Birthday Blues

I've stated before how fond I am of children's birthday parties. (If you didn't click on the link, I was being sarcastic.) I'm getting better at handling them as I get older, though. Experience has taught me a thing or two:

1. Over-catering is just silly: They're generally happy with lots of chips and a small selection of sweets.
2. Cupcakes won't be eaten: Generally, the kids just lick the icing off the top and leave the rest.
3. "Drop and go" is a key phrase for invitations: Leave it out at your peril. Mothers will stay, sit on your couch, and stare blankly at you throughout the entire proceedings, without so much as a "may I help you mop up the litre of juice that my dear one has just spilled on the floor?"
4. Try to ensure that the party venue isn't your lounge: It won't recover and neither will you.
5. No one replies to invitations: Ever.

Another 2 birthdays in our household are rapidly approaching (James turning 9 and Hannah turning 6) and I can feel that familiar sense of dread creeping in. I think James's party is sorted: he'd like to go and see a movie with a few of his friends. The only glitch would be if there's nothing appropriate on circuit that week....

So to ease my pain just a little bit, how about giving me suggestions for a fun (CHEAP!) birthday party for Hannah, who turns 6 on the 8th of October, and is into fairies, pink, ballet and all things pretty. And remember: I'm hopelessly uncreative, so don't expect me to sew, bake or fashion anything from scratch...

Comments

[brandy101]

How about, instead of conical birthday hats, get foil or plastic crowns from the party store?

And I bet you could get, as favors, some sort of pretty wand type thing.

Do you have *dollar stores* (or, I guess *rand stores???*) We have shops that have party suplies like that and they are quite inexpensive.

Then you can decorate with pink crepe paper, which no one seems to use anymore but it is inexpensive and pretty.

Instead of pin the tail on the donkey, you could play pin the wings on the fairy or something like that. Its just a matter of finding a graphic online and printing it up or similar.

But avoid glitter at all turns. It is the WORST because it gets EVERYWHERE!

[Tammy Warren]

Well, I just completed my 8th birthday party with my son. Having a 13 year old I have decided that I totally agree with all the statements that you made in reference to the "birthday party."

Anyway, this year I decided to have a 4 person sleepover with the quietest children I could invite. It went well, except I had one mom put me on the spot. She asked if her second son, a year older could stay. I had no problem with it...my son liked him. I just cannot believe she would ask. Crazy.

Looking back I am glad I kept this one simple.

[Tess]

We just invite a couple of close friends and take them to an activity. No mess and no parents to get mad at for not helping!

[Jenni]

It's true...nobody ever RSVPs. I wish I had a good party idea for your 6 year old...but I have only boys so all of my experience is with Star Wars and pirate parties!

[Cristine]

Not sure where you stay, but in Durbs we've got Mitchell Park and the Botanical Gardens. What about doing a "Princess" Tea party at a public garden. All the girls get dressed up, you sit around on picnic blankets, eat cake, drink juice...maybe even make sure you've got a camera and do a "mini photo shoot" with the girls in the trees and amongst the flowers. Entrance should be free to the gardens and with it just being moms and daughters it should be pleasant. But this is coming from the mouth of someone who is still pregnant and has no experience in birthday parties!

[Elizabeth]

I love this post - mainly because I feel the exact same way! I'm definitely using the "Drop & Go" method! I always have lots of "stragglers" and not enough food!

[Georgette]

I would invite a FEW friends, and take them somewhere like the zoo (or something a little less lame than that).

[mrsbear]

Kids parties give me anxiety. When it's one of ours we keep it small, we usually let the birthday kid pick an outing of their choice - the zoo, the mall, the beach, the park, the dreaded Chuck E. Cheese, Wannado City, bowling, ice skating, the children's museum, a movie. Afterward we have a small cake, goody bags and such, but usually it's family and maybe a friend or two.

[Helene]

Maybe I'm odd man out but I kinda like kids' parties!! But I'm still new at all this (with my oldest twins being 4 next month...it's all fun still but I'm sure in a few more years, I'll dread it).

Good tip on the cupcakes....hadn't thought about that!

We're doing a simple b-day party for my older twins who are turning 4 next month. Party at our house with close friends and family, jumpy house for the kids, cake and ice cream and that's about it. And I purposely put on the invites 3:00-5:00 (only light refreshments will be served) Hopefully that was a good enough hint that everyone is to leave at 5:00 because we will NOT be serving everyone dinner!

[Nina]

I am a aweful party host. I never have very good parties, not organized and pretty much wing it the entire time because something has been missed or forgotten. As for party ideas, I always take the kids somewhere so my house doesn't need to be cleaned before or after the event and I keep it simple so they get to play most of the time and enjoy each other for the day.

[Elizabeth Channel]

Well, we typically go way, way overboard on birthdays. Like dressing in Barney costumes and letting 6-year-old knights and princesses battle us with spray foam and foam "swords." Or dressing like pirates and doing a jig. Or dressing like Batman and Joker and allowing Jr. Batmen/Batwomen to attack us with silly string, which, by the way, is extremely dangerous as my husband was almost "overcome" by the noxious fumes that emanated from the silly string.

Sorry I'm not much help! Have fun, though!

[angel]

ah yes- exactly why i always sent damien's parties to school and only had cake-and-tea for the family!