It’s about that time of year again when I have to start thinking about planning a birthday party for my daughter. And I have a confession: I am not a fan of the birthday party. Can’t we just make a cake from a box, throw some sprinkles on it and blow up a few balloons like the old days? That sounds a whole lot easier than all of the birthday parties moms are expected to throw these days.
When did the birthday party turn into full blown extravaganzas with a theme and Pinterest worthy decorations and a guest list that includes every kid your child has ever spoken to? These parties are stressful and so much work. I should know – because I have fallen victim to said Pinterest party in the past.
If this is your thing, that is awesome! If I had more time and money and energy, I could Pinterest party with the best of them. But alas, I don’t. And you know what, that’s okay and the kids probably won’t even notice. All they want is to feel special and there are plenty of ways to do that without going crazy over a birthday party.
This year, we almost didn’t have a party at all. We decided to plan a trip instead and skip the whole party thing. But there are still grandparents and aunts and uncles and close friends who want to celebrate our girl and for them I am so very thankful. So this year we are having a low key birthday party with our families and I am A-okay with that. Best of all it’s not even at our house! We chose a private area at a restaurant so I don’t even have to clean the house or worry about food!
Taking all of the stress out of planning a perfect party is a weight off my shoulders. It won’t be anything special, but to my girl it will be. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or spectacular. If birthday parties stress you out – give yourself some grace. All your kids want is to feel is special. Some sprinkles, a few gifts, some birthday wishes, and some fun should do the trick!
5 Tips for a Stress Free Birthday Party
- Keep it simple. Balloons and some streamers cost a few dollars and take very little prep.
- A store bought cake still tastes delicious.
- Close friends and family are the most important guests. Keep it small.
- Choose a meal with little prep. Order pizza, get a party sub, grill hamburgers or hot dogs. You get it – my point is to not spend all your time in the kitchen prepping food or cleaning up.
- Skip the party games. Put out some bubbles, or some coloring activities. Have some lawn games or some balls to throw around. Just enjoy the company – the kids will always find something to do!
Are you a Pinterest birthday party thrower, or do you like to keep it simple and minimize the stress?
Yasss! We have a winter baby so lawn games don’t come easy, however, after throwing a “Pinterest Worthy” 1st Birthday, we were super excited to have just a cake and invite grandparents, aunts, uncles and a couple very close friends to Chuck E Cheese for pizza and games! Inexpensive and everyone, including the Birthday Girl, had a blast! They’ll remember the fun they had with you…not the time and money you spent party planning! Great post, Kristie!