Today is voting day. I voted a while back via mail in ballot and I can't tell you how relieved I am not to have to try to brave lines. Consider yourself encouraged to vote, no matter who you're voting for. Let your voice be heard and get educated and have an opinion. In today's world, it seems like we don't have any control over the things that are important to us, whether that be jobs, health care, gas prices or whatever hits your hot buttons. This is how you take control. By educating yourself about the issues and the people that will vote the way you would, if you were in their shoes. I'm sure you've heard it before, if you don't vote you can't complain. So do it. Everyone should have the right to complain. - And this concludes the soap box portion of today's post.
Let's talk Birthdays. Bug and Bunny have birthday's that are three days apart so we'll be throwing them their very first combined - friend invited - birthday party this year. I've just paid a pretty hefty chunk of change to Jumpin' Jammin' - a huge indoor playground at one of our local malls - for their destination party. I'm excited by the prospect of almost no set up, absolutely no clean-up and not having to clean any portion of my house to make it presentable to the masses. I also think the kids will have a blast. My only concern is people my not come. Their birthdays are right around Thanksgiving - and so is mine as I share it with Bug. This means lots of kids are travelling or adults have other plans with family. I had lots of parties growing up where only one or two kids showed up, and I hope that's not the case with this first Tweedle party. We're having it on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and hoping for the best, so wish them luck!
Let's talk Birthday Grab Bags. You know, the bag you provide each kid who attends your child's party which contains candy and/or some cheap toys. I'm going to do something radical at this party and not have them. I think parents mostly find them annoying and the kids probably wouldn't miss them. What about you? For or Against? Discuss.
Let's talk birthday costs. Is it just me, or has the price of throwing a party for your kid gone a little insane? For years with GG and LW I attended parties both destination and home grown and am shocked that kids parties these days run in the hundreds of dollars. Destination parties alone are expensive, but we'll also have to provide our own cake/ice cream/ drinks and snacks and for 50 people or so - 25 kids / 25 parents - that starts to add up. Even home parties between all the food, drinks and the inevitable bouncy house and pinata it just adds up to be an expensive endeavor. Has it always been this way and I was just oblivious? What do you think?
Lets talk Halloween candy. Each of my kids got one piece the night of Halloween. The next day I emptied their baskets into zip lock bags and put the bags on top of our fridge. It's now six days after Halloween and neither one of them has asked for their candy. I'm thinking of throwing it all out. Does that make me the best or worst mom ever?
Seriously.. Thoughts?
I say that if you would have done the gift bags, then the Halloween candy would have come to a good use. Had you had a pinata too. Discarding candy women, is frowned upon :D by me. Do you know how many starving fat people are out there?!
ReplyDeleteAs for the cost of parties, when I used to throw them for Sam and Eriel, there was NEVER a time I did NOT spend over $500.00. It D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E-L-Y costs a lot of money now to throw one! Yikes!
Lastly as for what kind of mom you are, that would be the BEST! Hands down!
Aww Norma. I love that you're always my biggest cheerleader!
ReplyDelete1) don't do the grab bags...you're right, the kids won't miss them and I can't see why the parents would care
ReplyDelete2) Yes! Kid's parties in general have just gotten ridiculously outrageous! Don't fall into the trap of thinking you have to spend a lot of money to make your kids happy. And why do they have to invite 25+ "friends"? Let them invite their best friends, have a birthday cake and some kid-friendly snacks, let them open their gifts, and then let the kids either run around outside and be kids or play video games (if your kids are into that) or something they wouldn't normally get to do. But I don't see the need to grow crazy with the bouncy house things or whatever they're called. I know you want your littles to have fun, and they should on their birthdays, but also be realistic about what you can afford and don't let other people try to guilt you into doing more than you can.
You are an awesome mom, you have awesome kids, and they will be happy no matter what you do.