Would I be a bad mother if I did this for their 3rd birthday..

[lettered olive]

Their 3rd birthday is the day before we leave for our annual family beach week in May. So their b-day is Friday and we leave on Sat. I was considering the idea of not really doing a big party. I thought, ~maybe~ on Friday we can have a big playdate and invite their "friends" for snacks and cake. Or, maybe not! I really really do not want a bunch of new toys they do not need. Not to mention trying to do anything that even remotely involves planning when we are leaving the next day on vacation for a week.

I know that on Sat. we can have a little party for them at the beach... cake, hats, etc plus we will have friends and family there as well. So they will likely get little presents then from their family.

Or I maybe I should just do something later in the month?

I'm just so overwhelmed with the idea of all the toys they might get if we have a party. I thought last year we didn't invite as many people but they still had so many toys. I guess when two children are getting toys at the same time it feels like it is A LOT!

What do you all think?

[rockin_grandma]

:hello: Hi Karen! I don't think it would be bad at all. In fact I think it would be extra-special to have their party at the beach.:cool: Why not just do a private little party at home on Friday with only your gifts to them and maybe some cupcakes. I know what you mean about too many toys! Remember to make lots of pictures... Nicholas and Maddy are adorable! :love:
I hope ya'll have a great vacation :sunshine: and a very happy birthday!

[virginiagirl74]

Nope, Karen, I agree that a beach party would be extra cool! If you do have a "gathering" at your house, just tell the parents no toys, only clothes, crafts, games, whatever would be acceptable. The main thing is to celebrate your kids special day together as a family.

[Nursechic]

I agree Karen, I would just celebrate their birthday on Saturday at the beach. Last year we didn't do a party; just a special dinner with close family. I don't even remember what they got as presents (nothing much, I think money from distant relatives and clothes from my Mom).

There are so many other ways to celebrate their day other than tons of toys. And, it seems that the less toys they have, the more they appreciate the ones they have. For us anyway.

[helene1108]

I agree with the other ladies...a beach party sounds like a great idea! If you're worried about people giving too many presents, you could always tell people "no presents please". We're having a small party for the boys' 1st b-day and I put that on all the invitations b/c honestly they don't need more toys.

[Mom of 5]

Karen, I agree with others who posted. A b-day party at the beach is just fine.

I sure would not be up to having company at my house the day before a road trip and/or vacation. That sounds like just too much stress!

My twins will be four next month, and we're still keeping it small, with just family for the b'day party. There will be plenty of birthdays in the future when they will want to have their friends come to a party. No reason to oblige while they're still too little to know the difference, especially while your focus, and the family focus, is on planning and packing for a beach trip.

I hope you all have a great time, and the kids have a happy birthday!

[jeanie]

im with all the other moms same here. we just went to a very small bday party. four girls and three moms what a delight. pizza cake and the mom had a pinata and jumper was perfect in fact after we left she celebrated her sons birthday too and just changed a few things dip pinata and party favors now theres an idea! have fun whatever you decide. birthdays are overwhelming!!

[meems1965]

Sometimes the best birthdays are simpler ones. We did a big party for our kids FIRST birthdays, then for the 2nd birthdays we just did an outing like go to the aquarium and then come home and have cake just the 5 of us. Then for 3rd birthday we did have a big MY GYM party but for the twins 4th we went to the zoo and came home and swam at home and just ate cake just the 5 of us. so we are kind of doing every other year

of course we dont have any family around here so it is easier becuase no one expects us to have a party