What's up with these people who rent banquet halls and have scads of people over for the kid's first birthday party? Or the four year old whose mom rents a clown and a pony ride and invites over the entire preschool?
Its not that I'm not a big fan of birthdays, in fact I rather enjoy them. I had good birthdays as a kid. Nothing too extravagant, but Mom always celebrated and I always felt special and celebrated. I think some parents cross the line from honoring their child's special day to playing a birthday version of beating the hell out the Jones's and making kids pay the price in the process.
My idea of the perfect birthday party for small children is based on four basic rules.
1. Number of child guests should not exceed the age of the child being celebrated
2. Maximum time the party will last is two hours (one and a half hours are preferable)
3. Invited children should not bring presents. I will buy my kid plenty of birthday presents, as will his/her grandparents, but they will be minimal and suitable. My kid has too many toys as it is, I don't need other people filling his room up with junk. I want other kids there to have fun with my kid, not to buy her stuff.
4. Everyone goes home after the birthday cake is served. I can't stand my OWN children after major sugar consumption, what makes you think I want to deal with yours too?
Bottom line is my kid still gets to wear a birthday hat, open presents and feel special. No one has to set aside an entire day to be at a stranger's home surrounded by screaming, fighting children, and very importantly, this birthday does not cost a small fortune. For the price of a pizza, a cake and a few decorations, everyone has a perfectly satisfactory time.
