As your child approaches their first birthday – there are so many different emotions that happen, mainly how on earth has it been a year already?! We are in the final weeks of 11 months and exactly 1 week out from the first birthday party (which I will have hopefully survived by the time you read this) – which brings me to today’s topic – how do you tackle the first birthday party?
It seems like everything having to do with kids today is over the top – from before they were even born with pregnancy announcements, creative gender reveals to birth announcements once they arrive along with weekly and monthly pictures and nonstop updates. It seems that the first birthday has gone from a simple family gathering of cake and presents to large lavish parties with (sometimes) a hundred people. I would like to think we fall somewhere in the middle of the extremes – but I sit here there is my master RSVP list for my daughter’s birthday party next to the computer– and well the number of those with an RSVP of “yes” has reached 85….
….I had to pause there for a minute I am hosting a first birthday party that will have 85 people in attendance, how did this happen?! I mean I love to plan and throw a good party, but 85 people at a party that she won’t even remember? (and may even nap in the middle of) That is 85 people to feed and entertain? I am just now realizing that this is a much larger event than even I meant to have. Don’t get me wrong my husband and I are so excited to celebrate her birthday and even more blessed to know that we have that many people who want to celebrate as well, but I have to think how did we get here?
How did we get from a simple cake and a few balloons to a full on party? I think the answer here is actually quite simple – we don’t want to exclude anyone. We want to feel like we are including everyone who is important – we want her first birthday to be a big event. Really deep down we want everyone to know that we did it – we survived the first year! Not to mention the baby is pretty cute too!
My advice on this whole birthday party thing – do what makes you happy. You don’t need to go over the top – get a few balloons, hang a couple streamers (this coming from the crafting impaired one who has a box of supplies to somehow create into banners and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star themed decorations within the next week), and just have fun! For us that does means a lot of food (I’m Italian- I can’t help it), family, good friends, laugher, and lots of icing on a smash cake (and a backup outfit for the star of the hour). For you this might mean a small get together, it might be a huge party that rivals the last wedding you went to – either way just remember to take pictures of that adorable one year old as they smash through their cake!
How did your child’s first birthday go? Did you plan a small get together, or was everything over the top? What advice do you have for first birthdays?
