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As long as I'm not expected to compete with the people throwing these huge festival parties then I don't care what they do! My kids don't get big parties and up until this year they had a combined birthday party every year as there is only 8 days between their birthdays. I think some of the best parties have been the ones that have just been thrown together. DD1 had a slumber party this year and it has been a benchmark amongst her friends in terms of how much fun they had.
I agree that it's each to their own, I am not trying to be nasty or anything, it just sounds to me like over kill, lol. Maybe I am just old and jaded since I don't ever remember having a birthday party myself. I have done cup cakes for my kids to take to pre school if their birthday falls on a school day, but I don't think I will do it for DD at big school.
This year, I will likely also have a celebration for DD here (at home- we live 900km from family) a little morning tea (with 4 adults, though it ends up being 12 children since we all have 3-4 kids each) for everyone to share her cake. I do try to ensure that everyone knows we don't necessarily want a gift, only to celebrate with friends. Though, if people wish to bring a gift, I prefer home made, or something small like a book or colouring in book. There will be no party bags, no lollies. Just the cake, sandwiches for lunch (which my friends and I and our kids do together regularly anyway) maybe some balloons and dancing for sure! She will also have a little celebration at my mums house because we will be going there for the first time in 6 months the day after her birthday. My brothers/SIL/niece and nephews and mum will have her gifts there and mum will likely make her a cake.
Though this is out of the ordinary, we would either have the morning tea/dinner here at home and that is it, or we have extended family thing when we are at mums place for birthdays. It would usually be one or the other.
Maybe cause I have three kids to have birthdays for and limited funds, it just seems so much.
My girls seem to get ongoing birthdays. By the time everyone has visited we have had 3-4 cakes, sang happy birthday dozens of times and so on. Both girls have had parties for their birthdays. I enjoy throwing them. We don't do extravagant but we do have a good time. If you were to ask my girls what they remember they will say who was there and what they did and not what presents they have been given. Most people we have an understanding with too that if they are stuck for a present idea then they can put some money in the girls saving account instead.
Each to their own. You do what you can and others do what they can, who are we to know any of the circumstances as to why choices are made by others.
No i dont think its over the top. To me my kids birthdays are as important as Christmas. It's their birth day, the 1st day I got them in my arms. They get breaky of their choice, dinner of their choice, a party - if it's a weekday it's on the closes weekend and they have a cake on their birthday and 1 for their party, cupcakes to take to school/day care, and presents. If people think its over the top or not enough or whatever they want to think, it's their problem and it doesn't affect me. I celebrate how I want to celebrate and I think people should be able to celebrate their kids birthdays without being judged.
For me it think its way overkill one birthday is enough and it doesn't need to be extravagant ill be doing for my kids what was done for me a small family gathering or some friends and a larger party on significant years ie 1,5,10,13,16,18,21
I'm a big believer in making a themed cake myself of whatever there interest is at the time for me I really enjoy that and it brings back happy memories of my mum doing the same
I just don't want my children to be over spoilt and I don't want to have a nervous breakdown having to plan and find money for massive parties at least twice a year