Baby tigers, stretch limos, a trip to the recording studio to cut a record. These are just some of the extravagant things that Asra Q. Nomani did for her son's birthday parties, all before the age of 5.
In a recent Babble essay, Nomani highlights the crazy, competitive world of birthday parties where parents get trapped in a cycle of trying to out-do the previous year's party. She discovers there is help for people like her in the form of an organization called Birthdays Without Pressure, a group of "recovering over-the-top party throwers and those disgusted by party excess."
Nomani's turning point was attending a party where the parents served grilled cheese sandwiches and everyone, including the parents, were relaxed and having a great time. Personally, I'm a fan of the low-key/low-cost party. In my experience nothing makes a birthday party more fun than hot dogs or pizza, a passel of kids in their own dress-up garb, and beer. Lots and lots of beer. (For the parents, that is.)
See glimpses of yourself in Nomani? Check out her article and know you aren't alone.
