DD's Xmas-time Birthday = scheduling nightmare!

[*Belle*]

i dont see why you cant have a party or get together after bil DD christening seems only option and all relatives are already there??

[FabFiona]

If it's "expected" that you celebrate her birthday with them then they need to make themselves available. I think you need to get your friends to firm up either the 17th or the 18th and do your party on the other day.

Otherwise if it's too hard then don't do anything with your extended family and celebrate your little ones birthday on her day with just your family.

It's such a crappy time of year!! i'm sorry you feel that your little one is missing out.

FW

[*Ang*]

Great idea Belle, I hadn't even thought about that. But unfortunately I think BIL's wife (SIL no 2), would say no as she would feel that the "attention" had been taken away from her DD. If worse comes to worse I could suggest that tho.

FF, Sunday 18th is out due to the other christening so I will definitely need to confirm with other friend about when she has her friends birthday.

The bugger about all of this is that the 2 friend's whose children's birthdays are so close are basically our closest friends so we have to attend their children's celebrations. Up until 3 years ago we thought how unusual for our DD to have her birthday so close to xmas and were able to get around it, we certainly won't be able to in future years now!!!!

[Onelittleprincess]

WHy not the following weekend? A new years party. Yes a week late but that way she still get s a day to herself and very little conflict in scheduling

[Traveller]

My birthday is on December 24th so I feel your pain.

What I would do is this:

1) let your family know that your DD is older now and would love to see them around her birthday, but that her actual celebration will be a kids only affair with her school friends.
2) book the party for Saturday 17th and let your friend know. As they have not fixed a date yet then they can fit their party around yours.
3) arrange a time after the festive season to get together with all your family so your DD can have a belated celebration with them.

If you do this now, then you can set a precedent for future years and get rid of this "expectation" that you will celebrate her birthday with family. She's a kid after all, she should be running round a playcentre or playing pass the parcel with her schoolfriends, not feeling guilty that she is inconveniencing family (not you, but your IL's who expect to be there). I love having a Christmas birthday but the only thing that upsets me is when nobody prioritises it because they are so worried about other obligations, or they make me feel like they are doing me a favour by celebrating with me.

[Traveller]

WHy not the following weekend? A new years party. Yes a week late but that way she still get s a day to herself and very little conflict in scheduling

In response to this, maybe I was a spoilt kid but I remember gushing with tears that my birthday party was after Christmas. I felt like nobody could be bothered with me and that Christmas was more important. Please don't do this.

[Cally]

I'd organise it for a day that suits DD and her friends. Family just need to fit it in, if they feel it is important then they will make the effort to come. There will come a point when she will just wants friends there anyway, not a party with all of the extended family.

I'm not inviting family members to anymore of DD's parties, it is just too hard to organise with everyone's varying schedules and travelling as all of my family are 2 hours away.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

It's school holidays around then right, i would have a party ON her birthday, give people enough notice so that they can take the day off work if need be, if htey can't make it during the day tell them it's a leftovers party that night

Personally you should't have to work around everyone else.
We have a similar issue with the fact DD2 is 6th Jan, everyone is generally off on holidays before school goes back or before work starts again, this year we have a friend who's son will be having a 1st b'day and a close friend will be due to pop, i don't know what were doing with hers. yet. eek

[NaeNae]

Ang - this si really going to sound harsh but OMG if you have been "accommodating" these people and putting their needs before your DD for 8 yrs it seems like someone upstairs is telling you to toughen up.

IF they really care about your daughter they will pull their heads out of their backsides and prioritise HER and work their schedules around her.

You know what I think,

I think you should throw your daughter the BEST party ever ON her birthday. Invite her friends around (hoping they will be out of school right?) Even if its an afterschool party from 4-6 or whatever. Make HER day special for her.
Christmas eve day is not an excuse either ... Christmas Day YES ... but not Christmas eve day. If they absolutely MUST have a get together for your DD because its expected ... we you throw a lunch or something ON Xmas Eve Day and tell them YOU expect them to be there. Those that care about your DD and I mean really really care about her will show up. The others can go to buggery - stuff it, its not about THEM and they need to realise that!!

SOrry this is a little close to home for me, my DH's birthday is the 18th Dec and fromt he way his family act you'd think it was ON Xmas day ... just gives me the Poops.

Much luv hun, you just need to do whats best for your little girl,

Nae x