This was so funny 😆 I’ve got a kids’ birthday coming up and it’s the first one I’ve done at an indoor bounce place (dunno what you call it but they have bouncy castles, ball pits, slides etc). Birthday parties are far too expensive these days - all we got was some homemade pizza and cake and running around the house. Just as it should be.
This is brilliant! And, as a Gen-X mom of young adults, I say the same principle applies to bar and bat mitzvahs and graduation parties. (And—dare I say it?—also weddings.)
WEDDINGS??? That would be truly incredible! I think we are sparking a revolution! But starting next year because I already booked a pool for my son's b-day.
The most memorable kid’s birthday I’ve been to was one where all the kids went crazy playing musical instruments in the basement for two hours while the parents sat around the kitchen island, drinking hard liquor. It was great. I didn’t want to leave.
That food pyramid!😂 What happened to musical chairs?! I know a mom who sent a group text THE MORNING OF that read something like "Come by the park this afternoon if you're free. We'll have cupcakes." Revolutionary. Changed my life. I fully embraced "Meet us at the playground. I'll have coffee and donuts." Also, I refuse to stuff party favor bags with random crap. Super simple party with one cool favor (frisbee, books, gift card for fro-yo, etc.). I think the most important thing is to know yourself, because some people are really good at apothecary jars, etc. and they love it. If it fills you up, I say run with it. I would love to go TO that party, but I do not want to plan it.
I don’t know if I can ever stop filling apothecary jars honestly. But I did get plastic ones so the kids won’t be too scared to reach on in there! I thought they just didn’t like gummy worms! Who knew? Park party seems to be the way to go though.
Another great article, Shelly. I'm thinking a cage match themed party. Last one standing gets cake.
I think back to my childhood. It was streamers and balloons in the basement. Long table with paper tablecloth. My neighborhood friends came over. We played pin the tail on the donkey and ate cake. I think my 10th birthday was a surprise party at a mini-golf course. I was led into a sparse, wood paneled room, like Joe Pesci when he thought he was getting made.
This mom should be sainted. Maybe she read my friend’s book written years ago about unscheduling your kids, called, Why Can’t We Just Play? Glad it’s making a comeback in pockets of Seattle. 🥰🙏👏
Your friend is obviously made of stardust and AI. What kind of heathen black magic is this? (Says the mom who created painting parties, Tinkerbell parties, park picnic parties, and a freaking birthday parade for my kids.)
Ooh tell me more about the birthday parade! NO! DON'T! I don't want to know! And between us, my stardust AI friend-- I almost got the ick from this. I'm glad I got over it and maybe learned a thing or two. Or not. Probably not.
I love this! Our friends taught us that the clutch move is a - wait for it- weeknight bday party at the park. That’s it! Couple hours after school, bing bang boom. No Saturday morning spent scrambling, no Saturday afternoon wasted wondering if one of these sticky fingered kids is gonna break a bone in the trampoline park, nada. So that’s what we did this year and I give it 10/10, no notes!
This was hilarious. I planned an elaborate party agenda for my daughter one year and the kids played happily outside for two hours. I was very pissed no one made a goddamn friendship bracelet or played limbo. Very pissed indeed.
“So there was a theme— ‘Gen-X Playdate.’ ” That killed me. That’s exactly what it sounds like. You set the bar too high for yourself and are now in a party prison of your own making! But the answer may be right under your nose: Minecraft theme?
"So there was a theme— “Gen-X Playdate.” So retro!" 😂
I raised babies in the era of Martha Stewart Living, and it was brutal. With every cheap crepe paper streamer I hung and every basic box cake I made in a sheet pan, I felt less and less human.
Ugh, those parties were the most expensive 90 minutes of life!!!!
Or so I thought before my kid asked if she could have a “real” sweet 16. I’ve been trying to sell the “let’s take a few friends to a show” concept, but it hasn’t stuck.
Sooooo good 🤣👏. Seriously one of my favourite things I’ve read in a while, so thank you. I’m also now really regretting the absurd amount of time I took creating my 6 year old’s birthday invitation in Canva. Going to try to rein myself in for the actual party. I feel like this about play dates too. My son will go to friend’s houses and just…play. But at our house I feel like a need an activity? A fun snack? Some kind of fort building? Ugh. Your friend is my hero.
