http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1581036,00.html
Interesting read - anyone with kids, particularly in California I am sure, has seen this.
I was just pondering this because I guess a big giant bouncy house is the norm for the 1-4 year old set. I do not get it in the LEAST!!! Sure the boys love going to all these fancy parties with bouncy houses and food galore. But it is just insanity. & the gifts too.
I simply do not play along. In fact, most of the time I specifically ask for no gifts. It has just gotten so out of control. I remember one of my first posts here I Was asking for frugal birthday gift ideas and a few people said I should be more worried about saving up money for my kids' birthdays. Look, the are 1 & 3 - why should I Save up a lot of money to throw a party???? Some favors form ebay and some snacks and pizza just about cover it. Betty Crocker cake or cupcakes make them pleased as punch. & the kids have had some really nice parties. Simple, but nice. The worst is feeding the crowd, and often we just serve appetizers to avoid that.
It's sad that so many people feel so strapped and yet do play along. I guess personally I just don't get it. Was thinking about it because kids just went to yet another super fancy party, and was just invited to one with a bouncy house for a 1 year old. ????? OF course the 1-year-old parties are ALWAYS the fanciest. I am not even sure if we even had one for 1 - LOL.
Often the thought crosses my mind, if this is for 1, um, how do you top this when they are 4, 5, 6... I guess the article alludes to what happens...
Hey my niece got a pony for her birthday - pony rides. YEesh. Just remembered that one - she turned 2.
Interesting read - anyone with kids, particularly in California I am sure, has seen this.
I was just pondering this because I guess a big giant bouncy house is the norm for the 1-4 year old set. I do not get it in the LEAST!!! Sure the boys love going to all these fancy parties with bouncy houses and food galore. But it is just insanity. & the gifts too.
I simply do not play along. In fact, most of the time I specifically ask for no gifts. It has just gotten so out of control. I remember one of my first posts here I Was asking for frugal birthday gift ideas and a few people said I should be more worried about saving up money for my kids' birthdays. Look, the are 1 & 3 - why should I Save up a lot of money to throw a party???? Some favors form ebay and some snacks and pizza just about cover it. Betty Crocker cake or cupcakes make them pleased as punch. & the kids have had some really nice parties. Simple, but nice. The worst is feeding the crowd, and often we just serve appetizers to avoid that.
It's sad that so many people feel so strapped and yet do play along. I guess personally I just don't get it. Was thinking about it because kids just went to yet another super fancy party, and was just invited to one with a bouncy house for a 1 year old. ????? OF course the 1-year-old parties are ALWAYS the fanciest. I am not even sure if we even had one for 1 - LOL.
Often the thought crosses my mind, if this is for 1, um, how do you top this when they are 4, 5, 6... I guess the article alludes to what happens...
Hey my niece got a pony for her birthday - pony rides. YEesh. Just remembered that one - she turned 2.
March 17th, 2007 at 02:58 am 1174100295
March 17th, 2007 at 04:19 am 1174105148
March 17th, 2007 at 04:23 am 1174105418
March 17th, 2007 at 07:48 am 1174117734
March 17th, 2007 at 12:57 pm 1174136277
March 17th, 2007 at 01:33 pm 1174138425
Julie, a bouncy house is one of those inflatable "houses" that kids can enter and bounce around on the "floor." You see them at amusement parks sometimes. They can be rented for parties.
March 17th, 2007 at 02:23 pm 1174141395
March 19th, 2007 at 02:10 am 1174270210
But everyone had a great time, and my cousin wanted to do it. Wish I had been there to eat the great food though! Arrgh.
March 22nd, 2007 at 05:37 am 1174541856