Strollerderby : birthdays without pressure

Parents Spent $3,000 On The Kid's First Birthday Party

Kelly Mills — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:35:00 GMT

A while ago the parenting story of the day was paring down parties for kids, and how these celebrations should be small and cost nothing and we should all forgo the party favors. There was even an online movement called Birthdays Without Pressure, for people who were kinda grossed out by the excesses of it all, and the word on the street was that big parties had more to do with competitive parents than the kids. At the time, I came out in defense of the lavish affair. However, I'm here to tell you I do have my limits, and they are definitely shy of this one-year-old's birthday.

How do you spend that much on a kid birthday? These parents did it by renting a room at a country club, hiring a magician, having pony rides, buying a giant castle cake, providing a buffet and pinata, all for almost 60 guests. ('Course that party would cost $5,000 where I live.) They also flew out the grandparents, and I think that part is sweet. But mother Sheila Chapman's motivation behind the affair was reportedly to make it memorable for her son. Um, bad news: He's one. He isn't gonna remember a thing about it. She also wanted her son "to know how important and special I think he is." Okaaaay, for a one-year-old, I think you can accomplish that with a hug and thirty minutes in the sandbox.

Fun Birthdays Despite Recession

Madeline Holler — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:36:00 GMT

In all this talk about economic downturns and recessions or "recessions" and whatnot, politicians are overlooking one very important thing when calculating rebates and tax cuts and interest rates freezes and economic stimulation: what the hell is a parent to do about birthday parties?

Listen, party-planning expert Lisa Kothari, author of Dear Peppers and Pollywogs...What Parents Want to Know About Planning Their Kids' Parties knows your pain and she wants to help out with her three-part series on recession-proof children's birthday parties. Thank God, because I was worried we'd have to leave it up to our kids this year to create their own fun.

For Part 1, she counsels to "think outside the box," but goes on to give some cool ideas, so stick with me. The first is a Messy Party, with these sugggestions.

Invitations stamped with handprints.
Make a mess out of balloons and streamers; hang them all over the place in no set pattern.
Have the kids paint pictures with chocolate.
Let the kids decorate premade sugar cookies.
Set out paint, roller brushes, and butcher paper for the kids to make fantastic creations.
Have a bunch of stamps and water-soluble ink out and have the kids stamp their arms and legs all over and stamp one another!
Place a pile of dirt in one area of the yard and have the kids make dirt creations using twigs, rocks, and other natural elements.
Make a traditional round cake, ice with vanilla frosting and then drizzle different colors of icing into your own messy masterpiece. Add candy toppings as an added bonus.

Outrageous Cookie Party

Make plain cookie dough and then set out these ingredients for kids to get creative with. Bag them up to take home. Be sure to warn parents in case the kids decide to share.

Ketchup
Mustard
Chocolate Syrup
Ranch Dressing
Steak Sauce
Cherries
Yogurt
Cheese
Peanut Butter
Balsamic Vinegar
Jam
Pesto Sauce
Tomato Sauce
Relish

Don't forget to request all birthday gifts in cash. (Who's going to pay for all that wasted pesto? We're in a recession!)

So what are you doing for a cheap birthday party this year (or any year)? Canceling the tiger cub rental? Yeah, me too. Me too.

Photo: Once Upon a Bash

Spousal Birthday Gifts for Yourself

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:08:00 GMT

Let's face it -- you're the one doing the dishes, you're the one cleaning up the messes and wiping all the asses, so when it comes time for your spouse's birthday, indulge yourself. Throw yourself a happy birthday party. Or at least buy a really cool present that can easily go both ways.

Take my wife, for instance. (Insert Henny Youngman line here if you must.) She recently had a birthday, and you know what she unwrapped? An ice cream maker. Considering that I go through a pint of Haagen-Dazs every night, I was sure she'd see through my nefarious plan.

Thankfully it was a gift she asked for, but it still got me thinking. We've been together for more than 10 years now, and I've missed a decade of great opportunities.

Now I'm wracking my brain trying to come up with other gifts that could just as easily be for yourself as for your spouse. The new family pool. The new family car. The new family beer maker and three-way with the hot new nanny. While my wife will read this and probably begin her search for the "new husband gift," I'm wondering what else is out there?

Have you ever given or received a two-way gift? Something in a box, I mean. No, not that box. Jeesh.

Pro Party Planner for a Three-Year-Old?

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:23:00 GMT

Emmeline turned 1 on Monday -- and our party planning consisted of baking cupcakes, stripping her naked and letting her go to town on the kitchen floor. It took a solid hour to clean up, but the sight of a sugar-coated pastel baby was more than worth it. (Note to kid: Sprinkles don't go in your lady business.)

But the first birthday is easy. It's more for the parents anway -- at least that's what everyone told us. But now, I'm starting to get a little freaked out. You see, I just read a post on Dana's Internet mother board about a mom who is looking for a party planner ... for her 3-year-old.

A party planner? Is that where birthdays are headed? How difficult is it to pin the tail on Dora or beat the crap out of pinata Sponge Bob? Are 3-year-olds that demanding nowadays, or are parents just that overworked?

Maybe I'm just jealous, because it would have been a whole helluva a lot easier to let someone else make the arrangements, grab the food, book the guests ("Hello, Mom? You comin?"), bake the cupcakes, etc. etc. etc. I couldn't imagine trying to tie it all together with a "theme."

But still, I'm wondering if I'm alone in thinking a professional party planner for a 3-year-old is more than a little over the top? Please let me know in a hurry -- I've only got a year to plan the next party.

Birthdays Without Pressure? St. Paul Organization Says You Can, and So Do I

Patti — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Birthday overkill got you down? St. Paul organization Birthdays Without Pressure can help. They aim to help parents reduce the excess of birthday celebrations, citing the mountains of gifts, the competition to provide bigger and better venues, and that old birthday thorn in the side, the gift bag.

BWP launched today with a talk given by University of Minnesota professor David Ruth. The organization's inception was inspired by one mother's surprise at the pressure she felt to produce a great party for her three year old, and the discussion with her instructor and classmates in a parenting class that followed.

Now, I can take or leave gift bags (don't do them myself), and I can take or leave presents. But I can tell you the secret to having a great birthday party for your kids that every guest of every age will enjoy: No games, no structure, no fancy entertainment, no freaking bounce house or pony ride. All you need is iTunes on shuffle, three kinds of chips, extra frosting on the cupcakes, and most important of all, Birthdays Without Pressure are Birthdays With Beer. That's it. No website necessary. You're welcome.