Haha your party planning reputation clearly precedes you and now you CAN NEVER STOP 🤣 We also got caught up in the kids bday party industrial complex, but mine and all 3 of my kids’ bdays are in the same week. It takes me a month to recover and a year to get the budget back on track. This year, I believe I’ve hacked the system by snapping up a dirt cheap trip to Bali that week (it’s 3 hrs from Perth) so no parties, cooking or cleaning for a week. and the hotel supplies balloons and cake. 🏆 😴
WTF?! When a birthday party in Bali is the easier option, we’ve got problems! SOUNDS AMAZING! Can I be your nanny? As in YOUR nanny— i’ll just fetch drinks for YOU and remind you to put on sunscreen.
Call it a pandemic themed party. My son had one when he turned 11. His friend came over and jumped on the trampoline, then he left. Then his cousin came separately and jumped on the trampoline. We made flan, which my son loves but the neighbor and cousin- not so much.
I bought him presents from the grocery store.
That one did not beat the bay blades party where my husband made a bay blade cake and placed it on a lazy Susan that actually spun and they had bay blades wars.
But since the covid party all birthdays since have been very very low key.
I always feel like I'm supposed to "do more", but these are lies we tell ourselves.
Another hilarious article written about a topic that needs some serious re-thinking.
Thank you, Jess! 😍 I love the Covid party-- just kids arriving at staggered meeting times to jump 1:1 on the trampoline! I know it was a terrible time, but there's a sweetness to it! And your husband's cake! WHAT????!!!!
This was so funny 😆 I’ve got a kids’ birthday coming up and it’s the first one I’ve done at an indoor bounce place (dunno what you call it but they have bouncy castles, ball pits, slides etc). Birthday parties are far too expensive these days - all we got was some homemade pizza and cake and running around the house. Just as it should be.
That sounds AMAZING! It's going to be a banger for sure!
This is brilliant! And, as a Gen-X mom of young adults, I say the same principle applies to bar and bat mitzvahs and graduation parties. (And—dare I say it?—also weddings.)
WEDDINGS??? That would be truly incredible! I think we are sparking a revolution! But starting next year because I already booked a pool for my son's b-day.
The most memorable kid’s birthday I’ve been to was one where all the kids went crazy playing musical instruments in the basement for two hours while the parents sat around the kitchen island, drinking hard liquor. It was great. I didn’t want to leave.
Oh wow— that does sound like a fun party! Maybe minus the musical instrument part? Unless they were good?
They weren’t good at all, but they were in another part of the house, so all we heard was the dull thudding of the drum set.
That food pyramid!😂 What happened to musical chairs?! I know a mom who sent a group text THE MORNING OF that read something like "Come by the park this afternoon if you're free. We'll have cupcakes." Revolutionary. Changed my life. I fully embraced "Meet us at the playground. I'll have coffee and donuts." Also, I refuse to stuff party favor bags with random crap. Super simple party with one cool favor (frisbee, books, gift card for fro-yo, etc.). I think the most important thing is to know yourself, because some people are really good at apothecary jars, etc. and they love it. If it fills you up, I say run with it. I would love to go TO that party, but I do not want to plan it.
I don’t know if I can ever stop filling apothecary jars honestly. But I did get plastic ones so the kids won’t be too scared to reach on in there! I thought they just didn’t like gummy worms! Who knew? Park party seems to be the way to go though.
Another great article, Shelly. I'm thinking a cage match themed party. Last one standing gets cake.
I think back to my childhood. It was streamers and balloons in the basement. Long table with paper tablecloth. My neighborhood friends came over. We played pin the tail on the donkey and ate cake. I think my 10th birthday was a surprise party at a mini-golf course. I was led into a sparse, wood paneled room, like Joe Pesci when he thought he was getting made.
I think I had the SAME BIRTHDAY! Now all I can picture is Joe Pesci at a kid's birthday party!
This mom should be sainted. Maybe she read my friend’s book written years ago about unscheduling your kids, called, Why Can’t We Just Play? Glad it’s making a comeback in pockets of Seattle. 🥰🙏👏
Oh wow, that book sounds amazing! Why indeed??? I'm going to check it out now!
It’s an awesome read. You will love. ❤️
Your friend is obviously made of stardust and AI. What kind of heathen black magic is this? (Says the mom who created painting parties, Tinkerbell parties, park picnic parties, and a freaking birthday parade for my kids.)
Ooh tell me more about the birthday parade! NO! DON'T! I don't want to know! And between us, my stardust AI friend-- I almost got the ick from this. I'm glad I got over it and maybe learned a thing or two. Or not. Probably not.
