How Does Your Family Spend Your Child's Birthday? - Birthday Parties

sarnjosmom wrote: Curious about how families spend birthday parties! Also, what is the typical expense of a birthday party? I know the McDonalds in my neighborhood is at least $45 for 6 kids, while Chuck E Cheese is at least $60! I have three kids and all of their birthdays are right before and after Christmas!

kit_kats_mom replied: We usually have extended family over for a bbq or something. Keeps it simple and lets everyone see the birthday girl.

sarnjosmom replied: That's really good for when the kids are little ... my youngest is 3 and we still keep it to just family only. My other kids are 5 & 7, though, and they typically want a birthday party with their friends.

kimberley replied: it really depends on the age and when they were born. it is traditional in our family to go all out (rent a hall) for the first birthday. then after that, they are either bbq/house parties or some kind of playland. the first birthday usually costs me $500 but the rest range from $100 for 7 kids to $350 for 12. i have two cold weather babies so we usually get stuck at a play place. i did it one year at home with like 23 kids... never again!! my DD is a summer baby so i am sure she will have quite a few bbq/pool parties

loveydad replied: If its for the older kids we might have some frineds over. Hen just gets presents or a check or whatever and does osmething with his freinds. if its the first birthday we have a big party with all the family. Then until they're 5 or 6 (school age) usually just a small party with the amily, and they get to pic out the theme or where we go.

Today is Andriana's bday

kit_kats_mom replied: I wanted to add that my kids will get 2 "birthday parties" when they are older. I only had two real parties with friends, games, themes etc and all the rest were spent with family and close friends.

I"m guessing one when they are 5-6 and one when they are 9 or 10 and can have sleep over parties.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: For my children we have always gotten in the habit of having 2 Birthday Parties for them. 1 on there Birthday, we celebrate this one with Family and close Family Friends. Then we always have a Party so they can celebrate with there friends. Somewhere like a bowling alley, we've had Emily's at the Museum 2 years in a row now, we've had it an a games place similar to Chuck E Cheese. I always go out of my way to make sure that there Birthdays are Special!

~KARA~ replied: We only invite my family for my dd's bdays. And seeing how I have no "real" friends I dont have to worry about inviting them!
My oldest dd dosent like my dh's family to well but I cant blame her after the way they have treated her and I.

MomofJandB replied: We do 2 birthday parties also! We have a family party and a friend party. Each year it's different. My son's birthday is Nov 11. He will have a Chuck E Cheese party with friends on Saturday and family over at the house on Sunday. As much as I'd like to only have one, I couldn't subject the grandparents to 15 kids at Chuck E. Cheese! Plus, then they get time with their grandchildren in a quieter more relaxed setting!

My DD had a sleepover for her 8th this summer. It was a Saturday night and the family came over on Sunday! That was a mistake...she was way too over tired to handle that!!!

gr33n3y3z replied: I let them pick what they want for dinner on the Birthday day
Then we usually go bowling with family and friends on a Friday or Saturday night and have the cake
It cost about 90.00 for 2 lg pizzas and 2 pitchers of soda and 2 lanes for 2 hours

mama3x replied: I voted "other" because usually the 1st b-day is a biggie then the next couple are just household members. I think I did the Chuck E. Cheese thing when DS was maybe 3-5? I can't remember

We'll see about DD and DS on the way.

Josie83 replied: We can never afford anything much for Cassie's birthday, but she's usually just happy if my sisters (and maybe brothers) come over with my oldest sister's kids, and Jason's brothers come over with his parents. She's got a few little friends as well ans they're usually invited, along with my best friend and her little girl xx

mrshires replied: I have a big problem with this now. We always did something small with immediate family. Now my dh is in the picture, which is great! But my SIL has a daughter 1 DAY older than my dd. My SIL is the type to throw tons of money at her kids, doesn't expect them to pick up after themselves, and doesn't mind when they tell her "NO" and refuse to do something. (My dd will be 5 in Jan, and she knows better )

This makes it really awkward because they always do a HUGE bash for their dd the weekend closest to her bday and spend a fortune. We don't have a fortune, but if I did, I don't know that I'd spend it on a bday party... So this year we're trying to do something with just a few friends and family on the not-already-taken-weekend.

We were thinking most about the bowling.

Sorry for the rant and tmi , but my SIL's "parenting" is just a constant problem in our family!