Emily Post I am not
We flaked out on having a birthday party for Jacob. We were considering a low-key get-together with friends at our house, scheduled for the Saturday after his birthday. Then the big people went and caught this ridiculous cold, so we had to call it off. The following Saturday Daddy was gone. This coming Saturday is also no-can-do because we have two birthday parties to go to this weekend, and I don't think my bloodstream will tolerate many more molecules of cake and/or icing. Of course we could keep going, and have his party three weeks after his birthday. In considering all this, though, we realized we never had a party for Isaac's 2nd. And look at him! Not yet a serial killer!
Now Isaac's 4th birthday approaches. The older one is more socially aware and therefore his birthday must be handled with a requisite level of fanfare. I already have the most fantastic idea for a party for him, again at our house. He is such a movie buff that we will host a movie night, replete with pizza, popcorn, and moving of furniture to make way for hordes of squishy things to lean on. As party favors, movie candy and a mix CD of soundtrack songs. I shiver with excitement at the awesomeness of it.
HOWEVER. I am totally stuck as to the guest list. My first thought was to invite our (meaning MY) friends over, the ones we hang out with regularly for playdates. As far as kids go, the tally here is 6, or maybe 8. That's just kids, not including parents. But my thought is that there should also be a place for at least some of his preschool classmates, whom he sees more frequently anyways. There are 9 other kids in his class. He talks about a few of them, but I can't possibly know which ones he hangs out with most. We've been invited to two preschool-kid birthday parties (and not invited to at least one).
I really don't want it to be so many people that it's a melee, because you know that is fun for absolutely no one. I doubt I could comfortably fit more than 20 people at a time in my house.
So, seriously, what should I do? I want it to be a party, but I don't want to invite everyone he knows in the entire universe. I know there are maybe five people who read this blog. Help a girl out and share your birthday party experiences and suggestions.
Now Isaac's 4th birthday approaches. The older one is more socially aware and therefore his birthday must be handled with a requisite level of fanfare. I already have the most fantastic idea for a party for him, again at our house. He is such a movie buff that we will host a movie night, replete with pizza, popcorn, and moving of furniture to make way for hordes of squishy things to lean on. As party favors, movie candy and a mix CD of soundtrack songs. I shiver with excitement at the awesomeness of it.
HOWEVER. I am totally stuck as to the guest list. My first thought was to invite our (meaning MY) friends over, the ones we hang out with regularly for playdates. As far as kids go, the tally here is 6, or maybe 8. That's just kids, not including parents. But my thought is that there should also be a place for at least some of his preschool classmates, whom he sees more frequently anyways. There are 9 other kids in his class. He talks about a few of them, but I can't possibly know which ones he hangs out with most. We've been invited to two preschool-kid birthday parties (and not invited to at least one).
I really don't want it to be so many people that it's a melee, because you know that is fun for absolutely no one. I doubt I could comfortably fit more than 20 people at a time in my house.
So, seriously, what should I do? I want it to be a party, but I don't want to invite everyone he knows in the entire universe. I know there are maybe five people who read this blog. Help a girl out and share your birthday party experiences and suggestions.
posted by Claire at 3:51 PM
7 Comments:
I'm thinking unless there is someone he really likes at preschool just invite the usual suspects. But i'm probably not the person who should be giving advise on who to invite to their kid's bday party. If he isn't really attached to someone and will just enjoy the fact that others are there and you aren't going to become the outcast at preschool, just invite who you can handle and who seem to matter most. :-) You probably already thought of all this. Good Luck!
I agree - stick with the play date circle. Does the preschool already honor b-days of the kids and/or allow parents to send treats in? That way he can feel special with both groups, and you don't have to sweat out how to fit a massive crowd in your home.
I remember only inviting those who were close friends that we hung around with all the time. I also remember that since we celebrated your birthday at preschool, we kept that celebration at preschool. I felt OK with that because we didn't do any extracurricular activities with those families.
Don't feel badly about what you decide--it's Isaac's big day--he'll be thrilled with a party!
OK for us to come out???:-)We'll be OK if we're not invited--Meemaw & PopPop. Love ya!
I have been debating the same issues in my house. We were also invited to two parties. The moms there said they invited the "friends" for the 5th party (his class ranges from 3-5) so I might just cheat and go with that idea. Then it's time for Kindergarten. Holy cow - kindergarten? Yikes.
I love your movie idea! That is soooo awesome!!!!
~Lynn/PA
Jen has a policy of inviting as many kids as they are old. It's always worked pretty well...
I've adopted a policy I read about on another blog... not throwing anything other than a family party until the kid actually ASKS for one. I know... it's kind of birthday-grinch-like... but as long as there is a cake at some point and a few people give him gifts, what's the harm!?
We do family + close friends/neighborhood kids. While Liam likes his preschool buddies... we haven't done playdates with any... so I'm not going there. If he is BESTEST INSEPARABLE BUDDIES with someone at preschool at that time I'd invite that kid.
I like Erin's idea. and I've also heard the "invite the same number of kids as their age" theory as well.
Thank you, everyone, for your helpful comments! I am pleasantly surprised to see a strong contingent in support of inviting playdate friends only. I wanted to consider inviting preschool friends because it seems like a lot of CRAZY moms at his preschool are doing that. That is not really my style, and it's comforting to me to know that I am not alone.
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