You are here: Home / Parenting Life / CONFESSIONS OF A RELUCTANT HOUSEWIFE / Planning Birth-Days the fun never ends, and neither does the pain.

Planning Birth-Days the fun never ends, and neither does the pain.

August 16, 2010 by · 14 Comments

In less than 30 days, my daughter will be turing two.

Ah! The dreaded “terrible twos”… but right now it’s not the second year that I’m dreading so much. It’s planning the birthday party.

It’s not that I don’t like planning parties, in fact I kind of enjoy them (when I have control).
But when I don’t have control- these are the things I do not enjoy:

Trying to make a “small” guest list

Every year we try to cut back on our list- We say “It’s just going to be a small party” and then somehow that “small party” turns into a 70 person fiesta. Then I am left, every year going “But how does this happen? – so I give the list a once over- again. To find- Every. Single. Person- is a must have, that I would be genuinely disappointed if they couldn’t be there.

Mailing out invitation
I LOATH the post office. I loath the post office even more when I have to go with two children in toe. The only thing worse than addressing and mailing out 50 invites for a 2nd birthday is having to mail big bulky boxes to out of town family at Christmas Time… or their birthdays, which I am ALWAYS late for- just as I am for mailing out invitations.

Hunting down RSVPs
I know it is payback. I know all my friends and family sit back and snicker when they get my invite, and anxiously count down to that RSVP they flake out on… just as I have done 100 times before. I deserve it. I will own that fact… but it doesn’t make me hate it less.

The question of “What can I get her?”
No matter how much I plan for the question- I NEVER have an answer- because mostly my kids don’t “need” much. And I don’t know about your family- but when I give practical suggestions like “Clothes, bonds or gift certificates” – I get “That’s SO boring”.  Boring to who? … surly not my two year old who is oblivious that its even her birthday.
And Most Of All…

I am NOT enjoying this crazy quest for a “NON-SCARY”-ELMO CHARACTER
Anyone who knows me, knows that I HATE doing things that have been done before. Especially when it comes to party planning.
This year I had big plans of a “Dr.Suess Theme”. It was going to be magnificent. Red, Blue and White candy and cake. Cat In The Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2. It was going to be adorable…. and then Princess fell in love with the little furry red monster- ELMO. The thought of having to incorporate & encourage children at the party to embrace one of those scary Elmo Characters? –>

{{shivers}}

I have to be honest, Part of me wanted to go on with my Cat In The Hat plans, I mean she’s never going to remember anyway- right?

And the word “BIRTH -DAY”…. shouldn’t that be my day if I in fact was the one who gave birth? They didn’t call it “Day-you were born-day”…. and the woman who did actually give birth two years ago is over Elmo.

But if you saw Princess’ adorable little face light up when she sees him on TV or in a coloring book- you would know why foregoing the little fuzzy red creature wasn’t an option. So here I sit….


Googling “NON-SCARY ELMO, NEW JERSEY”


Writing up a guest list of 2,512 guests for a second birthday


…and  making sure my digital camera is charging – cause dammit- she is going to remember this-
The year she didn’t let Mommy have her Dr. Suess Party.

Like this one from www.Totally TableTops.com-


& yes I was totally going to buy the matching sofa.

Related posts:

Filed Under: CONFESSIONS OF A RELUCTANT HOUSEWIFE · Tagged With: , ,
  • http://www.billmanson.yolasite.com William

    brilliant 2 wow, a great day is comin xxx

  • blueviolet

    I know you'll pull this off with panache!

  • http://lifewiththeardies.blogspot.com Heather – Life with the Ardies

    Oh, the things we do! The Cat and the Hat theme is precious. Maybe you can convince her to do that for her 3rd b-day. You have a year to butter her up to it! ;o) I'm sure you can pull off one fabulous Elmo party though!

  • Kmama

    A Dr. Seuss theme is awesome! But elmo will be cute too, mostly because it makes her so happy!

  • http://twitter.com/HeavenlyMommy Jennifer O.

    My son will be turning 2 on Sept 19th! We aren't doing a big party like last year. I will be buying another fantastic cake though. He's really into Thomas the Train so that will probably be the design.

    That Dr. Suess theme would be amazing! You would surely have to have the couch too. He, he. Seriously though, an Elmo party will be great too. Good luck finding a not so scary one. There has to be some out there somewhere!

  • http://dadarocks.com/ DaDa Rocks!

    for kiddo's second birthday we're doing nothing!!!! just family and cakes thats all! he's two I dont need to buy a pony!

  • http://www.accustomedchaos.com Accustomed Chaos

    I never did a big party for my kids until they were 3 because then they would REALLY get it. I do smaller parties for their birthdays each year but just immediate family. This helps keep me sane because i have a December baby & 2 February babies (9 days apart) & if i had to plan a huge party 10 days before Christmas and then 2 more 9 days apart i would go insane … insane!

  • http://www.unknownmami.com/ unknownmami

    My daughter is turning 2 and our guest list consists of just one grandparent. Don't stress out and happy birthday to your little one.

  • http://www.talesfromthesippycup.com/ Shari@Tales from the sippy cup

    Haha! We are in party planing mode as well! Our little man is turning 2 in exactly 60 days!! I'm totally with you on the guest list. The hubs always want to invite EVERYONE his knows.

    And the hunting down RSVP's…URGH its the worst.

    I wanted to do Dr. Seuss as well…but then just opted for what he really truly LOVES. Balls. Yes, that's right, we've got balls – come party with us!!

    Can't wait to see the pics!!

  • AmAPrincess

    The cat in the hat theme was SOOOO cute! Good luck finding a non-scary Elmo, that doesn't need to be brushed or looks like he hasn't bathed in a month!

  • http://www.complicatedmama.com Complicated Mama

    Yes I have yet to find a non-scary elmo …not sure they exist except for at
    Sesame Place.

    However, I did notice yesterday at 6 flags that she got just as excited to
    see Porky pig, bugs bunny and batman… so maybe if I just get Dr. Suess she
    will be just as excited? lol

  • http://www.complicatedmama.com Complicated Mama

    LOL– and I cant wait to see pics of all the balls at your party !

  • http://www.mommyfriend.com Mommyfriend Lori

    Hahaha, “Non-scary Elmo”. I think the scary Elmo comes from an adult being in the costume, Elmo is supposed to be small and non-threatening. Birthday parties are so very painful, we tend to keep them small, with only immediate family. I thought about organizing a party for BooBoo but once I started making a preliminary guest list in my head, I was at like 50 people just on our street. I can't handle it but bravo to all the parents who do. Maybe next year I'll consider it and start planning early.

  • http://www.mommyneedsavacation.com Rachel- Mommy Needs a Vacation

    We did an Elmo party for Sadie when she turned 2- I just did simple: Elmo napkins ( no scary impersonator!) and pin the nose on Elmo sticky thing from Party City. Keep. It. Simple!