Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless they decide they want a joint party, two parties. Each kid gets their own party.

Yep. But we don’t throw lavish events - cupcakes from a box, a Costco thing of chips, and a playground = party.

Ugh. I hate those parties. Especially the ones like that where you are expected to bring a gift.

np Why? Those parties are actually fun! Not every birthday needs an entertainer or bouncy castle. Please don't attend if you have that attitude!

The point is people don’t attend the cheap park party. You can’t even call them parties really - it’s a visit to the park with a little cupcake.

We’ve never thrown a party like this, but my kids love playing at the park with their friends and they love cupcakes, so yeah, it is a treat for them.

My kids go to that park everyday. They barely notice when it’s a “birthday party”. I can’t imagine anyone, kids included, thinking it’s the least bit special.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless they decide they want a joint party, two parties. Each kid gets their own party.

Yep. But we don’t throw lavish events - cupcakes from a box, a Costco thing of chips, and a playground = party.

Ugh. I hate those parties. Especially the ones like that where you are expected to bring a gift.

np Why? Those parties are actually fun! Not every birthday needs an entertainer or bouncy castle. Please don't attend if you have that attitude!

The point is people don’t attend the cheap park party. You can’t even call them parties really - it’s a visit to the park with a little cupcake.

We’ve never thrown a party like this, but my kids love playing at the park with their friends and they love cupcakes, so yeah, it is a treat for them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless they decide they want a joint party, two parties. Each kid gets their own party.

Yep. But we don’t throw lavish events - cupcakes from a box, a Costco thing of chips, and a playground = party.

Ugh. I hate those parties. Especially the ones like that where you are expected to bring a gift.

+ 1. I’m sorry, PP, but I really hate those parties too unless it’s absolutely a no gift party.

+1 I really dislike these parties as well. It's not about the gifts. I don't care if I have to bring or not. It's more that it doesn't really feel like a party. As a parent I have to stay because I'm not comfortable leaving them in an open public park. There isn't anywhere for parents to sit, no coffee or snacks for parents. And there typically are not bathrooms. It's really not a well hosted party.

+3. With or without a gift expectation I hate park parties! It’s the park my kids go to everyday except with cupcakes. Nothing special about it.

+4. I loathe them too. I always feel so bad for the other kids at the park who look at the cupcakes and party favors longingly. Such a cheap-assed way to celebrate your kid’s birthday.

Its an invitation not a summons. You are free to decline. (Or just get over your petty annoyance. My kids still have fun at park parties - its still a treat to have all their friends there.)

We do decline. It’s not a “treat” for my kids or me.

I’m sorry the truth hurts you. Most people hate the park-party. We aren’t being petty, we’re being honest. Don’t give a party every year and you can afford a real party.

I don't have park parties - my kids have winter birthdays. But I'm happy to attend them and haven't noticed any lack of attendance by others. So glad my friends aren't like you, judging people over their lack of lavish kid birthday parties.

I'm more judgemental about people who spend 1,000 over a preschool birthday party

I love those parties! Yesterday we went to a great party at a country club where they had amazing food for the adults and kids and a guy who brought reptiles for the kids and a kids band! All siblings were included. Host’s extended family and family friends were there to meet the host’s friends. It was a great party for everyone!

Judge away. I had a plank roasted salmon salad for lunch and a great cup of coffee!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anticipating when covid is over.

If you have kids with birthday a couple weeks apart, do you alternate party years between the two. Obviously we’ll have family parties every year but I mean the entire class, family friend, neighbors party? One year is his year for a big party and the next year is hers?

My kids birthdays are 5/2 and 5/14.

Why should either child be deprived of their own party? They had nothing to do with their date of conception and birth. That is on you and your DH. My God, how lazy and unfair can you be?

It’s neither lazy nor unfair not to throw a big birthday party every year! Jesus, park your privilege! Everyone posting is still celebrating the kids birth.

My sibling's birthday is exactly seven days before mine but we are six years (well, 5 years and 51 weeks) apart so our parties didn't really compete and weren't combined given the age differences.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless they decide they want a joint party, two parties. Each kid gets their own party.

Yep. But we don’t throw lavish events - cupcakes from a box, a Costco thing of chips, and a playground = party.

Ugh. I hate those parties. Especially the ones like that where you are expected to bring a gift.

np Why? Those parties are actually fun! Not every birthday needs an entertainer or bouncy castle. Please don't attend if you have that attitude!

The point is people don’t attend the cheap park party. You can’t even call them parties really - it’s a visit to the park with a little cupcake.

Anonymous wrote:Birthday parties aren't supposed to be Galas! Cake and Ice cream, A few simple games. No stupid goody bags and no need to feed parents and party is over within two hours.

I can’t remember the last time I saw ice cream at a birthday party.

