Today is my youngest child’s 4th birthday and I think I’ve finally figured out that kids’ birthday celebrations don’t have to be all or nothing. My older kids had big blowouts every year and by the time my 2 younger children came along I’d come to the realization that 2 year-olds don’t remember the piñatas and millions of guests who helped them celebrate.
On the other hand, I did feel bad, though, when my 6-year-old asked what we did when she turned 1 and I showed her a picture of just the 5 of us gathered around her high chair for that memorable first piece of cake. Where were the piñatas and guests like her brothers had, she wanted to know.
So this year I decided to have my youngest daughter’s birthday party on a weekday, tomorrow, at a bounce place and she invited only 4 special friends. Her older 2 siblings will be at school, but 8 and 9-year-old boys really doesn’t need to be jumping in a bounce house with a bunch of 3 and 4-year-old girls anyways, right? And instead of spending $300 on a private party, I paid 1/10 of that to occupy the private room and will just pay for the kids’ public play admission.
I am sure we will both be happy with this compromise.
