Is it a sign of incompetent parenting to dislike hosting birthday parties? No, not hosting actually—planning. I do not enjoy planning birthday parties. There, I’ve admitted it. I actually get stressed induced pain in my neck from worrying about creating the perfect birthday for a 6 year old. Our most vivid birthday party memories seem to center on a guest becoming ill—including a little 5 year old who threw up while eating pizza— or the weather playing havoc with our best laid plans— the January snow play party on a 60 degree day with marshmallows in the place of snowballs or the 30 degree May carnival party covered in snow.
Each year I hope that my daughters will say, “this year mom let’s just have a family party.” Then I won’t have to happily think up a plan, worry if someone is being unintentionally excluded, decorate with enthusiasm, and fret over whether everyone will like the chosen activities. Don’t get me wrong, I do love celebrations, I just am not a party planner.
So how excited was I when my older daughter asked if she could plan her own birthday celebration?
“Do you need me to do anything?”
“No thanks mom.”
“How about pick up pizza?”
“Oh, that would be great.”
“Make breakfast?”
“Sure, thanks!”
And that was it! She invited eight girls for a sleepover, everyone came and they self-entertained from playing basketball to walking around the block at midnight. They watched a movie and of course, talked, A LOT! By and large I kept my ears open and my mouth closed—a parenting tip I picked up from a friend which has served me well. Well that is as long as I follow through on the mouth closed part, which I admit, I sometimes forget.
1 comment :
you are missing a crucial part of a party with nine fourteen year olds, they were up until two a.m.! Is that not a down side to not planning the party? ;-) How was my party? I hoped you liked it. I found it fun! Keep on writing!
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