A party doesn’t have to be a “gala” to involve more than cheap cupcakes and a visit to the park!

Birthday parties aren't supposed to be Galas! Cake and Ice cream, A few simple games. No stupid goody bags and no need to feed parents and party is over within two hours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless they decide they want a joint party, two parties. Each kid gets their own party.

Yep. But we don’t throw lavish events - cupcakes from a box, a Costco thing of chips, and a playground = party.

Ugh. I hate those parties. Especially the ones like that where you are expected to bring a gift.

np Why? Those parties are actually fun! Not every birthday needs an entertainer or bouncy castle. Please don't attend if you have that attitude!

Anonymous wrote:Anticipating when covid is over.

If you have kids with birthday a couple weeks apart, do you alternate party years between the two. Obviously we’ll have family parties every year but I mean the entire class, family friend, neighbors party? One year is his year for a big party and the next year is hers?

My kids birthdays are 5/2 and 5/14.

Why should either child be deprived of their own party? They had nothing to do with their date of conception and birth. That is on you and your DH. My God, how lazy and unfair can you be?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless they decide they want a joint party, two parties. Each kid gets their own party.

Yep. But we don’t throw lavish events - cupcakes from a box, a Costco thing of chips, and a playground = party.

Ugh. I hate those parties. Especially the ones like that where you are expected to bring a gift.

+ 1. I’m sorry, PP, but I really hate those parties too unless it’s absolutely a no gift party.

+1 I really dislike these parties as well. It's not about the gifts. I don't care if I have to bring or not. It's more that it doesn't really feel like a party. As a parent I have to stay because I'm not comfortable leaving them in an open public park. There isn't anywhere for parents to sit, no coffee or snacks for parents. And there typically are not bathrooms. It's really not a well hosted party.

+3. With or without a gift expectation I hate park parties! It’s the park my kids go to everyday except with cupcakes. Nothing special about it.

+4. I loathe them too. I always feel so bad for the other kids at the park who look at the cupcakes and party favors longingly. Such a cheap-assed way to celebrate your kid’s birthday.

Its an invitation not a summons. You are free to decline. (Or just get over your petty annoyance. My kids still have fun at park parties - its still a treat to have all their friends there.)

We do decline. It’s not a “treat” for my kids or me.

I’m sorry the truth hurts you. Most people hate the park-party. We aren’t being petty, we’re being honest. Don’t give a party every year and you can afford a real party.

I don't have park parties - my kids have winter birthdays. But I'm happy to attend them and haven't noticed any lack of attendance by others. So glad my friends aren't like you, judging people over their lack of lavish kid birthday parties.

I'm more judgemental about people who spend 1,000 over a preschool birthday party

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless they decide they want a joint party, two parties. Each kid gets their own party.

Yep. But we don’t throw lavish events - cupcakes from a box, a Costco thing of chips, and a playground = party.

Ugh. I hate those parties. Especially the ones like that where you are expected to bring a gift.

+ 1. I’m sorry, PP, but I really hate those parties too unless it’s absolutely a no gift party.

+1 I really dislike these parties as well. It's not about the gifts. I don't care if I have to bring or not. It's more that it doesn't really feel like a party. As a parent I have to stay because I'm not comfortable leaving them in an open public park. There isn't anywhere for parents to sit, no coffee or snacks for parents. And there typically are not bathrooms. It's really not a well hosted party.

Yeah I'm annoyed about the lack of bathrooms at playgrounds. When I visit my parents in North Carolina I noticed that most of the playgrounds have real bathroom facilities and it's seriously lacking in Montgomery county.

The rest I don't necessarily agree, when I've been invited to playground birthday parties usually there is snacks for adults and benches.

I'm a fan of low key parties for preschool aged kids because I think kids are just happy to get to the play and have fun and they don't need a lot of extras to be happy. We didn't start doing really big birthday parties until age 5. (And with covid didn't end up getting to do the big party that was planned so we did a much bigger party when she turned six)

It shouldn’t matter if the kids are born 3 months apart or 3 days apart. Each child should have their own birthday celebration.

I have 3 kids. 2 were born in the same week. 1 was born a month earlier. We throw 3 parties.

We usually have same week birthday kids’ parties a week apart or one party on Saturday and then on Sunday. We often have one or both parties at a place where we can just show up with cake and favors. We order pizza. Done.

Two of my children shared a birthday, but three years apart. The third child has a birthday two weeks away from the other two. We always did three separate parties every year.

I have 2 girls 5 days apart but a Kindergartener and a Freshman in HS. In 2020, they both got their own huge elaborate party but I moved one up earlier and had the PreK child on her actual bday. We did nothing in 2021 and this year. Next year, I have a sweet 16 bash and I will push the then 1st graders Larry back to mid March. That way, each child gets their moment to shine and I get a break.