A Summer of Birthdays!

For sixteen years I had two children born almost 18 months apart. That meant one had a birthday in the winter and one in the summer, a whole six months between them. It was good, I couldn’t have planned it better.

Then I decided to have more kids. The first one came in August, the second at the end of July, the third, also in August. (eeeek, guess what I stopped doing in November?) So, after having it so good for 16 years I now have have three birthdays within four weeks of each other, and they begin only a few weeks after Eldest Daughter’s birthday.

Now I love children’s birthday parties, always have done (although No1son was never a fan.) Summer children’s parties are the best, you can have them at home in the garden weather permitting, but it generally is if you get the timing right. BUT THREE PARTIES IN FOUR WEEKS IS A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH EVEN FOR ME! Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout, but honestly I just can’t do it, I’m not getting any younger and even small amounts of children to entertain for a few hours at a time is getting to be a strain.

Not only that but parties during the school holiday bring their own stress factor….will anyone turn up! Star is the unlucky one with her birthday just a couple of weeks before the end of the holiday. All the children invited have probably forgotten all about the party, and so have the parents. half of the invited drop out straight away because they are off to some sunny beach somewhere. We’ve have a few parties now where I’ve catered for twenty and only six have turned up. It doesn’t really bother Star that much but it does me.

Last year Boo had a Hello Kitty party. She’s quite lucky being at the beginning of the holidays she gets quite a good number turn up. The party was a big hit and we finished off with a BBQ for the adults and it turned out to be a good day.

For the Little Man we just had a party tea and cake with only our family invited. I didn’t think at two he would mind very much.

Then came Star’s birthday. She’d asked for My Little Pony and I went out of my way to make it as special as possible. Four of her friends turned up, so along with her and her sister there was six in total. Just before the party there was a big thunderstorm so we were lucky anyone turned up at all. I did my best to make it as special as possible, but sadly it’s the same story every year.

This year we are doing things a little differently.

Boo is still having a party at home with all the trimmings, games and cake you’d expect for a six year old. We are planning a disco theme so I’m gathering my disco balls already. The cake design is being planned (I always make them myself) and ideas for games collected along with any little bits and pieces that I find along the way.

On the Little Man’s birthday we will be on holiday, so I think maybe a picnic on the beach with birthday cake will keep him happy.

Then for Star, she is having her birthday at The Bear Factory. She’s inviting a few of her special friends along to join in, make a bear and come back for birthday cake afterwards. She’s happy with this idea and it means we only have to invite a few children and can pick the ones that are less likely to let us down.

So, only one party and less stress for me, but three very special birthdays. Plus with them all being so very close together it’s like one big celebratory month of fun, it doesn’t matter who gets the party, the day out or the treat, they all get to join in anyway.

I’d love to know what you would do in the same situation. Please feel free to tell me how you celebrate your child’s birthday. (I may need some more ideas for the future)