DD's 1st Birthday.. no Family attending..should I bother??

[turtleschell]

Ok so DH's entire family work 7 days so they simply can't be at DD's birthday, even if I do it later/earlier.
That leaves my family. I don't know if anyone read previous threads, but I really am not keen on seeing them.
I've only got a select few close friends, but they all live out of town.
What should I do?
I'm happy to just have a nice day with DD, just the two of us, but I feel like I may feel bad later on that I didn't make a huge deal out of her 1st birthday?
Any ideas?

[CrazyLady]

We only had DP and I for DD's birthday because we're away from family. I think we made a HUGE deal out of it and DD had a good day. We sung happy birthday with brumby's muffins (oven was broken and DD can't have preservatives ) played a heap of games, danced etc

I'm sure you'd make it a very special day!

[appletree]

Sounds like a nice day with just the two of you is in order here! Just try and do something special that you wouldn't normally do and you won't feel bad about it at all! For DD we did such a big party that people thought we were going to do a surprise wedding, but with DS we are just going to do something simple like maybe a trip to the zoo for the 4 of us, as it really wasn't worth it! There will be many years of parties to come yet

[aussienic]

I would just make it a special day for you 2.. and for Dh as well of course

Maybe spoil her for the day but also do a little something for you and DH.. It is your first year as parents so celebrate you survived the first year

[MummyDuck]

You can make it a very specail day with just you guys!! I wish it was just us for my DD's first. You could go to the zoo or picnic or do something at home you normally wouldnt be big kids for the day together.... get messy do some hand painting - something to remember for the day.

There will be plenty of large expensive parties for friends and families.... having a special one together makes it all that more memorable in my eyes..... big ones all seem to mesh together after a lot of them : )

You and DH get her all to yourself.....

[Kazbah]

How about a mothers' group and other friends gathering? I'm of the opinion the first birthday is to celebrate your achievement over the year, and that of people who have supported you. So enjoy the day, have a few drinks and remember the previous year!

[misty]

We have never made a big deal out of ANY of our kids birthdays. So long as they are having fun and happy, that is all that is important. Especially at such a young age, birthday parties tend to be more about making the parents feel good about themselves then the kids - I know my 1yr old wouldn't notice the difference between a room full of people or just ourselves: so long as there is cake and pressies.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

You could make a big deal out of it just the two of you.
I'm not 100% on where you live but if you have something close you could do a day at the zoo, local pool, park.

I don't think we will get to do a party for DD2 this year, am thinking of saying to DP maybe we should go to the zoo, ask his mum & dad to come along etc.. not 100% if people will want to pay for themselves though IYKWIM.

[turtleschell]

Hmm yes I guess I will just plan a bunch of fun activities that we've never done before..

The zoo is such a good idea, I wish DH would take a day off work so we could all go together!

Thanks for the ideas girls.

[onthefly]

We didn't do much for 1st or 2nd birthdays - just think how many you have ahead with all the little friends and each year having to be bigger than the last...
Have a lovely day together - I think the 1st birthday especially is more for parents than the kids anyway, so she's not missing out if she's still having fun.