>I’ve Been Schooled
>
“I find this ridiculous.”
“I’m not that impressed when people hire someone to come and entertain the kids.”
$200? For a birthday party?
I feel like I live on a different planet.”
“I guess I find that all a bit much.”“I’d personally feel terribly guilty spending that much money knowing there are children going to bed hungry in our small town.”
“I’ve never figured out why people pay for decorated cakes. Even if you can’t bake, cake mixes cost a dollar and taste about the same as store bought in my opinion… Why spend $30 on a cake?” Because I’m lazy. Haven’t I made that clear?
“And gifts….well, we spend no more than $10 on a gift. There’s no need to go overboard. “
“Talk about raising greedy, self absorbed children!”
*EDITED TO ADD: The author of this comment has said that she only meant children whose half-birthdays are celebrated. Uh, that would be me. Yes, one year my mom bought me a tiny cake for my half birthday. It’s one of my favorite memories. And now, as a result, I am greedy and self absorbed. HOW COULD YOU, MOM?!
Yeah, yeah. I get it. Oh well, there’s always next year…
>My mom would just bake a Mickey Mouse cake, invite every kid in the neighborhood, and turn us loose in the backyard. We had a blast. That’s all it took.
>That’s hilarious. Very cute photos and not at all over-the-top in my opinion. My daughter turns two next week and I’ve bragged about the wonderful cake I’m going to make from scratch. Did I mention I’m 7 months pregnant and exhausted? Should be a pretty interesting cake indeed. I’m placing bets on the $45 cake I’m going to buy at the last minute.The horse theme reminds me of my niece’s birthday last year. She sat and opened present after present of plastic horses! My sister kicked herself for mentioning that her daughter now loves horses. Ask and you shall receive:)
>It appears you had sugar, toys and screeching so I say it was a success.We recently just found out we are expecting baby number two (egads!) and so all the pictures made me want to do was reach through the screen and eat the sheet cake by the fistful.
>Shoot, $200 for a party isn’t phenomenally expensive! What were they talking about? If you had said $2000, well, yes. That would have been too much. But, if you can find entertainment AND food for $200? Awesome. And they had fun? Done deal.
>I only meant “egads” with the biggest smile on my face, of course. :)That is, until I start bawling uncontrollably for no apparent reason, which could happen at any moment…… Geez, do I ever need some sheet cake.
>Congrats, Gertie! That’s wonderful news! I love having two little ones- They really do entertain each other. The older girls do too, for that matter, which does make things easier and more fun for everyone. 🙂
>Delurking (or have I already?) to say:It’s your $200 to spend. The pics speak volumes; she looked absolutely tickled to have the party.When they turn 16 and you realize that they’d poke their own eyes out rather than spend their birthday at home with (gasp!) their parents, you’ll be so glad you’ve done this.
>Very clever!
>I’m w/Sarah Lena – your situation may be diff than mine and it’s not for me to judge. I’m sorry to hear you got blasted over that one, though. Your girl does look oh-so-happy! Part of the beauty of blogging is peeking in the window of others’ lives. We become privvy to only what they are willing to share. I’ve often found myself cackling over something you posted that I can relate to in one way or another! That doesn’t mean we have EVERYTHING in common of course and it’s no reason for me to go off on you. Ok, I guess I’ve said enough. Just keep on writing and I’ll keep on reading!
>She does not look spoiled and you do not look guilty.Very nice party. Way to be.
>Screw em. You spend what you want on a party. Our birthday parties are always small with a cake, an arts & craft project, and then a trip to the basement where they run around like screaming banshees. The adults eat drink and are merry.Maybe we would have larger parties if we would actually stop moving, and have more than one set of friends in our neighborhood.Look for your invite to our parties when we move to Nashville 🙂
>Well Punky looks like she had a great time! My favorite birthday as a child was my third, because my mom hired my brother to be a clown. He was actually very good even though some of the kids were scared. I don’t think a clown is over the top, so I don’t see why Punky’s entertainer lady would be either.My daughter’s first birthday is coming and we are trying to throw a decent (LITTLE) party on a small budget. We are going to have people over after lunch at about 2:00, so we can just do snacks, cake and ice cream. She’s one, so she’ll be entertained by the paper on her gifts. We aren’t buying paper plates because I have nice-looking glass dessert plates I found at a yard sale for a few bucks years ago. We’ll probably spend $50 or less buying our other supplies and decorations at Party City. We’ll do the invites on our computer at home and I’m going to (try to) make her cake and a little pink tutu to wear.
