Anonymous wrote:I have so much to say about this. I had a crap childhood and have deliberately focused on adding magic in my kids lives. A few thoughts: it all starts in delighting in their littleness daily. Be excited when they find a fairy feather or pick up a green rock that’s beautiful. Tell yourself that you are a mom who celebrates! Say it as many times as you need and then it will be true. I am not a particularly social person, but I believe that I am a person who celebrates. You can too. Celebrate little things, and find something every month to celebrate (valentines, st Patrick’s, Easter or May days, etc). I mark the beginning of every month with a change of decor - I put up a themed banner on suction hooks in the kitchen. That’s it! Sometimes I change a dish towel or get flowers. If you set the bar too high you will burn out. When I change the banner the kids ask about it... and I pump them up. “It’s almost time for New Years!!!! We are going to have so much fun at our party!” Etc. Talk it up. Talk often. Talk about celebrating and say we are a family that has parties!
For the day of - first you do need to chat with your DH. What does he need to be more present for your party? Maybe time to work first? A break? Set expectations... and set them low! A party with little kids is legitimately 15 minutes long. Our New Years party (“the fanciest party ever!”) lasted maybe 20 minutes. The kids were so pumped! I try and outsource food if it stresses me out, order pizza whatever. I try and clean the area right before so we have a clean kitchen or living room. Tell the kids what to wear but don’t sweat their choices...”pick something that makes you feel FUN! FANCY! READY TO DANCE!”
And then have fun! Turn on tunes. Wear a party hat. Put on something fun. Play a game like twister or freeze dance. It’s all mindset. To be fun have fun. Your kids will feel it. The last element that makes it feel magic is that it’s different. Kids notice deviations from their routine. So you could hang a disco ball. Bring out animal hats from the costume bin. Twinkle lights. Candles. Dim the lights. Put flowers out.
Here are a few things my family does with our 1/4 year olds:
For NYE disco ball, glow stick, hats, dance party and running around yelling Happy New Year’s!! For Valentine’s Day - all month we stick hearts that I cut out on cabinets and write things we love on them. Looks festive, and then we have a love breakfast. Things we love! Mom and dad kiss a lot because kids are into that (kissss her!!) For Christmas dinner I put those English party crackers on each plate. Different enough that it made dinner festive! We just had a fairy birthday for one of my kids and we put flowers on the table with those fairy light jars and we surprised her with fairy wings for each of us to wear. It was simple but she was so thrilled. We do beginning of school parties with favorite foods, wear crowns and talk about school!
Truly the little things make a big impact, OP, but ultimately it’s your attitude. You want this for your kids and I know you will find a way that feels authentic and fun to you. Good luck.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: You can do it! You are a family that celebrates! What are you going to celebrate next?
DC'S 3rd bday is coming up! So all these suggestions are just in time!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Use a tablecloth and drag out the good dishes? Have the kids decorate the chandelier over the table. It doesn’t have to be magazine worthy, just fuss a little.
This.
Plus, everyone should dress up.
And, everyone should be present. That means your cell phones and screens are shut off and nowhere in sight.
Lastly, facetime or zoom with additional guests. We have the grandparents join us for dessert and coffee; we prop the laptop on the end of the dining room table.
Last night I facetimed my sister and her family in another state so they could watch the birthday girl open presents and sing happy birthday with us.
Anonymous wrote:You’ve gotten great suggestions here. Two additional ideas - Spotify has great playlists for any kind of celebration. Also, fancy beverages are a huge hit. We have made Grinch Punch (sprite, sherbet, green food coloring), sparking cranberry juice for Valentine’s Day, etc. The brighter the colors and the fancier the glasses are, the better.
Anonymous wrote: You can do it! You are a family that celebrates! What are you going to celebrate next?
Anonymous wrote:OP here - love all these responses! So many great ideas, and definitely part of it is that I need to plan better and do more (decluttering, decorating) in advance. I didn't grow up in a "family that celebrates," so it doesn't come naturally to me (or DH), but I want our family to have more of these special moments and I want to be able to make them happen!