Birthdays used to be a simple affair when I was little. A couple of close friends would come over. We’d play some games and dance to music. The evening highlights would be homemade food, unlimited fun and simple gifts. True, nothing like the good ol’ days.
Present day birthdays, however, reel under exotic themes and expensive party planners. I did the customary ‘Royal Ball’ for the princess, on her 6th birthday. A one time affair, that pretty much left a dent in her college education, as my husband puts it. The 7th birthday was round the corner. I couldn’t bear the thought of just another expensive party. I wanted it to be special but I also wanted it to keep it simple. More importantly, I wanted to put in effort and not hire some agency who had no clue what my child was all about. So, I put my grey cells and Google to work.
I decided on having the kids over for the entire day. A first of sorts among her friends. Ambitious, but then again, birthdays are supposed to be celebrated just once a year. I decided to take the plunge. The Princess was a huge Hannah Montana Fan back then. So the theme was thankfully taken care of.
Pink and purple were the colours used for the balloon décor.
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Concert passes became the invites. The invitees had to carry them along to be allowed admission for the party of the year.
Hannah Montana posters adorned the room and the cake, albeit an edible one here.
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The girls sang, danced and put on a rock show. They made bead bracelets and then their own goody bags. Instead of a piñata, I threw down the sweets from the bunk bed. What fun! Yes, by the end of the day, my head was reeling with ‘Party in the USA’ on a loop.
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And finally a custom made song CD and a printed lyrics book (all done on the home computer) became the takeaways. Right from 11 am to 6 pm, I just let them be. The princess was delighted, the girls had a ball and I earned the Super Mom tag.
As a bunch of satiated girls headed home, I realized, things hadn’t changed at all. Kids still loved to simply go out there and be, well, kids. It is the parents who are busy outdoing each other. They, in my opinion, never did grow up. And just as I was lost in my thoughts, my daughter comes and hugs me saying “Mom, this was the bestest birthday ever”.
Did I mention that birthdays 8 &10 were also house parties? The number 9 was done at a local restaurant, as the house was under renovation. Birthday number 11 is around the corner, in two weeks. Yup, you guessed it, IT IS A HOUSE PARTY! Karaoke is the theme. Anyone care to join?
Tally-Ho,
Day 2 of the A-Z Challenge – April 2013
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Comments
One of the parties my daughter attended in India, the party favour cost more than my gift. You are so right – it’s parents trying to outdo each other. Nice post.
I can so imagine Suzy. Sometimes, you don’t know the kid that well to spend a certain amount. So you wander within the acceptable limit which invariably is lesser than the return gift they receive. My daughter came home with a camera once and live pets twice!
A wonderfully planned Bday Vinita.
Can totally understand the Hannah Montana cos my Canadian niece was also stuck for a while with that.
The pics are evidence of all the pains you took and the fun the girls had. Indeed super Mum 🙂
Aabha, all this madness I love to do…..don’t ask me to cook! 😛
You are truly a super-mom! 🙂
Love you loads! And All the very best for the Challenge!
Well, I do have a cape to protect 🙂 love you too!
That’s cool way to celebrate. Yes, it is the parents who are competing for the best party tag. Well, I stay nearby 😉
Thanks Janu. The parents need to be GROUNDED!
And that was pun intended. 🙂
“It is the parents who are outdoing each other”
You couldn’t have put it any better. Then they blame the times, generation yada yada except their own ‘outdoing’ mentality!
That was one show you put up! Throwing down sweets form the bunk bed? Cool! 🙂
Tell me about it Shail. It is a circus, one animal instinct worse than the other. The shoo shaa is such that kid is forgotten in all this.
Yes, I love doing things like these. I hope she inculcates these traits. I know I did, from my mom 🙂
Wow!! A whole day birthday party and that too with such a cool theme… awesome.
Yup, it was quite a hit. Had 2 such parties since then 🙂
I was pleasantly surprised to recently watch a birthday party in progress for a child who lives in the building behind us – they had it all – the lemon and spoon race, the balloons between the legs race…Just like the ‘old days’. The kids seemed to have a lot of fun too. It’s always the parents who compete, really 🙁
I can imagine Corinne. Kids really don’t want it loud….they just want to make the noise 🙂
Yeah, Parents need to grow up – seriously! There is nothing more rewarding than a DIY anything 🙂
You ARE a super-mom! Letting them be for 6 hours? Can’t imagine that now. Sounds like an awesome party.
1. Love the blog name and the allusion in the tag. Loved ZNMD too!
2. Waiting for the rest of the posts. You already have it for “K”!
Meera
Hey cuckoo, they actually left only by 7.30ish….so you can imagine. I was done for. But loved it!
Yes, ZNMD was quite the page turner for so many. Glad you like the blog. Hmmmm K is Kkkkkkkkkkkkiran? 😀
wow! That party itself sounds so amazing! I definitely don’t put up any effort…just home made food and kids running around the park/house! You have wonderful energy!
It was Roshni. I manage coz I also have an only daughter. So just once a year is doable!
Super Mom BlogwatG ! I so prefer house parties to the theme or restaurant ones .. The most important thing is that the kids should have fun and for that you need to do something different and innovative .. and you off course are the queen of innovation !
