Planning A Toddler Birthday Party

With about a month until Dylan turns three, it is time for me to put on my party planning hat and dream up the details of a special day for him. He has been very interested in trucks and construction vehicles lately, so I am sure that our theme will be something along those lines. Having already planned two birthday parties, I have learned that a few simple guidelines are helpful for parents of young children who are planning a birthday bash. My first tip for planning a party for a young child is to keep it small. Of course … Continue reading

When Kiddie Parties Go Wrong

Think your child’s last birthday party went horribly awry? Well, you may have a tough time convincing a New Mexico mom that your kid’s bash was worse than the horror she experienced while celebrating her 4-year-old’s big day. No, her kid didn’t lose an eye during a spirited game of darts. And he didn’t get whacked unconscious by a flying pinata either. Rather, Andrea Anderson claims her son Corbin has been scarred for life because Chuck E. Cheese made an offensive gesture while posing for a photo with the birthday boy. That’s right, Corbin’s mom is peeved because she believes … Continue reading

The Dreaded Summer Birthday

Nothing says summer bummer louder than an August birthday. I speak from experience. Being a Leo has its pitfalls; namely not being able to celebrate your big day with your entire class. In all of my years as a student, from kindergarten all the way through high school, I never once had a major birthday blowout to commemorate my summer birthday. Why? Because no one was around to join in on the celebration. My poor nephew is just now realizing that being born in the middle of July is not as cool as it may seem, especially when all of … Continue reading

Birthdays for Babies

My little “baby” just turned two. I can hardly believe it. I still think of him as a baby, but now, he is turning into such a little boy. When we had his 2nd birthday, we kept it simple. We only invited family over, opened a few presents, and ate cake and ice cream. It was pretty much the same thing we did for his 1st birthday too. For my daughter, she had a bigger birthday when she turned two. She had friends over, and we had a little slip n slide party in the backyard. I felt bad that … Continue reading

Planning Your Baby’s First Birthday: Decorations

First birthday parties are probably more for the moms than they are for the babies, but they are a lot of fun for the whole family. A lot goes into planning the first birthday party. Over the next week, I will go over all the little details of party planning, so you will be well prepared for your child’s very first birthday party. One of the highlights for me was the decorating. I love to decorate, so I had a great time designing cupcakes, a custom birthday t-shirt, a sign, and decorating the house. I decided to go with cupcakes … Continue reading

Throwing a Green Birthday Party – Part 2

Yesterday, I was talking about making your child’s birthday party green. Even if it is months away, it’s never too soon to start planning. Here are some more tips for a green birthday party: Decorations The one good thing about our son’s birthday party at this bowling alley this year is it was in the party room, so most of the decorations have been used time and time again by the bowling alley. Consider recycling decorations from year to year or at least look for those made of recycled material. Just Say No to Goody Bags Oh, this one seems … Continue reading

But It’s My Birthday!

Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday dear me! Happy birthday to me! Yep, you guessed it: It’s my birthday. Another year gone, another year older. Birthdays used to be so exciting. I remember looking at the calendar in anticipation when I was younger, counting down the days until I got to eat cake and open presents. It was nearly impossible to go to sleep the night before. I’d wake up early, go into my parents’ bedroom, and the entire family would gather around for gift opening. I would be freed of my morning duty of making … Continue reading

How Much Did You Spend on Your Child’s Last Birthday Party?

I know it wasn’t more than $360,000. We can’t all roll like Daddy Diddy, but as parents we do want to make our children happy, and celebrating a milestone like a birthday with a big party, often means digging deep. But how deep do you dig? My five-year-old is dreaming of a huge bash to commemorate her sixth year of life (which thankfully doesn’t happen for a few more months). She has been begging for a safari-themed party at our local children’s museum. For three hours, up to 20 kids can dine on lion-shaped cake, make toilet paper roll binoculars, … Continue reading

Kids’ Birthday Parties—How Much Is Too Much?

Recession? What recession? The economic crisis, which has battered and bruised many Americans, is apparently a non-issue if your name is Diddy. The rapper with 1,000 names–he was born Sean Combs, but later morphed into “Puff Daddy,” then “P. Diddy,” then the artist known as “Diddy,” then “Straight up P,” and now just “Diddy”—-is showing the world that money really can buy love. And that goes double if you are a parent. Daddy Diddy recently made headlines when he threw his son an insanely expensive Sweet 16 party. The ultimate birthday bash took place at one of New York City’s … Continue reading

Talking to Your Kids about Alcohol Abuse

When I was getting ready to go away to college, my parents sat me down and said something to the effect of “you’re probably going to drink when you’re at college, just do it responsibly.” They didn’t know that I’d already been faced with offers of alcohol and turned them down without hesitation. But then, I wouldn’t consider myself a typical teen with a typical curiosity about drinking. I had already seen up close what serious drinking could do to a person, and was not at all interested in alcohol. I never had more than a sip to taste until … Continue reading