I'm not a big fan of my family getting together-we don't really all get along and it ends up being the same thing where people come, eat, don't talk and leave.
Good times.
Here's my question. We just celebrated my son's 3rd birthday with the above results at our house. It was fine-of course most important my son had fun. But my daughter's 1st birthday is in Feb. and I feel badly asking everyone to come back to our house so soon, (esp our friends) so that they can have the same boring time. And trust me NOTHING works with these people. Games, liquor, nothing.
So-are there any suggestions on places to hold a one year old's party? Nothing fancy, just someplace that is more public so it doesn't seem so lackluster and drab. Someplace where my 3 yr old would have fun too? different then just going to a restuarant?
We will start doing kid parties next year when my son turns 4-so we only have a few more years of the 'excitement' of my family functions with my daughter until she is also older.
Thanks.
Can you invite the family for a birthday dinner, and leave the party to the friends? My in-laws just sit there waiting to be served, so I think we may be doing this with them in the future. Although as of now, they are out of town for both of the kids' birthdays so we may be in luck this year.
1 year olds don't care about parties. The 1st and 2nd b-days are more for the adults than the kids. They don't have friends to play with yet, etc. so they really don't care. If you want to have a little party/dinner/celebration with people you actually LIKE to spend time with, do that. Don't stress, don't do a big thing. Enjoy yourself. :)
Why do you have to have a party? I agree with one of the other suggestions, which we just did for my son's 2nd B-day. We did a family dinner with us and the grandparents, presents, and cupcakes-done. Then we went and walked around to look at Christmas lights. He was delighted to see the grandparents and it was easy and fuss-free, no stress for me, and he loved it. Give yourself a break until they really get the idea of birthdays and parties.
If you have a children's museum in the area most do a great kids party! We have gone to several and are thinking of it for our son this year. They will usually work with you to make it as "fancy" or "simple" as you like!
Your kids and others' kids will love it and most of the exhibits are interesting for adults too.
Wow, I wish I had the same family as far as 'eat, don't talk, leave'... my problem is they don't eat (leaving me with gazillions of leftovers, I don't even bother anymore), they talk too much, and NEVER leave ;)
Because it's your sons first birthday, I wouldn't feel bad asking them back to your house. Keep it super simple... cake and presents... sing happy birthday, open the gifts, then BUH-BYE. Besides, your one year old won't be able to handle more than that anyway, he'd go into sensory overload ;)
My son turns 1, 4 days before Christmas (great timing kiddo)... then my mothers birthday is 4 days AFTER Christmas. I'm doing cupcakes and presents on his actual bday, then I have to see my family Christmas Eve, then I have to go BACK 4 days after xmas for mom, then the very next day my baby brother is coming back from Morocco. More family than I can handle. Hopefully, after that, I won't have to see anyone until my birthday in the middle of January. I love my family, in very, very small doses ;)
