Kids Birthday Parties

[Pinga]

I know what greedy is.

I thought the expectation of gifts was greedy. Always watched that with our kids, and recognize that in our neighbourhood, the gifts given to our sons were cutting into food money at times. We would expect to spend at least equal or more on the kids than was spent on our kids.

 

[KayTheCurler]

It only took my kids a few moments to recognise that the received Loot Bag was a sign of things to come. One wondered out loud about the quality of the Loot Bag he might get at the next party.

 

[Pinga]

Interesting, @KayTheCurler . I did not experience that in our house. Wierd.

 

[paradox3]

No, I don't remember any loot bag inflation at the time of my kids' parties.

 

[ChemGal]

Loot bags, we certain had them as kids but I don't recall any 'one-upping'. The closest thing that came to that were crafts at the preteenish ages. With that it wasn't about the expense, it was about who had come up with the coolest item.

I do expect some of the adults at birthdays to end when the kids are school age - and then it will be a party for the kids - plus I expect something small with my nephews too, we do tend to get together for dinners for adult birthdays as well.

 

[BetteTheRed]

I hated children's parties, and my children knew it. I was great at letting my kids know what my boundaries were.

So, the 'rules' were that I would do a birthday party, proper, with several attendees, ONCE. Pick your age, 'cause you'll only get one. Ever after, the birthday deal was: movie and a dinner out with you and your friend of choice, a sleepover if you liked.

 

[Luce NDs]

Birthdays are out for me ... if you deny them you can remain childishly grumpy all your life about the insanity of humanity ... this may be foreshortened to inhumanity ... and thus one is considered sick because of unorthodoxy!

Solution; conform ... back to orthodoxy as it too goes round ... leaving this odd spot in the midst! Where sanity is tossed once in grief it is denied presence ...

 

[GiancarloZ]

Curious who you invite/who invites you to young childrens' birthday parties.

My nephews I expect. Friends though I never really expected, and sometimes I think other people think it's slightly odd when I am there with no kids of my own (and then other ones there are a bunch of adults without children).

I skipped one recently as I wasn't feeling good. Chemguy actually tried to talk me out of going as he made the point - with a bunch of kids running around, often they parents are pretty busy and it's not a good time to talk. He ended up going, it helped that he knew other people going too I think (I asked about that) plus it wasn't at home which made it easier.

For my nephews my Mom points out that I might end up an Auntie to numerous kids for the day and yes I often end up holding a baby or getting a toddler food or something as quite a few of my sister's friends have 2 kids now as well, plus I find parents of young children will take whatever chance they can get for some adult time.

I used to enjoy children's birthday parties especially because of the food, and when I would meet friends who also didn't have kids there. But now that almost everyone that I know have kids, the conversations are just about the kids and it gets so boring. I'm skipping them now (lots of invitations from Brazilians here in Winnipeg, and a lot of creative excuses...).

 

[GiancarloZ]

I hated children's parties, and my children knew it. I was great at letting my kids know what my boundaries were.

So, the 'rules' were that I would do a birthday party, proper, with several attendees, ONCE. Pick your age, 'cause you'll only get one. Ever after, the birthday deal was: movie and a dinner out with you and your friend of choice, a sleepover if you liked.

I think I'm following your example when I have kids. I can't see myself managing kids' parties.

 

[GiancarloZ]

When I was a kid, both my brother and I had birthday parties all years until the age of 13 or 14. Some years it was just for family and close friends, and other years big parties with lots of adults and children. When I think of having kids myself, I'd probably go with small gatherings just for close friends and family members. Parties like I had, for 100+ people, overwhelm me. I didn't enjoy them as a kid, but it was the cultural expectation that parents would throw those parties every other year at least.

 

[ChemGal]

When I was a kid, both my brother and I had birthday parties all years until the age of 13 or 14. Some years it was just for family and close friends, and other years big parties with lots of adults and children. When I think of having kids myself, I'd probably go with small gatherings just for close friends and family members. Parties like I had, for 100+ people, overwhelm me. I didn't enjoy them as a kid, but it was the cultural expectation that parents would throw those parties every other year at least.

Those are huge! I feel like 20 or 30 feels quite big, especially when in someone's home.

 

[GiancarloZ]

Those are huge! I feel like 20 or 30 feels quite big, especially when in someone's home.

I dunno how my mom could do it. All the families are huge, the friends' families as well, and if you don't invite someone it's big drama and gossip. So you throw a big one or none.

 

[KayTheCurler]

Do people rent a hall for these big parties - or do they spread out into the garden area?

 

[Luce NDs]

Explosive relationships ... these can go on for a long time ...

 

[Lastpointe]

I liked hosting birthday parties for my kids. But always did a simple play at home party. All their friends would go out. Bowling, laser tag......... I found the kids loved to come and just play. One year I stocked up on basic LEGO kits and the kids built LEGO for two hours. Had pizza and went home

But I did hate loot bags. One party my daughter went to the loot bag was more valuable than the gift we sent

 

[GiancarloZ]

Do people rent a hall for these big parties - or do they spread out into the garden area?

That depends on where you live. I was raised in the countryside and everyone had big houses, so we generally had a big barbecue for those mega parties. My birthday is close to my grandma's so once we had a formal party at a hall for both of us.
People who live in big cities, though, generally rent specialized children party halls.

 

[KayTheCurler]

I liked hosting birthday parties for my kids. But always did a simple play at home party. All their friends would go out. Bowling, laser tag......... I found the kids loved to come and just play. One year I stocked up on basic LEGO kits and the kids built LEGO for two hours. Had pizza and went home

But I did hate loot bags. One party my daughter went to the loot bag was more valuable than the gift we sent

One of my kids had the 'birthday child' complain the next day that her gift was chintzy and not worth as much as the stuff in the loot bags.

 

[Pinga]

wow, @KayTheCurler - that is so contrary to my experience. I wonder why it was -- how many years ago? My guys are in their mid & late 20's

 

[KayTheCurler]

We had a group of materialistic kids at the school my kids attended. They (encouraged by their mothers) spent far too much time boasting about trips, gifts and 'what they had'. The time was early 80's. Unfortunately my girl wanted to be like them and have all the possessions they had.