Yesterday, I read a post by The Happy Housewife, a fellow milspouse, in which she discussed a television clip about outrageous kid parties. Apparently, $32,000 was spent on one such party. The Happy Housewife asked her readers if they had unlimited funds, would they throw an elaborate party for their children:
What would you do? If you had the budget of Bill Gates would you throw your kids an expensive party or would you keep it simple? Personally, I believe you can throw an outrageous party for your child for very little! A little creativity goes a long way! It is possible to throw a frugal birthday party for your child. I’ve done it and I’m sure most of you have too!
The phrase “A little creativity goes a long way!” is what struck me. Although the article wasn’t about military birthday parties, I recalled a conversation I had with an Army wife a couple of years ago. Their family had just moved to a new post and her son’s birthday fell on the day the household goods were being delivered. Setting up a new house is stressful enough, but her son had just said good-bye to his friends and found himself in a new neighborhood with no friends. On his birthday.
A few days later when the house was mostly unpacked, this milspouse arranged a Skype party. She got in touch with parents of her son’s friends in the old neighborhood and they had a “virtual” birthday party. While the Skyping was going on, other friends were participating via text. I remember thinking this was genius! Military spouses truly are creative.
I’m sure military families have faced this dilemma on many occasions as birthdays often come during moves and deployments. Plus, we’re not always located near extended family so when your child is in a new environment, there may not be relatives to turn to to help fill the void. Do you have any examples of employing creative tactics for your child’s birthday parties?
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See, this is why I love military moms. Not only motivated to do right by their kids, but so creative in the ways to make it happen. Well done you!
We don't have children, but I have thought about potential birthday party pitfalls. I grew up living close to a good chunk of my extended family, so birthday get-togethers with a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents were the norm. If Sampson and I do have kids someday, we're obviously not going to be able to replicate that experience. I'd love to have alternative ideas to stave off feelings of guilt or disappointment just because my hypothetical kids' birthday parties don't follow the pattern of my own childhood gatherings.
Eurika!
What a FABULOUS idea! THANK YOU!
We just moved to the DC area (yup, already signed up for March live event) and our son turns 5 in April. I will admit that I've always gone "way too far" on his birthday parties (jumpey houseS, magician, face painter, caracture (sp?) artist, arches of balloons, REAL firemen (and 1 firewoman), 3-dimensional cakeS – all before he even turned 5! Seriously?!
This year I've convinced him to celebrate a bit late so that 1) we could go on a cruise (Disney no less) for his "party with Mickey"; and 2) avoid the awkwardness of yet another huge party, but with folks we barely know. But how to make HIS day special I couldn't figure out . . . UNTIL NOW! (con't) …..
It's so perfect! I'll send out invitations to all his friends from where we just moved from (plus others across the country) to join in on his VIRTUAL BIRTHDAY PARTY!
Oh ladies! PLEASE give me some ideas on how to pull this off! Invites will be super easy and I'll only have to buy a themed plate package for the three of us and a small cake (hmmm . . . perhaps a 3-d cupcake?lol!) A video game all the kids could participate in together online would be great, but I digress -perhaps "shielding" our son from video games for so long now HASN'T been the best of ideas!??
BRAINSTORM ladies! Oh PLEASE! HELP ME BRAINSTORM! :)
Actually, I do have a great idea. Since you're looking at going "virtual," why not have the invitations run along that theme, too. Check out the website below. The invites could come from your son (his voice, his picture):
https://www.intelligram.com/
So happy you'll be at the event next week, too!
"GOD LOVES YOU ANDI THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING A GREAT SUPPORTER"