>Girl! Looks like so much fun! I know everyone had a blast! Liz
>What a total cutie pie! My gosh she looks JUST LIKE YOU! I know you hear that all the time.And girl I ALWAYS buy our birthday cakes a Publix. I did make homemade (from the box mix) pink cupcakes for daycare, but the birthday cakes were storebought. I’m lazy like that, too.I think so many parents go so beyond this….I don’t consider what you did to be “extravagant” at all. Sheesh!
>Seriously, that’s what people said? I mean, I agree, birthday parties are out of control these days. But a store bought birthday cake, hired entertainer and $20 gift aren’t going to turn the kids into serial murderers. Everything in moderation, yo. 🙂 She looks like she had a fabulous time, and that’s what matters.
>She did look like she was having a great time. I think the point people were trying to make is that she would have had a great time even without some of the trappings.We always had the homemade cake, old-fashioned games, low-budget parties and I kid you not our birthday parties were always the talk of the kid set. They loved it.
>Yeah, well when I was a kid, my birthday cake was made out of six-month-old moldy potatoes, I got a corn cob with a shawl around it as a present, and I was only allowed to invite the family dog. AND I LOVED IT.
>She is so darling and deserving of such a gig!!-now, lets make her future tag line “Suburan girl”!!!
>That was suppose to be “Suburan Cowgirl”!!!jeez- I hate when my fingers can’t keep up with ADD riddled mind!
>I guess they told you, huh?
>dun talk 2 my dad my last bday party was 2500$
>Pfft. $200 dollars is next to nothing, nowadays.Whyyyy, in my day, my ma whittled dolls outta a log and we blew up pig bladders fer balloons and we thought that was FUN.Sheesh. Kidding.
>Crap Lidsay, I just now read your comment above, about how it was when you were little. And I thought I was being original! Ha-ha!
>Pig bladders for balloons? Now that’s an Idea!
>$200 bucks is cheap. I think that is how much we are spending for a princess party at the Y, homemade “princess” cupcakes and goodie bags/plates/juice boxes, etc. Kids are no longer appeased with homemade cakes and games in the family room. I think the parents would be appaled more.
>You were allowed to have a dog?? You must have been totally spoiled. Brat.
>Dude–I have made the cakes–I have gone all out, and I have bought the cakes. It is SO WORTH $30. I am right with you on that one. Plus, that horsey cake is just totally adorable with your daughter in her pigtails and cowgirl outfit. Too cute!I forgot how close in age our girls are. My daugther’s real birthday was Monday–party is next weekend. Paying for the place AND the cake–then I can go out for a margarita after. Judge if you must!
>DAN RENZI reads your blog????!!!!! Real World Dan! That’s a blast from the past! I couldn’t believe that was him and then I clicked on his name and found his website!!! Girlfriend you is famous!!
>LOL! You’re such a good sport. The pictures look great. And while I am one of the people who thought that extravagant parties aren’t needed for kids, I will also say that it’s your life, your kids and your money. It looks like it was well spent. 🙂
>I also have spent hours and hours decorating cakes. It’s the clean-up that sucks with all that colored icing. When I made an Elmo cake, Hannah red poop in her diapers for two days….so I’ll bet the other kids did, too.I say $200 is money well spent on a party if the mom can relax a little, not worry about her house being destroyed, and not feel like she has to be Martha Stewart.And, speaking of old fashioned parties, where we live it often costs $150 to rent a few tables at a park, and more for a jumpy. So, I figure if I have it at my house, I can use that money to have someone come and help entertain the kids. And if I want I can buy a perfectly yummy and adorable cake at Costco for like, $15. In my opinion, it’s not competition, it’s figuring out what works for you, your needs, and your budget.Totally worth it.Punky is adorable.
>No matter how you do it, someone, somewhere, will criticize what you do.So when it comes to your kids and their birthdays, screw guilt and hecklers: let the kids enjoy, and you do, too.
>Looks like she had a BLAST!
>I love the little cowgirl outfit complete with horse cake and toys. You certainly know how to throw a coordinated party for your little girl. I remember the Christmas doll and matching outfit. Brilliant!
>What a disgusting orgy of excess!Just kidding. It looks like Punky had a wonderful day.
>I love the photos. Looks like everyone had a ton of fun. To be honest, I’m addicted now that I’ve thrown a “no frills” party. C turns three next week and I haven’t decided on ANYTHING.When they get to be 9 and up I think I’ll be more interested in the birthday parties. You know, when they can have a sleep over and giggle all night long while I sit up listening to their attempt at being quiet. THAT’S probably when I’ll go way overboard. So, no judgments from me, just hope YOU loved it too.
