My twins just celebrated their sixth birthday. Since they were born, I’ve organized a birthday party for them every year. It’s the one occasion (besides Christmas) that they eagerly anticipate each year. We discuss it from the day after their birthday until the next year’s celebration. They’re thrilled about every detail, and we always stick to a budget. It’s not about how much we spend (trust me, it’s not much) — it’s about the lasting memories they’ll cherish, which are truly priceless.
I have very few memories of my mother celebrating my own birthdays, except for my twenty-fifth. For that milestone, she brought along her friends, all in recovery, who showered me with love and my favorite ice cream cake. They sang to me and made me feel special, even if it was a bit awkward since they were my only friends that year. It was a memorable occasion!
As a mother, it’s crucial for me to create memories for my children, and there’s nothing better than celebrating the day they were born. We typically start planning their birthday about a month in advance. My partner and I are last-minute planners but somehow it all comes together, and if it works, why change it?
This year, we asked our children for a list of friends to invite — three each. Once we had their lists, we reached out to parents we had never met (thanks, pandemic) and sent out invites designed on Canva to their kindergarten classmates and neighbors.
The party took place at our local beach, with a “beach party” theme. (Hosting a kid’s birthday party at home is great until it’s time to clean up, which can feel like a teenager’s unsupervised party.) We ordered pizza and cupcakes from my favorite bakery. Let’s be honest, if we’re spending money on the party, the food needs to be enjoyable for us as planners. I may have splurged a bit on the cupcakes, but it was really my treat for bringing them into this world: a delicious piece of cake, or cupcake, rather.
Everyone had a fantastic time, including the parents. We got to socialize, and our kids enjoyed playing outside in the sun with their friends. The truth is, birthday parties don’t have to be pricey to be memorable. Their first birthday was a simple backyard gathering with pizza and an ice cream cake for a small group of family and friends. There was no need to impress anyone; they were just babies. As they’ve grown, we do spend a bit more on their birthdays; this year, they received their biggest gift yet — a Power Wheel to share. But for the actual birthday party, it was mostly free — a venue at no cost, along with cupcakes and pizza, and party favors from the Dollar Store.
Celebrating is free; it’s how we choose to celebrate that can incur costs. The beauty of a budget-friendly birthday party is that there’s no pressure to make it perfect since you didn’t break the bank. And everyone knows that a relaxed host makes for a better party.
Besides my fondness for gourmet cupcakes, our kids’ birthdays are a time for us, as their moms, to appreciate another year together, healthy and happy. We celebrate this achievement because it deserves all the cake and pizza we can enjoy. Create those memories — just make sure you don’t drain your wallet doing it. For more tips, check out this post, this is one of our other blogs posts.
Summary:
Celebrating birthdays doesn’t have to be expensive to be memorable. This article emphasizes the importance of creating lasting memories for children through simple, budget-friendly birthday parties. The author shares personal experiences of planning parties and highlights the joy of celebrating milestones with loved ones. It’s about cherishing moments together without the pressure of extravagant spending.