Comments on: Come to the aid of the party http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/01/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: MN Mom http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/01/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30662 MN Mom Mon, 22 Jan 2007 13:22:49 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/01/19/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30662 I have seen parties of all sorts here. My kids have come home from some parties with $100 of party favors or store gift certificates, and other times it is a handful of candy bars. I think the trend here is for parents to sit back and hire entertainment to keep the kids engaged with minimal effort (a phone call or two) on the parents part. But there is also a concern that one lives up to the standard of what other kids are doing for a birthday party. One mother even brought a facepainter and a storyteller to her children's school room and decorations for the classroom at our school. After that, our school put a moratorium on anything more than just treats. Personally, for a very nominal cost, but a bit of my time - I can bake a cake, decorate my house, make party favors and get supplies for the traditional party games or other actitivities. I think this is really a parent issue of laziness and keeping up an image. And as another writer noted, the kids will suffer with inflated birthday expectations when they are older. I think it is sad that other parents in I have seen parties of all sorts here. My kids have come home from some parties with $100 of party favors or store gift certificates, and other times it is a handful of candy bars. I think the trend here is for parents to sit back and hire entertainment to keep the kids engaged with minimal effort (a phone call or two) on the parents part. But there is also a concern that one lives up to the standard of what other kids are doing for a birthday party. One mother even brought a facepainter and a storyteller to her children’s school room and decorations for the classroom at our school. After that, our school put a moratorium on anything more than just treats.

Personally, for a very nominal cost, but a bit of my time – I can bake a cake, decorate my house, make party favors and get supplies for the traditional party games or other actitivities.

I think this is really a parent issue of laziness and keeping up an image. And as another writer noted, the kids will suffer with inflated birthday expectations when they are older.

I think it is sad that other parents in

]]> By: BettyB http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/01/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30661 BettyB Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:35:30 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/01/19/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30661 I think it is sad to look back and not to be able to remember at least one special birthday. One of my friends just planned an elaborate party for her daughter who turned sixteen. She plans to make at least one birthday really special for each of her three children. I guess I must be the only one who enjoys Chuck E. Cheese parties. It makes me feel better since they stamp the kids hands and check to make sure they leave with the people who brought them. I must admit I actually like their pizza. I think it is sad to look back and not to be able to remember at least one special birthday. One of my friends just planned an elaborate party for her daughter who turned sixteen. She plans to make at least one birthday really special for each of her three children. I guess I must be the only one who enjoys Chuck E. Cheese parties. It makes me feel better since they stamp the kids hands and check to make sure they leave with the people who brought them. I must admit I actually like their pizza.

]]> By: GradSchoolMom http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/01/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30660 GradSchoolMom Sat, 20 Jan 2007 15:33:51 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/01/19/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30660 Expectations. That is the downside of big birthday bashes. I have a feeling that birthdays will be a real downer for these children when they grow up and no one even knows it is their "special" day. Expectations. That is the downside of big birthday bashes. I have a feeling that birthdays will be a real downer for these children when they grow up and no one even knows it is their “special” day.

]]> By: Rory http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/01/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30659 Rory Fri, 19 Jan 2007 19:03:57 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/01/19/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30659 Yes... we dread Chuck E. Cheese also, but what are you going to do, they're our kids and we love them. The worst part of the night is always when the kids discover that 1567 tickets only buys a pencil eraser at the counter. Yes… we dread Chuck E. Cheese also, but what are you going to do, they’re our kids and we love them.

The worst part of the night is always when the kids discover that 1567 tickets only buys a pencil eraser at the counter.

]]> By: Catch Thirty Thr33 http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/01/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30658 Catch Thirty Thr33 Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:52:36 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/01/19/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30658 When I was younger, for my birthday I was assured a pepperoni pizza, having a friend or two over to do whatever, cake (a RARITY in my family, it being run by health nuts), ics cream, and one, MAYBE two, gifts. Oddly, I don't feel the least bit deprived by that experience! When I was younger, for my birthday I was assured a pepperoni pizza, having a friend or two over to do whatever, cake (a RARITY in my family, it being run by health nuts), ics cream, and one, MAYBE two, gifts. Oddly, I don’t feel the least bit deprived by that experience!

]]> By: Darren http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/01/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30657 Darren Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:21:42 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/01/19/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30657 I think the few neighborhood kids and cousins has as much fun at my son’s party last summer on the generic Slip N Slide (less than $10 at Wal*Mart) on the front lawn as they would have had with a reptile petting zoo. One year when I was feeling rather extravagant, I rented a Cessna ($100) and a pilot friend of mine flew my son and me over the area to see the sights (Capitol Bldg, our house, his school, relatives' houses, the mall, etc). Later that day it was snacks in the carport with squirt guns for the neighborhood kids. I think the few neighborhood kids and cousins has as much fun at my son’s party last summer on the generic Slip N Slide (less than $10 at Wal*Mart) on the front lawn as they would have had with a reptile petting zoo.

One year when I was feeling rather extravagant, I rented a Cessna ($100) and a pilot friend of mine flew my son and me over the area to see the sights (Capitol Bldg, our house, his school, relatives’ houses, the mall, etc). Later that day it was snacks in the carport with squirt guns for the neighborhood kids.

]]> By: Joanne http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/01/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30656 Joanne Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:16:31 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/01/19/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30656 Chuck E. Cheese serves the most dreadful pizza I've ever tried to consume in the loudest, most nerve-jangling atmosphere. With a giant rat circulating among the crowd. Chuck E. Cheese serves the most dreadful pizza I’ve ever tried to consume in the loudest, most nerve-jangling atmosphere. With a giant rat circulating among the crowd.

]]> By: Rory http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/01/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30655 Rory Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:11:50 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/01/19/come-to-the-aid-of-the-party/#comment-30655 When we are tight on cash, the birthday child gets to have a friend over and choose what we have for dinner. When we have a little more money, its Chucky Cheese for 4-6 of her friends. When we are tight on cash, the birthday child gets to have a friend over and choose what we have for dinner.

When we have a little more money, its Chucky Cheese for 4-6 of her friends.

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