Happy Birthday?
By mommy of many. Filed in birthday, children, frustrating, kids, mom |
This has been bothering me and Clay is still away so I can’t talk to him yet. Yesterday a friend of ours who is a single father of 2 and working on beginning a 3rd marriage (we’ve know him through the first 2) dropped off an invitation to his daughter’s 12th bday party. Again I say, his daughter’s 12th bday party. The girls were excited because they know and like this girl. She has been one of their friends for about 8 years now. Well, the party is going to start at 3pm on a Saturday with pizza at a hotel in downtown. Then the girls are to have formal wear for dinner at the hotel, and a swimsuit for swimming there. They are supposed to stay overnight at the hotel and dress for breakfast the next morning (Sunday morning, we go to Liturgy and then the kids have ECF class). I’m just having a hard time with why the standard has been set so high! REALLY?……a 12 yr. old’s party at a hotel, overnight?! What kind of present is expected for a posh event like this? I suppose my $20 bill would just bring looks of scorn from the other girls who will be attending and who’s parents think it’s a wonderful idea to show a daughter how very special she is by throwing this kind of party. Personally I think it’s over the top and unnecessary. What sort of message is it sending to the girls? I’m of the old-fashioned attitude that a bday party should be in the backyard or a park with cake, a pinata and some play time for the kids. A day at the beach is a fine way to celebrate a bday as well. I know I am not going to be popular with my girls for poo-pooing this party, but first of all, Liturgy on Sunday morning with the family needs to be a priority and second of all I don’t think an overnighter at a hotel is a good idea at this age. Once I talk to Clay, maybe they can go and enjoy, pizza, swimming and dinner and then be picked up, but that’s where I draw the line.
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