Every year, I throw a big, creative, expensive party at home for him. The first few years were at his grandparent's, the last few years have been at our house.
Each year, a few weeks before the party, I begin my desperate attempt at making friends with the parents of Michael's friends. See, I work... I don't even get to drop Michael off at school most days so I'm just not "in" with the "super mom's" as I lovingly refer to them. I call them super mom's with the utmost respect. Honestly, most days, going to work is like a break for me. No one whining and demanding that I refill his apple juice for the 6th time in 20 minutes. No chasing after the toddler who has just covered the couch and himself in peanut butter. The super mom's never get a break from this. I truly believe that staying home and taking care of the house and family and cooking and cleaning and staying sane and not becoming an alcoholic from it all has to be the toughest job in the world. (None of this is stated to infer that I wouldn't like to give it a shot. I certainly would. But in order to run our household, we need two incomes. Also, I've worked my ass off to get where I am. No point in stopping now.) Anyways... I digress.
It has now become an annual tradition, that at the last minute, I realize that I have no way to get a hold of any of Michael's friends parents to invite them to his party. Every year has turned out all right in the end. Plenty of kids. Sometimes too many kids. I go overboard with my theme of the year. I spend way too much money on a party that Michael will probably have no recollection of in 10 years.
Let's see... last year was Indiana Jones.
Let's see... last year was Indiana Jones.
I had treasure hunts set up for the kids and all kinds of games and prizes. In the end... what did the kids spend the majority of the party doing?
Playing Wii.
Great.
Michael's 5th birthday party? A pirate party. He was obsessed that year with Pirates of the Carribean.
What did the kids have the most fun doing at that well planned party?
You guessed it.
Playing Wii.
Great.
So here I am. After planning and paying for a wedding in March, we are really not up to an expensive, over the top party. There doesn't seem to be time to clean the house top to bottom. So I called up Peter Piper Pizza. They offer affordable birthday party packages. They set up. They clean up after. They have beer. The only thing I am responsible for is bringing a cake. And most importantly, the kids can do what they do every year at Michael's birthday parties. Play video games. Michael seems more than happy to have his party at this wonderland of video games and pizza.
But for some reason, I feel like I am failing him by taking the easy route. I had to put no thought into this. I don't even need to clean the house for this. Granted, the money not being spent on decorating the house will mean more presents for Michael. But I still feel like I'm somehow cheating him out of something. I actually feel guilty.
The joys of parenting I guess.
Here's to Peter Piper.
1 comment:
These photos look from Peter Piper Birthday Party. I am also a mom to two kids and they are also fond of themed parties. It is so much work as well as expensive thing but I host the themed party for them on alternate years. The little one’s 5th Disney themed birthday at one of the outdoor venues in Los Angeles was a huge blast this year.
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