<a href="http://www.babble.com/CS/photos/jun2007/picture28016.aspx" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.babble.com/CS/photos/jun2007/images/28016/365x279.aspx" title="birthday party" alt="birthday party" align="right" border="0" height="153" hspace="4" width="201"></a>
<p>On Saturday we had a birthday party for my now-six-year-old. As a
result I feel like I've been beaten about the head and neck with a
club, and I could probably sleep ten hours every night for the next
three months. But I wouldn't change a thing. We've <a href="http://babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2007/06/13/birthday-party-excess-again.aspx">written a ton </a>about <a href="http://babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2007/04/27/babble-talk-birthday-parties-gone-wild.aspx">the over-the-top party</a>
here, and I will gladly admit that measured against our lifestyle, our
parties really push excess. We invite a million kids, hire a
professional to dress up like a mermaid and do face painting and magic,
give out bulging party favor bags, and serve enough cake and pizza to
feed a small nation. And I'm all for it. Here's why:</p>
<p>1. While I love the idea of inviting one kid for every year of your
kid's age, there's a problem with that one for us. See, my kid is a
total extrovert. At our progress report meetings with her teachers they
always say, "she plays with <i>everyone</i>." She also holds
friendships well, and now has friends from preschool, kindergarten, her
camp, the park, and our social circle. This means narrowing a guest
list for her shindig causes more angst than our wedding guest list did.
I like her super-shmoozy nature, and I'm willing to pay the price in
stress and noise to keep encouraging that sociability.</p>
Yes
Ok .
