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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)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

DP but what's wrong with that kind of a party? What does a gift have to do with the type of party thrown?

It’s a gift-grab. My kids go to that park twice a week and having cupcakes there isn’t special or worthy of the parents spending $25 bucks for a gift.

Good lord. What is wrong with people?? In my experience, kids have a great time at these playground parties. They get to run around and play with their friends and eat sugar. Honestly, the adults seem to have equal amounts of fun/boredom standing around a playground or standing around Little Gym or a trampoline park. Or if they drop off, it's no different. I would never base bringing a gift on how "worthy" I though the party venue is. But then, I'm not a snob.

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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:

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.

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.

DP but what's wrong with that kind of a party? What does a gift have to do with the type of party thrown?

It’s a gift-grab. My kids go to that park twice a week and having cupcakes there isn’t special or worthy of the parents spending $25 bucks for a gift.

I'm so grateful for my group of down-to-earth like-minded parents that absolutely throw these kinds of parties. The kids have a blast and its all good.

Its also surprising to me that people actually expect gifts at kids birthday parties in this region still. I can't remember the last one I've been to where anyone has brought a gift.

I am the PP and surprised! I haven’t been to any other kind of party in two years, but even before that our fanciest party was at a My Gym (so totally not fancy). Guess my circle is just too normal and boring!

I have three kids, oldest nine, and have bought exactly one classmate birthday present ever. Who does birthday parties with presents anymore? Aren’t all present parties a gift grab? Or stone cold transactional - I am only buying your kid a jar of play dough if you give him a single slice of cold pizza in the gymnasium place we are all at last week for someone else?

Good lord, some of you people. Low-key parties are great. The parties are for the *kids*, not the grown ups, so as long as the kids have fun, who cares?

Also, who are you Scrooges who don't want to give children birthday gifts? What in the actual? We've done no gift parties, but come on, people. No one said you have to spend a certain dollar amount but stop being so damn stingy. Is the formula that only host parents who shell out for a super expensive party deserve to have gifts for their child? Un-f*ing-believable.

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.

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Anonymous wrote:

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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

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:

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

Not me! I love a party that fun for all attendees! Give me a crepe station and coffee bar while my kids are being entertained by the Beat Buds any day of the week. And include siblings!

Anonymous wrote:

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