We did for the first time what many do every year, that is, host a birthday party for our daughters with their friends instead of grandparents--aka a "friend party."
Pro tip: If your kids are content with grandparent parties, ride that as long as possible. They're a lot easier, and less pressure, than friend parties.
I intended to invite whole families, since several of Ada's and Lizzy's friends are member of the same family, and I like their parents. Also, one family has several little people Caleb's own age, giving him some playmates during the girly celebration.
That plan wasn't met with as much appreciation from Caleb as I had hoped. He claimed that when other kids come over, they play in his room and make a big mess for him to clean up, and then "my woom is ho-wen-dous."
So, points for vocabulary, if not articulation.
The party went ahead as scheduled, with promises to Caleb that we wouldn't allow any kids upstairs. There were six adults and eighteen children, 8 pounds of Kraft macaroni and cheese, 24 hot dogs, two dozen cupcakes, and a piñata.
Party pros:
-The weather was beautiful for children to play, eat, and open presents outside.
-They decorated their own cupcakes. While some might consider this a party con, it worked well because A) there was no pressure on me to make a pretty cake; B) it doubled as a party activity; C) the kids were thrilled about it; D) I taped down a disposable tablecloth on the table beforehand; and E) we had the kids go in three shifts--younger girls first, then little siblings, then big girls, for whom I saved back some clean frosting.
-Ada pre-labeled all the paper cups with all the kids' names. No fumbling with a Sharpie while kids are juggling ketchup and bending paper plates before your eyes--we did it the night before.
-In fact, I did as much as possible the night before. I put out balloons. I set out the cupcake-decorating supplies. I taped down the tablecloth. I set out paper plates and cups and hot dog buns. I cleared a spot to put down presents. I moved chairs out of the way. All those things add up when you have dozens of people on their way over and you're in the middle of wondering what you were thinking when you agreed to do this.
Party cons:
-Next time I might consider separate parties. Maybe. My two daughters, besides having friends in the same families, also have birthdays five days apart. A joint party makes so much practical sense. Still, it's possible it would relieve stress on their mother-introvert-extrordinaire, and it might be more tailored to the wishes of each birthday girl. A consideration, not a resolution.
-On a similar note, next time I might not invite younger siblings; in fact, I might consider shipping the birthday girl's siblings off so I can focus on amusing only one narrow age group. Maybe.
-So it turns out piñatas aren't the barrel of fun they seem like they'd be. Beat a colorful hanging object until candy pours out, what could be better?
Except... if the first kid whacks it apart, no one else has a chance to hit it. And if they don't get a good whack, they feel cheated. And we had eighteen children and one piñata. I'm thinking maybe we don't know how to do it right. One kid early on whacked it off the hanger, so it fell to the ground whole. Then we had to rig up a new hanger while hungry kids circled like wolves. If the kid missed a swing, they cried. If they ripped a big hole in it, the other kids cried. Oh and don't forget, if you're lucky enough to avoid head injuries from the whacking stick, you'll certainly sustain them when the kids all rush in to collect the candy and bend over at once, cracking their crania together and--oh yes--crying again.
So I'm thinking maybe no piñata next year. Or ever again.
Or maybe one piñata for every child. Spaced 10 yards apart. Filled with broccoli and school supplies.
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| I went the lazy route and bought the bag directly under the piñatas labeled "piñata candy." It also had various noisemakers and plastic jewelry made in China. Parents loved me for it. |
Fortunately, birthday, even two-at-once birthdays, only occur once a year, so I have a whole year to think about it.
And, who knows--maybe by next year they'd rather hang out with their grandparents instead.
