{"id":3329,"date":"2011-05-09T12:05:01","date_gmt":"2011-05-09T10:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents-blog\/?p=3329"},"modified":"2022-06-09T20:56:52","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T18:56:52","slug":"kids-parties-whats-enough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/lifestyle\/parties\/kids-parties-whats-enough\/","title":{"rendered":"Kids parties – whats enough?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have a confession\u2026. I used to be one of those people who mocked, yes, mocked the mom\u2019s who went to great lengths for their children\u2019s birthday parties. You know the ones that I\u2019m talking about \u2013 with ponies, jumping castles, designer party packs and cakes on a par with what you would see at a wedding.\u00a0 I was especially amazed when these parties were for the early birthdays, when really, the little mites wouldn\u2019t be any the wiser, and as long as you had the \u2018obligatory photo\u2019 (you know, the one with said birthday child shoving his face full of cake) all would be good.<\/p>\n

That was until I became a Mom\u2026. Or more specifically – 5 weeks before my little one\u2019s FIRST birthday. All of a sudden the birthday party started consuming my thoughts, daydreaming of being one of those super moms who makes handmade\u00a0 bunting for decorations, graphic designed invitations, with designer party packs, and entertainment for the kids that fills the air with squeals of laughter.<\/p>\n

After initially feeling guilty for starting to think of \u2018over-the-top\u2019 ways to celebrate my monkey\u2019s birthday (especially since I\u2019ve openly admitted to mocking mom\u2019s previously), I\u2019ve accepted that I DO want to celebrate this first year we\u2019ve both survived, and been blessed with an amazing daughter.<\/p>\n

I now get why people go to the ends of the world, often blowing their monthly budget on these events . We intrinsically want the best for our children and we want to shout to the world that we love our children and will do anything for them. If it takes ponies, jumping castles and tiered cupcakes, well then so be it. We\u2019ve earned it, we\u2019ve had enough sleepless nights, butternut mushed into our favourite jerseys and stolen Sunday afternoon naps, to do whatever we want to express our love for our babies and the achievement we\u2019ve accomplished.<\/p>\n

So\u2026\u00a0 I will be going overboard for Layla\u2019s birthday party \u2013 this does not mean that there will be ponies in the garden, nor will there be jumping castles. There are plenty more birthdays for that! I will however be making an effort with my invitations, I will be going overboard with the decorations and have an unreasonable ratio of balloons to children. I will decorate the cake beautifully and spend far too much time on it \u2013 I know Layla won\u2019t know it\u2019s beautiful, but that\u2019s ok \u2013 one day she will.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to give party packs to all the kids and I\u2019m going to love every minute of this special day celebrating the day I gave birth to this little miracle that has brought us so much joy for the last 365 days.<\/p>\n

This may not seem overboard to you at all and that\u2019s fine. For me, it is\u2026 this is my overboard<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

I probably won\u2019t have people lining up for an invitation to the 2nd<\/sup> birthday party because of any of it \u2013 I don\u2019t care. The people that love our family and the special little person\u2019s life that we are celebrating will be there. Not because of the decorations or party packs, but because it\u2019s a celebration<\/p>\n

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