Thanks Ruchira. I love all this. Don’t ask me to be the ideal bahu and all. Can’t wait for her 11th birthday already!
count me in, count me in for the karaoke party super mom ; advance birthday wishes to your princess. My daughter is 9 years old and I can so relate to this post. You are spot on when u say that kids are kids; it’s only the parents who in their bid to outshine each other fall apart ~ Hugs 🙂
🙂 Will pass on your wishes. This tween age is awesome to experiment. Yup, the parents need a knock on their heads, lol!
Wow you should be a party planner ! 🙂
Anita, been there, done that 😀
Now that was one great idea. But if you follow the advice in the previous comment you will be helping other parents try to outdo each other 🙂
Thanks Suresh. Even if I do, at least the child will enjoy a birthday that s/he likes rather than some rampant Ra-One Theme!
After lookng at the Hannah Montana theme I wud love to join KAraoke
after all mjhe bhi indian idol banne ka mauka milega 😉
and U managed all this urself !!
Hats off Blogwati gee 🙂
I would love to do some thng like this . Good to know that ur princess is also an Aprilite
hv a grt time
Most welcome Afshan. 🙂 Yes, these things bring me joy like no other.
wwoooww you are one helluva super Mom and your little princess is so very lucky … loved the picture of cake and CDs and after all the effort you put in , your little one’s “bestest” party must have been a priceless “return” gift for you 🙂
Yes it was Sri. I think we live for moments like these, don’t we?
I agree with your little princess. You are a Supermom indeed. You had so many little girls over for the entire day and you sent them home with smiles all over their faces. I bet they wish your girl had more than one birthday in the year. Nice post.
They must have Cynthia…..not me. Lol, love the girls as long as they go back to their homes at the end of the day 😛
Loved the pictures! Happy 11th birthday to the Princess in advance 🙂
Show us (your virtual children) some love too. We’re waiting to be pampered! 😉
You come to Bombay na…..will make up, promise….Muah!
Moral of the story, ‘It is the parents who are outdoing each other’.
I loved the idea of the lyrics book.
Happy B’day wishes to your princess in advance. I am looking for another great post on the B’day theme.
and yes it would have been a great experience to be a part of your Karaoke House party,
Thanks, will pass them on Preeti. Drop in anytime 🙂
Loved the karaoke party idea and the Hannah Montana one! All the way from the concept to execution. But it does involve a whole lot of work!
Oh yes, that it does. But then again, anything worthwhile deserves a bit of hard work, right?
You reminded me of good old days when Mom would work in the kitchen the whole day just to make my b’day special. Even the cake was made at home!!!
U r right, even today’s kids enjoy the simplest things but it us who have to show the strength of our money!!!!
Totally Smitha, that is how we celebrated birthdays and I think it is about time we get that back!
hmmm I always believe that It’s not the monek but the heart put into anything that makes it a success. but of course the extra money is always welcome 😉
Money can help, of course. But it can’t replace the effort at all, Meena 🙂
Yes, you can spend all that money on a jumping castle, just for the kids to play on it for five minutes! Sounds like you did a great job for your daughters party.
True that, Rinelle. I did manage to pull it off, yes.
House parties are the best!I remember the ones my mum used to host for me.
Damyanti @Daily(w)rite
Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2013
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
Those, I believe, are the best memories most of us have, Damyanti.
Surprise birthdays, meeting with TV actors and now this! I have so much to show to my mom after knowing your stories of parenthood 😀
Lol, Prateek, she might just turn around and say that you need to be as well behaved as the princess. Just saying 😛
Thanks for the compliment, though.
Ah! Thanks for the heads up! Didn’t think it through 😀
Well, we mothers have all the codes figured 😀
Wow! You are a super cool mom Vinita! This was a lovely idea. I am a Hannah Montana fan myself. Used to watch every episode… yeah yeah I was just in my early thirties then! So if you / your kid knows if they telecast the show on some channel even now, do lemme know 🙂
Sometimes, for old times’ sake, we celebrate New Year’s Eve with samosa, wafers and pav bhaji! It gets so nostalgic and beautiful!
Anuradha, we have the entire CD collection along with a concert. You want them? You will have to ask the boss and be friends with her 🙂
Wow, that’s an amazing party!! I wish I could be that creative and organized. Our princess turns 9 soon, and we’re going to do a pool party at the indoor swimming pool. She’d like a Monster High theme, but I’m not sure I can pull it off at the rec center.
Monster High, eh? I can only imagine. 9 is a wonderful age to be. We had a kaleidoscope theme for 9. Let me know if I can help. Would love to. Birthdays and Weddings are my fav kinda days!
Nice post . All the best . You are very humorous. Loved your control at Indimeet in Mumbai at Times.
Travel India
Ha ha ha Vishal, thanks. Can I introduce you to my husband? Pretty please? He thinks otherwise 😛
That sounds like such fun! I’m not so sure kids really want the glamorous, expensive parties. You did great!
Very true. Kids are kids at heart. Thanks for dropping by.
Holy smokes! I can’t believe all the trouble you go to. But clearly, YOU’RE having a good time!
I love arty stuff Cynthia and DIY is my specialty 😀
I love your post, kids are easier to please than what we adults give them credit for. If you listen to them, you’ll figure out what they want and sounds to me like you did. Well done.
True that TWW. The problem lies in the fact that parents hardly stop to listen……they are busy talking…:P
woww you are the coolest parent ever!!!! awesome 😀