10 July 15th, 2011, 12:10 PM

Alisha are you sending out invites? or are you just calling to personally invite people, if youre sending out invites what about putting something like

"your presence is our present" on the bottom

mshah · #11 July 15th, 2011, 12:57 PM

ooo yeah that would be such a relief to see something like "your presence is our present."

I do think it's nice for kids to have b-day parties every year when they're old enough to have friends and enjoy it. I'm just tired of nearly every one I know having a party every year from 1 through 5. It just becomes overload for me, honestly. I see nothing wrong with a few family and close friends, but it seems like everyone is doing huge parties every year and it makes it seem like it's all about getting gifts to me. I dunno, maybe I'm just an oddball.

I<3HelloKitty · #12 July 16th, 2011, 12:42 PM

I'm planning on doing parties for Ellie every year, but I hang out with the people I'd be inviting pretty much every weekend anyway. For us, it'll just be an excuse to spend time with friends and family, gifts not required.

krislati · #13 July 16th, 2011, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshah

ooo yeah that would be such a relief to see something like "your presence is our present."

I do think it's nice for kids to have b-day parties every year when they're old enough to have friends and enjoy it. I'm just tired of nearly every one I know having a party every year from 1 through 5. It just becomes overload for me, honestly. I see nothing wrong with a few family and close friends, but it seems like everyone is doing huge parties every year and it makes it seem like it's all about getting gifts to me. I dunno, maybe I'm just an oddball.

I can see how it can be frustrating and overwhelming, it seemed like we were going to a party 2x a month for a while there. When dd hit kindergarten it got worse. I had to start declining, there were too many parties.

mshah · #14 July 16th, 2011, 07:12 PM

On our way home from yet another party this afternoon dh said I have to suck it up and start declining. It's been every weekend for a couple months now. There was one party that was nice, she did it as a get together the weekend before the actual birthday. It was just like a beach day with everyone together. No presents, no cake...just a good time. That was really nice I thought.

Trish36 · #15 July 17th, 2011, 01:22 PM

I only do a 'big' birthday party for the kids once in a while and only when they can actually remember it and enjoy it with their school friends. Other than that it's just family. Frankly I can't affort to throw a party for each of my kid every year. I have 1 in May, 2 in July and 1 in Sept. So this year it was DD#1 who requested to go to lazer quest with her friends. And 2 years ago we had DS's party and rented an inflatable bouncer and slide. That was the best one ever!!! For family I just do the cake and coffee and whoever can come will come. No huge gifts are expected.
If I had to go to a bday party every weekend I would start declining. And I agree with you Miranda that the kid doesn't even remember or enjoy it unless they are at least 4.

krsnow · #16 July 18th, 2011, 07:44 PM

I totally agree with you. DH and I both have big families, and there one aunt who throws big bday parties for 2 of her kids and invite everyone - aunts, uncles, cousins etc. I have 25 first cousins and they all have kids, if they all had parties it would be impossible. As it is, most of our weekends are booked with graduations, baptisms, communions etc.

Most of my family just has a small party every year with immediate family, like grandparents and the kid's friends or playmates, this is how it was for me growing up and I plan to do this for my LO. His 1st birthday will be the only huge bash.

While we are on this subject, I always hated being invited to kids parties at the moon walk jumpy places or chuckee cheese when I didn't have kids - even during the years I was single I had friends that made me feel obligated to go. What does a person do at these places without kids? I would literally be standing in a corner. There was one particular party that I will never forget - I drove an hour in the snow to a place called Pump it Up, then I was told that the pizza was only for the kids, and since there was some leftover I could have a piece. I think it is completely rude to expect a gift and not feed the guests. On top of that, my DH and I both caught colds from being there.

I hope I am not offending anyone here.

inyourhonor · #17 July 18th, 2011, 07:55 PM

We will have a party every year, gifts will not be expected. They will get plenty from us and family. But since my oldest starts kindergarten this year I am sure he will want to start inviting a few friends. Which will be fine for me. His birthday is in January so it kinda works out that I don't have to do a big outside party and we can't afford to rent a place.

But we will have a party every year and make it known we don't expect gifts, them celebrating with us is just enough. But I also won't invite the whole school/neighborhood.

We haven't been in this place yet, I'm sure it's coming though. I would decline some.

We have a party every year, well a gathering, nothing big. Just family.

amhk · #18 July 18th, 2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish_Wristwatch

Alisha are you sending out invites? or are you just calling to personally invite people, if youre sending out invites what about putting something like

"your presence is our present" on the bottom

What a great idea, Bree! I wish I would have read this before I sent out the invitations!!!

mshah · #19 July 20th, 2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krsnow

While we are on this subject, I always hated being invited to kids parties at the moon walk jumpy places or chuckee cheese when I didn't have kids - even during the years I was single I had friends that made me feel obligated to go. What does a person do at these places without kids? I would literally be standing in a corner. There was one particular party that I will never forget - I drove an hour in the snow to a place called Pump it Up, then I was told that the pizza was only for the kids, and since there was some leftover I could have a piece. I think it is completely rude to expect a gift and not feed the guests. On top of that, my DH and I both caught colds from being there.

LOL! I know exactly what you mean!!!! I always felt so weird that I'd force dh to tag along, and if not I'd pretend to come so that I could "help out" so I'd make the cake (so I wouldn't have to buy another present) and help set up.

At the place we're doing Omair's party they also only provide pizza for kids only. It's so wrong so I'm paying extra and making them have pizza for the adults, too. I'd never heard of such a thing! And, since there will be so many 1 year olds I'm also insisting on them letting me bring some healthy foods, too.