No first birthday...

Cebs222 · September 2012

So my husband and I just recently decided to boycott having a first birthday party for our daughter. We were planning a fairly large- both families and friends- type of deal. But the thoughts and ideas i have for a party are more for like .. 4 year olds and we don't know kids in the age groups- as well as at this age we know the party is mostly for us. So aside from maybe her getting a cake at thanksgiving dinner thats pretty much all we are gonna do.

Well now i feel badly. We have some friends who had their babies within a month of our daughter and they are having HUGE to-do's for their boys and girls. It makes me feel really guilty for some reason. I know she will not have a big birthday party each year- and family is fine... but i feel like she .. well no, I , am missing out lol.

but we did decide at least that the money we'd spend on a party we are going to put towards getting her 1 year pictures done.

Anyone else not having anything as far as a party or anything? thoughts?

Kaeldrasmommy · September 2012

I personally feel like at least a little get together is in order. But I think that as someone who doesn't have any pictures or stories about their first birthday, I'm a little more sensitive to it than most. I think when you're grown it's just nice to know that your parents bothered to acknowledge and remember your first birthday.

shortstuff15 · September 2012

I haven't done a huge birthday for the first 2 birthdays of my oldest and won't for any kid after that either. I actually am not doing a huge birthday ever. Starting at 4 or 5 she will be able to invite a couple of her friends over, but I'll limit it to 5 or 6 friends and that is it. And that will be it every year.

I personally don't get the big "theme-have-everybody-they-know-and-throw-a-big-bash" parties anyway. Have a couple friends over to have fun, a favorite supper and a cake and you've got a perfect party in my books!

missyishere · September 2012

I think it would be nice to do just a simple, small gathering only because it is something that only comes around for them once. Having a huge party isn't for everyone. We have a large invite list, but I'm not spending a lot of time and money on it. You can put a ton of work and money into something, but you can have just as much fun not spending a ton of money. I bought a bunch of cheap tablecloths, napkins, and bubbles with ladybug theme on them or just red/black. I ordered some cupcakes from a gal I know personally for a very reasonable price. We went in on a bouncy house with friends this year, so we will have that for the bigger kids. It really was cheaper to just buy one that rent it a couple of times. Pictures really do mean a lot when they get older, for sure. I love looking at all of the pictures my mom has of me as a child, especially since she's no longer with us.

EveryNameIWantIsTaken · September 2012

We're just doing a gathering with family that is in the area. So that includes grandparents, a couple aunts and uncles, and 4 cousins. We'll probably just do lunch and cake at our house. Nothing too huge. I made an enormous deal out of ds's first party and I just don't have the time to do all I did for him anymore.

jkillin · September 2012

We are not doing a huge party, maybe 10 people (includes local family and friends)... I think it is important to acknowledge the day, but you don't have to go overboard. Don't feel bad...

bridein08 · September 2012

We were originally going to do a big party with our friends and DS's playgroup friends, as well as our families. The more I thought about it, the less I felt it was appropriate. Most of his friends are having big parties, but I don't care. We are going to invite our immediate families only (there will likely be 12 or 13 of us total) and will do a dinner and nice cake. I am excited to not have to plan something too big!

brighteyes2123 · September 2012

I was wanting to do something with a theme, after thinking and talking with my Mom...we came to the conclusion too much is happening around the time of his birthday, so we'll wait till next year. We will do something with a few family and friends though!

lageorgiapaperie · September 2012

I will be perfectly content celebrating just the 3 of us.

mama31 · September 2012

For regular birthdays we just do DH siblings families and our parents. For the first birthday we ended up inviting 4 of our close families and our DCP too. It is not too much bigger than we would have done. You don't have to have a big party, just keep it simple.

ns1 · September 2012

We aren't doing a party at all. We don't have any family in the area. DD's bday is on a Wednesday; so she'll actually be at daycare and we'll be at work. I'm going to make some cupcakes, get her a gift or a few, sing happy birthday, and probably call it a day. Maybe that weekend we'll take her to do something fun...zoo, park, whatever.

I never had a big party. Just some family over, and it was fine. Plus, I'm pretty sure she won't remember! We'll have some pictures of her with her cupcake, opening gifts, etc.

Kaeldrasmommy · September 2012

Estwd2:
Kaeldrasmommy:
I personally feel like at least a little get together is in order. But I think that as someone who doesn't have any pictures or stories about their first birthday, I'm a little more sensitive to it than most. I think when you're grown it's just nice to know that your parents bothered tonbsp;acknowledge and remember your first birthday.
Not having a party is most definitely not the same as not acknowledging your child's birthday. We are celebrating, just the three of us. We're taking her out to a nice lunch, to BuildaBear, and then a small cake at home. No party. No balloons. No theme. Sounds perfect to me.

No it's not the same. But in your case for example, you are doing something special, not just hanging around like it's just another day. The type of situation I was talking about is like DH and I's, where none of our parents even remember our first birthday, let alone took any pictures.

dragon_chica · September 2012

You do what ever YOU want to do. It shouldn't matter what anyone else is doing. In our family (DH's and mine's) birthdays, especially the first one is a big deal. We had decided early on to do a big one for their first and then small ones after that and save the big bashes for specific ages (5, 16, 18, etc.)

PrimRoseMama · September 2012

We aren't having a big "to do" but we are having a party. Do what works for you.

I am doing it because I like parties and want to celebrate my schnookums lol. Wink

gracefulruby33 · September 2012

I'm having a small 'party' with family and maybe some close friends (haven't thought that far out yet). I feel like I owe it to DD, not to anyone else. I want her to have pictures and know that we were excited to celebrate her birthday. If you don't want to spend a lot of money, don't! This is about you and your baby, just like the day your LO was born.

alyss0nl · September 2012

We're having a somewhat big party for DS's birthday, only because their hasn't been a baby in the family in at least 10 years. Since most of my family is local, there isn't much choice.

duffmaker · September 2012

Kaeldrasmommy:
I personally feel like at least a little get together is in order. But I think that as someone who doesn't have any pictures or stories about their first birthday, I'm a little more sensitive to it than most. I think when you're grown it's just nice to know that your parents bothered to acknowledge and remember your first birthday.

I agree with this 100%... I have only ever seen one picture of me as a baby and it was my first Halloween, dressed as a cow, playing on the living room floor. I know nothing about my baby-hood, not until my dad (not biological) and his family came into the picture when I was almost 2. It really upsets me not having any of that history to look back at or hear about.

Why don't you just do a little get together at your favorite restaurant, invite just grandparents? Just something, IMO everyone should have a picture of their cake-covered-baby-selves too look back on and I've never personally liked how parents smush kid's birthday's into the nearest holiday... even if they were born on it... a birthday should be something special, all their own.

laurakaz13 · September 2012

We just had our own little family and the grandparents. That's it. I think it's silly to worry about a 1st b-day party.

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