As I have mentioned many times over the years, I LOVE planning for a special celebration. Be it a holiday dinner, a birthday party, or just friends over to watch a game, I am all in for it. As a self-proclaimed spreadsheet addict, I have Google Sheets filled with “to-dos” and party food lists, complete with links to recipes and, of course, Pinterest boards full of fun ideas. When the girls were younger and it came time to plan their birthdays, I was giddy. We would sit down and pick a theme, plan activities, make homemade decor, and menu plan. Of course, we always had to have a themed cake we would make together. They weren’t always pretty but they were fun!
As the girls got older, the birthday planning conversations changed from two girls chatting excitedly to something like this: “What about a mystery party?” “No, thank you.” “How About the Minute to Win It Challenge? Or a Karaoke Party?” “Mom…” “What about…” “I just want to have some friends sleepover.” “Cool! We can do a glamping theme and make…” “Mom, seriously, I just want a plain, simple party with some friends. No theme, no decorations.”
It was at that moment the Price is Right loser horn played in my head. No theme? No decorations? That is when I realized it was not the “stuff” that made it fun for me; it was the time spent planning with my girls. They were growing up and ready for more independence and I just had to accept it. After all, that’s part of our job as parents, right? Creating independence? Plus, knowing she was getting the celebration she wanted was all that mattered (she told herself as she pitifully closed the Glamping Pinterest tab).
On the positive side, a toned-down party was also so much easier on me! While I do love all of the planning, the execution of it all could be a bit much at times. Maybe, as Ashley Elizabeth shares in her feature “Why Keep Birthdays Simple?”, there are much easier and more fulfilling ways to celebrate than wearing yourself out.
Whether you are planning a full-blown party with all the extras or just a simple gathering of friends, you are sure to find some great ideas in this month’s Birthday Party issue! This issue is filled with party planning ideas, local businesses to help with your special event, and, of course, the annual Birthday Party Resource Directory, which is great to keep on hand all year as you plan your celebrations! In the directory, you will find places to host a party, rental companies, entertainment, and more! Also, if your ears perked up when I mentioned a glamping party earlier, you will want to check out Pam Molnar’s feature, Glamping – A Glamorous Way to Host a Camping-Themed Sleepover.
There are always things to celebrate living on the Gulf Coast, and there is no shortage of events celebrating Independence Day this month, so make sure you check out the calendar for a variety of community events. Let’s remember too that we don’t need a birthday or holiday to celebrate life. Grab a cold glass of lemonade and watch the gorgeous sunset as a family, or send a last-minute invite to your neighbors to come over for game night. No frills are needed, just celebrating friendships and fun.
Author: Lynn Knighton
Lynn has called the Mobile Bay area home since 2006 with her husband Brad and their 3 daughters. Following the sale of her Abrakadoodle franchise, Lynn still wanted to serve families and help them thrive. Becoming the Publisher of Mobile Bay Parents was the perfect opportunity. Now she invests into family's lives each month by providing the with the area's #1 go-to resource for moms and dads.
