May and June are birthday season at our house. Four birthdays in exactly 30 days. In all honesty, I am exhausted by the time it is over! Add Mother’s Day and Father’s Day into that month and I’m on serious celebration overload. I’m not a “keeping up with the Joneses” kind of person. I never have been. And while I love seeing the amazing parties put together by others on Pinterest or various Instagram feeds, it’s just not me.
It’s possible that when my kids were younger I felt a little guilty about not being the awesome mom who threw the best party of the year with the perfect games and perfect gift bags filled with the perfect take home treats. But I got over that. Now I recognize that not only is it NOT my style, those things are not necessary to have the perfect celebration. So, here are just a few ideas to simplify your celebrations without losing the fun and excitement of the occasion.
- Who ever said that dessert had to be homemade? Not everyone has the knack or the time to make beautiful and delicious desserts. For me, I’m completely capable… I just don’t enjoy it! My 12-year-old loves Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Pie and would take that any day over something I made for her. And for my birthday? Why stress over dessert? I head to our local cupcake store and buy exactly six cupcakes- one for each of us. I enjoy it just as much and there’s no unnecessary leftover dessert sitting around my kitchen.
- Less is more. Seriously. As my kids get older, I’m beginning to realize how much “stuff” we have that we don’t use. A few thoughtful or useful gifts are far better than piles of junk that your kids will open, then forget about. And what’s even better, buy experiences. My kids never remember the stuff, but they remember every experience. Birthdays are meant to be memorable.
- I’m terrible at doing birthday parties. It’s a lot to plan. It’s a lot to buy. I have a daughter who never wants a party because they make her uncomfortable. Who needs that stress? We’ve had a lot of birthdays where we invite one or two friends and do dinner and a movie, a movie and dessert after, shopping at the mall, pedicures, or some other activity. It’s been just as much fun and way less work. And believe me, it will probably cost you the same as a big party or even less!
- Stop trying to keep up with the other moms who are throwing parties. Do not compare yourself to them! You do you and let them worry about them. Your main priority is your child and your family. Not everyone was born to throw theme parties for every birthday for every child in their house. And that is OK. Relax and focus on your child, not the other parents.
Have any simple birthday traditions that I should be starting in my family? Let me know. And wish me luck as I enter this year’s birthday season! 🙂