>Oh Puhlease… let’s face it. We all do it! The party was adorable… obviously special to your daughter. Fuck the “guilt parenting alibi”. You did a great job on the party!
>Aw, your party looks great. If you didn’t pawn your engagement ring to pay for it, don’t feel guilty.I spent $175 on my son’s 5th birthday party – that’s how much it cost to rent the space, and everything but the cake was included. I let my son loose in the museum gift shop before his party and let him pick whatever he wanted as his gift from his parents. He picked a $17.00 pop-up book about trains. So his party was 10 times more expensive than his present.One way to save money with older kids is to share a party with a friend whose birthday is close to your child’s, if both kids agree. My daughter is doing that this year. The guests will each be invited by one girl, so they’ll bring one gift. The other mom and I will each only have half the work, and half the expense. And this way we don’t have to worry about coordinating their parties (last year they were on the same day, and some kids went straight from one to the other.)
>Hey, my quote was the last one about greedy, self absorbed children– but I was referring to the whole 1/2 birthday party scam. I must be quoted in context! Though I do still stand by my statement even after being told to “suck it”! Must be my June birthday talking…
>As a mom that just spent a month of date nights on my son’s birthday, I find nothing wrong with this. In fact, I think it’s a great idea!!! If you and I have the means and motivation of celebrate, then why not celebrate. Besides, I’d like to know how many parents are really spending the cash on feeding the poor or taking their kids to volunteer at soup kitchens.
>Man, sorry I didn’t comment last time. People are weird. I know how easy it is to get caught up in the birthday party competition!I decided early on that my kids wouldn’t have a party every year. We started with an “odd year” birthday party. It worked out well. After 5, we’re not doing another big one until 10.My DD (7) didn’t understand at first. She’s used to going to all the other kids’ parties, but we let her pick one special friend for a family dinner out.However, when it is “party-time” it is so hard NOT to spend AT LEAST $200. The last party we had was for my son’s 3rd. I had it at a park, and got El Pollo Loco chicken catered meals. I did a Sam’s club cake. I did all the games and things myself. I was SO EXHAUSTED, and I spent at least $300! Plus, I didn’t enjoy it at all!So in short (HA!) I’m all for doing what you can afford so EVERYONE has a good time and great memories!NicolePS: I love your BLOG!
>As far as I’m concerned you can spend whatever you like on your child’s party and more power to you!Looked like a good time. Cute pictures.
>Looks like a fun party and most importantly is that she looks like she loved it and had the best time which ultimately is PRICELESS!! Good for her and good for you mom for giving a party that was obviously enjoyed and appreciated from the looks of those smiles. As for the comments. Dude. I seriously could not stop reading. And I had to read them all. Most were really good and genuine. But some. I don’t even know what to say. Wow? Seriously, it would be amusing if it wasn’t just so heartbreaking to realize that they were thoughts of real people and not a skit for Mad TV or SNL. Kind of leaves me with a shiver. Frightening stuff.
>Look at those kiddos! I miss my babies being babies. (sigh) You have beautiful children. (But you knew that, right?) 🙂
>Thanks for the edit Lindsay! As much as we vary in our child rearing opinions, I knew you were all about the details…
>Uggghhh… I am an event planner. And my kids pay for it. $200 is nothing. 🙂
>Let’s see…for my 14 year old’s birthdays, I’ve spent no less than $30-$50/year for her cake. She gets a pink champagne torte each year as a tradition, and depending on how many guests we plan for – that is the difference between the 30 and 50. We also generally spend $10/guest gift. Although, this year I totally scored and found these girlie bath and body sets for $3.99 each + $1 gift bag. Throw in Pizza and entertainment, and I can’t remember year that her party was less than $200. And we live in Nebraska. For the last few years I’ve talked her into slumber parties, but between renting movies, buying nail polish, and…um…the chocolate fountain plus chocolate dipping items…and yeah, even that is over $200.SO – I guess I’m saying don’t feel bad. We’ve done Chuck E Cheese, Club Libby Lu, another dress up place, skating places, omg…pretty much everything but the inflatables.And you know my daughter’s chief complaint? She’s never had a pinata. However – her birthday is in January and we have a VERY SMALL HO– USE! (So I figure I shouldn’t feel guilty. At which I’m not succeeding!)