Topic: Kid's birthdays

[Johnnyherd]

What's the deal with parents taking their kids to a birthday party without bringing a present?  Especially when you throw the party at a place that charges you around $15 by the kid.  I had 4-5 parents bring 9 kids and their kid siblings and neighbors kids to my daughter's birthday.  One brought a $1 gift from the dollar store and one brought a home made birthday card.  (2 parents had enough class to buy presents, a $20 gift card and a nice toy) 

Even more sad many of the kids didn't even speak to or play with my daughter.  They just came by grabbed their passes, food and cake then tookoff.  I guess thats what happens when you pass out invitations at a school.

[luvherd]

Somewhere along the road, we got away from the birthday child opening presents at the party. I believe my gkids get presents but I seriously doubt they know who bought what since it happens after the kids leave.

[svherd]

Frankly, I think its totally stupid to have a big party for any kid under 8 years old. Hell, we attended one this weekend for a nephew who turned two. Must have been 40 people there. Elaborate set up and more gifts than Santa could carry. The kid will never remember it and he can't understand whats going on. Its mostly for the parents to feel good about themselves. Crazy nuts!

[exanimate]

My kids have never really had big parties. Typically just family over for cake. As the kids got older, they would just have a hand full of friends over to stay the night. Each kid would typically bring a card with a 10 in it. Fine with my boys. They prefer just hanging out anyway.

[HERDFAN1999]

I think the birthday party thing has gotten way out of hand.  Frankly, when we do something for our daughter I really don't care who brings anything and don't expect anything.  The last two years we just did a little family get together because I don't want people to feel obligated to have to bring something. 

[Johnnyherd]

Yeah, I really don't care either. 

Except the fact that my daughter had a b-day party at our home last year and no one showed up.  It hurt her feelings and combine that with her having a weight problem and not being very popular at school. 

So I sprung for a party to make her feel special and all it turned out to be was kids showing up not really speaking to her and not bringing her a present.  I understand that 9-10 year olds aren't probably sensitive to others feelings.  I just can't believe the parents were that inconsiderate.   

[HERDFAN1999]

Yeah, I really don't care either. 

Except the fact that my daughter had a b-day party at our home last year and no one showed up.  It hurt her feelings and combine that with her having a weight problem and not being very popular at school. 

So I sprung for a party to make her feel special and all it turned out to be was kids showing up not really speaking to her and not bringing her a present.  I understand that 9-10 year olds aren't probably sensitive to others feelings.  I just can't believe the parents were that inconsiderate.   

You sound like a very good Dad.  My advice, just keep on making sure she knows that YOU think she is the most important thing in the universe.  Kids will be turds sometimes but you can make all the difference in her world.

[exanimate]

When I was a teenager and working at McDonalds, they would have birthday parties there. One kid had a party and not one kid showed up. It was heartbreaking. We ended up taking up a collection from everyone at work and someone ran to Toys-R-Us and bought a few things for him and we all sat out there and had a little party with him. He was like 5 or 6 and he ended up having a blast, but it's still shitty to at least not make an attempt to go to a kids party when invited.

[spaldy]

The party thing does seem out of hand.  Like this whole wedding thing only it's annual instead of once.

Growing up a huge Cardinals fan my dad used to take me to a game (Just him and I) and I was allowed to pick my dinner and cake flavor and the family would gather to sing loud and obnoxiously.   Wouldn't trade those for anything. 

I pretty much did the same with my kids.   We did have 2 or 3 of the big events at discovery zone or chuck e cheeze.   That was in the same ring of hell as walt disney world is.     

[00mag12gaVa]

My kids always did the "money in the card" deal. They and their friends preferred that. The parties my wife organized at home were pizza, cake and ice cream deals,no big affair. We also told folks no present required, but everyone always did the 5 to 10 buck tribute. The prom "dresses" deal is what freaks me out these days. Sheeez