Birthday Parties

kwolslager

DD1 will be 5 on Dec 17, in the past, it's more difficult to have a party around her birthday because it's a week before chirstmas and people are usually crazy busy or going out of town. So we will likely host a party earlier in the month.
DD2 will be turning 2 on Nov 5.

Would you consider it strange to have a combined birthday party for the two? Since they are both still little and their birthdays are just about 5-6 weeks apart?

DH and I have been super frugal lately because we are working on getting out of debt (it's been paying off! our credit has been improving and we are less than 1000 away from being debt free!)
So our birthday party budget is very low, I'll be doing a lot of DIY stuff to cut costs. I recently thought of doing the birthday parties combined as an added way to cut costs. The only problem I can think of is that their likes are different. DD2 is obsessed with Sesame Street, and DD1 is really into My Little Pony.

What would you do? Combine the parties or have a separate party for each child? If I do combine it, should I do a little of each theme or do a nonpartisan theme? I'm so lost!

edoliesmom

I don't know what I would do, but have you tried talking to your oldest daughter about what she thinks of te idea? I can't imagine that your second oldest would care, but your oldest daughter might not want to share a party.

Talltrees82

I agree with asking your oldest DD and each having their own cake. Just wanted to throw out an idea someone did at my work that I thought was awesome- a parent threw a birthday party for their 6 year old on a Wednesday and picked up all the kids who were invited to the party from the school at the end of the day. The kids went back to the bday girl's house for dinner and fun, and the parents picked them up about 7pm. No weekend time needed! An idea you might be able to use as your girls get older since December is such a busy month.

ksulli

Vinny424 said:

My brother and sister share a birthday but are two years apart. I think you'll be fine but I would say for the sake of your daughters feelings make sure she gets her own birthday cake.

My sister & I are two years minus a day apart. I don't remember ever having my own party... And I'm not bothered in the least. But I agree- both get their own cakes.

MaglioMomma

My niece and nephew are 2 years a part and have always had one joint party, including friends. This year they had a camp theme, since combining frozen and transformers seemed far fetch. I'd say do it! Two cakes would be nice as pp said

momofmanyinthemitten

We have friends whose kids are 2yrs and a few days apart. Their 2/4 yr birthdays were together. No big deal. One less event for family during the holiday season, you know?

AmberLiz99

I don't think parties need to be big every year. What about going out to dinner as a family, letting the oldest girl pick, and presents at home? And cake of course. Am I weird for not thinking kids need a big party every year? Especially if money is tight I think it's reasonable to cut it back.
I never had one as a kid.

Dixon813

I grew up with family birthday parties (maybe 1-2 friends came) that we're combined with close birthdays (two of my brothers are also born in the sand month, so our parties were - and still are - together) but we always have our own cake

Calla123

My daughter finds it really important to be celebrated on her special day.  So I would still do individual parties but keep them really small and low key.  The birthdays seem quite far apart to me still...if they were only a week or two it would be different.  Just keep them on that day, have a small cake and family party (is my vote).

Mustardseed2007

We went to a birthday party recently for a 3 and 5 year old. I have to say it was one of my least favorite parties I have ever been to--but it didn't have to be that way! It's just how they did it.

Bottom line, consider the ages of the kids that will be attending (and especially the ages of your kids) and do activities that everyone can do.

If you are doing an activity that may end up with the younger kids getting run over, do an alternative for them (like have a little kid piñata and a big kid piñata or something).

My kid (who was 2.5) ended up getting pushed around a LOT by the older kids and couldn't do most of the activities. He was pretty tough about it and just ended up running around the yard with some kids closer to his age, but the 3 year old whose party it was ended up in tears most of the time b/c he was also getting run over and excluded. I felt bad for him.

fireflygirl12

DS1 just turned 2 and he honestly could have cared less. We had a big party with mostly family and some of our friends (who also mostly have kids). I'm pretty sure he didn't think the party was any different than having a big BBQ at our house. He definitely wouldn't have cared what the theme was. As long as he got a cupcake, he was good.