I do not care that birthdays mark you as one year older.  I do not care that they mean my kids are older, and closer to leaving the house.  I Do care, however, that they mean parties.  And birthday parties are death.

I am preparing for my daughter’s 6th birthday party.  She’s upset that everyone tells her she looks four, but that’s a different subject altogether. She has chosen a ‘flower’ theme, which could not be more appropriate for 17 degree weather.  So we are pretending it’s Spring, which is kind of fun.

So I just bought all the supplies and what not, and let me tell you, these people are making money hand over fist.  Every teeny little thing, costing $2.49, adds up pretty quickly. 

The questions abound: What to send in the gft bags?  Not too much, and not crappy stuff, since it just  gets tossed in the trash.  I went for little cloth gift bags this year, hopefully the kids will like them and keep them a little longer.

What to do at the party?  How long will each actvity take?  15 minutes or 2 seconds?  And should I have back up activites? 

Who to invite?  And do I have to make cute invitations, or can I just send cards?  I actually did make little flowers for the invite, my first foray into the cutesy.  Normally I do pre-printed cards, but this looked easy, so I did it. 

And so, we are having 8 children, not including my 3.  The gift bags have 3 items in them, and nothing plastic in them, not including the pinata candy. I have 4 activities planned, hopefully with the cake and present opening, I can kill 2 hours.  Hopefully I will survive this ordeal.  I am so having a girls night out when it’s over.

We do have a rule.  Friends birthday parties only when they turn an even number, beginning at age four.  (For heaven’s sake, a one year old does not need a huge party.  A one year old needs a nap.).  Other than that, family parties only.  That way, I only have to endure the madness every other year.

So, I send my plea to you moms: help me stop the birthday party arms race!  Please don’t have huge elaborate parties with clowns, magicians, 3 bouncy castles, and gift bags with game boys in them.  Help me spread the idea that having a small party at your house is normal, acceptable, and even a privilege.  And must we do gift bags?  How many “bad mommy points” do I get if I skip those next time?