Yesterday, I went to a birthday party extravaganza. It involved a vast array of coordinated decorations, banners, photo displays, a themed cake, themed cupcakes, themed dip, themed biscuits, themed sandwiches, themed outdoor activities, remarkably great goodie bags, and costumes. For a 1 year old.
I’ve always been sceptical of parties like this for little children. Thoughts of one-upmanship, spoilt kids, and just sheer pointlessness have been top of mind in the past.
However….
We all had a fantastic time. There was lots of food and drink for the adults and the kids and lots of fun outdoor toys for the kids to play on. I realised early on that the party was not only a celebration of the wee boy’s first year, but an outlet for the mum. Typically a really social woman who loved entertaining, the first year of motherhood has brought, as it does for many of us, a bit of a change in social life. She was the life of the party, not stressed out by it at all, just having a bloody good time. The birthday boy went off to bed when he was tired, no worries about forcing him to stay up and appreciate presents or any of that. It really was a celebration for their whole family.
Later on, parties become all about the kids, but if this family wanted to celebrate in this way, why not I say!? It wouldn’t be something I’d choose to do myself (stressful!) but they and their guests (numbering 30+ adults and all the children) seemed to enjoy it immensely and there was not a whisper of trying to have the ‘best party on the block’. All power to them I say!
The Small Moments 