The birthday parade was actually epic. No regrets!
I love this! Our friends taught us that the clutch move is a - wait for it- weeknight bday party at the park. That’s it! Couple hours after school, bing bang boom. No Saturday morning spent scrambling, no Saturday afternoon wasted wondering if one of these sticky fingered kids is gonna break a bone in the trampoline park, nada. So that’s what we did this year and I give it 10/10, no notes!
OH DAMN!! Boss move! I LOVE it! Normalize THIS!!!
This was hilarious. I planned an elaborate party agenda for my daughter one year and the kids played happily outside for two hours. I was very pissed no one made a goddamn friendship bracelet or played limbo. Very pissed indeed.
hahahhahahhaha! Well I would have made a bracelet! It’s like buying toys for your cat’s “enrichment” and all they want is a plastic bag.
🤣🤣🤣
“So there was a theme— ‘Gen-X Playdate.’ ” That killed me. That’s exactly what it sounds like. You set the bar too high for yourself and are now in a party prison of your own making! But the answer may be right under your nose: Minecraft theme?
I want parkour lessons from a mountain goat!
I can hook you up! I got a great goat. Very cheap. 🐐
"So there was a theme— “Gen-X Playdate.” So retro!" 😂
I raised babies in the era of Martha Stewart Living, and it was brutal. With every cheap crepe paper streamer I hung and every basic box cake I made in a sheet pan, I felt less and less human.
We had a pony in the back yard for one of our kids. I've been to the dark side...
Loved this, Shelly! (Shocking, I know!)
A PONY! That is peak party fulfillment! I thought that was just urban legend! Did the kids love it??? Thank you, Amanda!
My husband also reminded me we once had a bounce house too. I think I'd blocked these memories....
All of these were for the kid born in July. The one born in February had bowling parties and movies.
Ugh, those parties were the most expensive 90 minutes of life!!!!
Or so I thought before my kid asked if she could have a “real” sweet 16. I’ve been trying to sell the “let’s take a few friends to a show” concept, but it hasn’t stuck.
Sweet 16’s really a thing? Not urban legend??? May the force be with you on that one!!!
Sooooo good 🤣👏. Seriously one of my favourite things I’ve read in a while, so thank you. I’m also now really regretting the absurd amount of time I took creating my 6 year old’s birthday invitation in Canva. Going to try to rein myself in for the actual party. I feel like this about play dates too. My son will go to friend’s houses and just…play. But at our house I feel like a need an activity? A fun snack? Some kind of fort building? Ugh. Your friend is my hero.
Not me running to Canva to create a party invite… HELP MEEEEEEEEEE!!!! Thank you for reading, Stephanie!
I just sent mine out and I guarantee you no one will even think twice about the effort it took lol. But it’s just so fun ahhhhh.
Haha your party planning reputation clearly precedes you and now you CAN NEVER STOP 🤣 We also got caught up in the kids bday party industrial complex, but mine and all 3 of my kids’ bdays are in the same week. It takes me a month to recover and a year to get the budget back on track. This year, I believe I’ve hacked the system by snapping up a dirt cheap trip to Bali that week (it’s 3 hrs from Perth) so no parties, cooking or cleaning for a week. and the hotel supplies balloons and cake. 🏆 😴
WTF?! When a birthday party in Bali is the easier option, we’ve got problems! SOUNDS AMAZING! Can I be your nanny? As in YOUR nanny— i’ll just fetch drinks for YOU and remind you to put on sunscreen.
I know. I feel it’s too good to be true. It will probably be cheaper than 4 parties, 🤷♀️ . You’re hired!
Call it a pandemic themed party. My son had one when he turned 11. His friend came over and jumped on the trampoline, then he left. Then his cousin came separately and jumped on the trampoline. We made flan, which my son loves but the neighbor and cousin- not so much.
I bought him presents from the grocery store.
That one did not beat the bay blades party where my husband made a bay blade cake and placed it on a lazy Susan that actually spun and they had bay blades wars.
But since the covid party all birthdays since have been very very low key.
I always feel like I'm supposed to "do more", but these are lies we tell ourselves.
Another hilarious article written about a topic that needs some serious re-thinking.
Great job.
Thank you, Jess! 😍 I love the Covid party-- just kids arriving at staggered meeting times to jump 1:1 on the trampoline! I know it was a terrible time, but there's a sweetness to it! And your husband's cake! WHAT????!!!!