Feeling guilty - No party for DD's 1st birthday. - Page 2

[tnrsmom]

Moving this to Parenting Issues

[paradisegirl]

I think that all that really matters is that the two people the baby loves most are there to share in his first birthday. I only had a couple small birthdays for my DD. I'm also far from family and friends. I had some sorta big parties for my son and I liked having the small parties more . Besides I don't think they really care as long as they get to open presents LOL.

[freespiritmom]

i have 5 sons and started doing the first birthday differently with the last 3.. I no longer do a big party for the first 2 birthdays.. I realized with Jack.. that I didn't want to overwhelm myself with doing a party especially when he really didn't know the difference.. I wanted to enjoy him.. not spend the day entertaining. His first birthday was more special to me.. not to him.. so I announced to everyone that we would be going out to eat to "celebrate" Jack's first birthday and that they were welcome to join us.. I didn't send out invitations, decorate etc... I made a cake for Jack at home and we all sat around the table.. enjoying the cake and looking at our little boy... we went out to eat that night and some family members came.. We let them know that gifts were not required. ..

anyway.. nak so in a rush as he won't stop kicking the keyboard lol.. now that our budget is smaller and our family size is larger.. we don't go out to eat.. We don't do parties for the first 2 birthdays.. We just have a wonderful day at home with a cake I make from scratch (I just made Gage's cake tonight as his birthday was on Christmas ..he turned 3.. and some of us were either sick with the flu or just getting over it... so we delayed the party until this weekend).. I let Gage help with the icing (the cake looks rediculous but the look of accomplishment on his face was priceless ) ... We actually aren't doing a "party" per se tomorrow either.. ... just spending time together.. I did get Finding Nemo plates and napkins and I bought some helium filled balloons which will stay in the van until tomorrow... Gage is looking forward to tomorrow.. He showed me all day how he will blow out the candles and kept saying "Me wuv cake" all day

anyway.. what I'm saying is that.. relax and enjoy the day.. a party isn't necessary right now.. It will be remembered better when he is older..

[Ashlee]

Well, because my xh and I were just married, new parents, family far away we had Kier's first birthday just us three. I mean we did tape it so his grandparents could watch his 'party' all I did was make a cake, took picture and sang happy birthday to him. Now, with more kids, friends, ect. I have bigger parties for them

[fireflies~for~me]

Thank you for this post

I am bumping this....I remember reading it awhile back and did a search on it to re-read since we decided not to do a party for DS....thanks for all the insights!

[mamawanabe]

The whole big birthday party thing seems weird to me. It is new? When we were growing up, we just had cake and presents after dinner. I always thought my birthday was special, and we have lots of pictures, but I don't even think the grandparents came over for it (my grandma did take me to do something special - usually to the big Toledo mall to buy me a new dress, which I loved - FOR my birthday, but I'm not sure that was ON my birthday).

I plan on following that model. When my kids are old enough to want a birthday party, we'll plan something with thier friends, but it won't be all that crazy 20 kids/catered/thremed/goody bags stuff, at least until they are old enough to help plan and carry it out.

We'll do special stuff - much like the OP's plan. Or a family hike; I love that one too.

[jeca]

I didn't have a party for Mare's first birthday either. It was just me and her as daddy was still in Iraq and my other 2 were still in arkansas. Try not to feel badly if it really bothers you just give her a hellofa 2nd birthday party.

BTW, your making me feel bad now.