Ahh birthday parties…Growing up I can only remember having one birthday party and that was at our local skate rink. And now as a parent I realize why. Even though my parents were lazy, selfish, and high or drunk all the time they kind of had it figured out when it came to birthday parties.
The fantasy of your child’s party is that you find everything you need for the cake, decorations, and activities at a big discount so you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on just one day. You find the perfect park and or place to have the party and if it is indoors you have plenty of activities to keep both the kids and parents busy. The families come with their happy faces on and the warm sun is shining outside. The children pretty much stop clinging their parent’s leg and venture off and be social with all the other kids. They only come to screech at you when they get hungry or thirsty and when it’s time to cut the cake because they want a piece. After the cake cutting they go back to their socializing so they can not only run off the sugar high they just scarfed down but also so that they parents can socialize as well. After two hours the kids are tired and the parents take them home so that they can all snuggle and take a much deserved nap.
The reality is you have probably paid way too much on everything because most things had to be special ordered. If you planned for it to be outdoors chances are it is going to rain and you will have to stress about where you are going to have it at now and how you are going to have to entertain the kids because you were relying on the park for their entertainment. If you planned for it indoors chances are you don’t have enough activities planned because they are either A) too young to play all of them or B) their attention span is less than 5 minutes.
Your child is probably super cranky because you had to interrupt their much needed nap because the party was planned during their special nap time and of course the day you need them to take a nap early that just didn’t happen. In fact they probably refused a nap altogether just to make your life a little bit more difficult. You get them dressed in their outfit that matches the theme and just as you are walking out the door they spill something on it, poop on it, or screech because they now hate wearing clothing altogether.
After about 30minutes to an hour into the party you are frantically watching the clock praying that time passes quickly because you are stressed out and trying to be a good parent but feel like a complete failure.
After about an hour the parents start descending because their child(ren) are bored, tired, and cranky. And the party is over before the 2hour mark. Your kid has probably thrown so many fits that you probably couldn’t count that high and you are all exhausted and ready to go to bed and sleep till the next day. You also dread next year and wonder why other parents make it look so easy! Pinterest may tell you how to decorate a party and maybe even some games to play but they don’t tell you that even if you “follow” all their guidelines they can’t predict how your kid will act or how other kids will act and that is what really makes or breaks a birthday party.
(C's birthday isn't until February but we have been going to bday parties a lot lately and I'm trying to plan her party)
Even though it is very stressful planning, setting up, and participating for said birthda parties I do them because I love my daughter. That day is not about my wants or needs it's about hers! I want her to have a party every year. I want her to have parents that I didn't have so those are the reasons I will continue to have them! :)
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