Your Birthday Parties as a Kid - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 06-03-2007, 10:37 PM

Growing up, my mother would have us invite a few friends, and we'd have cake, ice cream, snacks, party favors and play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. When is was a special birthday, such as the 1st, 5th, 10th, 13th or 16th, my parents would have a bigger party with adults, but still held it in the house.

It seems these days, that kid's birthday parties have turned into a competition. Every kid doesn't have parents who can afford gala events with clowns and ponies.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 06-03-2007, 10:46 PM

You think so? Because your parties sound about the same as the ones I had and went to...but even that was like 8-10 years ago.

Janice · 06-03-2007, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Pleasant Tomorrow*

You think so? Because your parties sound about the same as the ones I had and went to...but even that was like 8-10 years ago.

That's how it seems these days. My husband has eight grandchildren. Their parties are held at bowling alleys, Chuck E. Cheese, miniature golf courses, that sort of thing. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but seems to be the norm. Heck, some years, we'd have a birthday cake after dinner, with no friends, lol.

PZelda · 06-03-2007, 11:20 PM

Ohhhhh wow. I think up until about my 9th birthday (the last birthday my parents were married -- I turned 9 in '94, and my parents separated shortly after that with the divorce becoming final in early '95, before I turned 10), I had family-type birthday parties. I loved these, because I always got a lot of presents.

I do remember I got to have more than one birthday party some years, though... I recall my 7th and 8th birthdays being like that. I had one with my friends, and another one with my family both years. Not in the same day, of course.

From that point onwards, I have to think about it hard. I recall no birthday parties when I turned 10 and 11. When I turned 12, we were visiting family in Denver. So, we had a birthday party for me there and I recall going to a mini-golf course later that night.

My 13th was the ****tiest birthday... Nobody seemed to remember my birthday. I got no presents, either, but I didn't care. It woulda been nice to have had an acknowledgement, at least. And I made quite a few computer screw-ups that day that took a while to fix. Not something I really like remembering.

My 14th and 15th, I spent with friends.

I got a surprise birthday party when I turned 16... it was a family thing, too. nothing really from that time onwards. Since I turned 17, I've always been taken out to dinner. That's fine, and I actually prefer that.

My 21st last year was pretty interesting... I'm sure you can guess what happened at the end of that night.

catlover79 · 06-03-2007, 11:51 PM

Since my mom and I have our birthdays a day apart (Mom's is 9/19 and mine is 9/20) and my dad and brother's are 2 days apart (Dad on 8/12 and my brother on 8/14), there have been plenty of double birthdays in our family, mostly our relatives came to our house and we'd have cake, ice cream and presents!

When I turned 11, I had a birthday party at the local skating rink with all my little friends. At 20, I had friends over to the house for an 80s style party.

Now that some of our closest relatives have passed on or have grown up, our birthdays are limited to the immediate family going out to dinner. Then we go back to the house for cake, ice cream and presents. My brother didn't know what to get me for my last birthday. I told him he could wash and wax my car - and he did! Deeds have become more important than actual material gifts.

Already Gone · 06-04-2007, 08:37 AM

We had small family parties. For milestone birthdays, we had bigger celebrations. I prefer small gatherings. I've never been one for big parties.

Courtnee · 06-04-2007, 03:29 PM

I used to just invite friends over and we'd play in the yard and have cake.

For my 11th birthday I didn't get ANYTHING. Nada. Zip. Zilch. From that point forwards I stopped having birthday parties. Hell, for my 14th birthday, I had to buy my own cake!

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 06-04-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

That's how it seems these days. My husband has eight grandchildren. Their parties are held at bowling alleys, Chuck E. Cheese, miniature golf courses, that sort of thing. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but seems to be the norm. Heck, some years, we'd have a birthday cake after dinner, with no friends, lol.

Ohh, that's what you mean. Yeah, I had a few at bowling alleys and skating rinks...not gonna lie

But not ALL of them.

Ireneparalegal · 06-04-2007, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

That's how it seems these days. My husband has eight grandchildren. Their parties are held at bowling alleys, Chuck E. Cheese, miniature golf courses, that sort of thing. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but seems to be the norm. Heck, some years, we'd have a birthday cake after dinner, with no friends, lol.

We had my son's first three birthdays at home, with family and friends. We had a jolly jumper, barbecue, cake and gift bags. My boyfriend doesn't want to do that anymore, so we had the last two at Chuck E. Cheese. He says it is $$$ well spent since we don't have to cook, clean and organize. All we have to do is go there, greet people, pay for food and take home the presents. I miss the whole birthday party thingy. I understand what he means though. My girlfriend recently had a birthday party for her 4 year old and she was getting ready the day before, the day of the party and the day after she was cleaning her house. It was 3 days of work basically.

When I was growing up, I had great parties. I remember my 6th birthday my mom threw a huge party for me. It was two weeks later that she died.

When I was 7 years old my sister threw me a huge birthday party and lots of my school mates came. I was in ballet school at the time and my cake had a huge ballerina on top with several small ballerinas. I got this beautiful pink, poofy dress. I felt like a princess.

My 15th birthday I had a "coming out" party. It is called a Quincenera. I had this elaborate white dress made. It was gorgeous. I had a church ceremony and a huge party at our home. It is so memorable. My father wore a tux and walked me down the aisle in church. It is a special service with a blessing and mass. I danced with my father, my uncles, my brother...I just had a ball. My father spent so much money on that day and yet, he still bought me a gift...a pearl necklace. I was so stunned. My father was a special man.

Jo_Luvs_Ketchup · 06-04-2007, 09:43 PM

I never had a birthday party.

Ireneparalegal · 06-04-2007, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo_Luvs_Ketchup

I never had a birthday party.

NO WAY!!!!!

That is sad. Why?

Jo_Luvs_Ketchup · 06-04-2007, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

NO WAY!!!!!

That is sad. Why?

Well my sister had parties and I always knew how much they cost, so I just told my mom I didn't want one. In reality, I didn't want anyone to spend that much. Also, I didn't have anyone to invite to those sort of things. I was the loaner lol. But my mom says I'm having this huuuuge bash when I graduate from nursing school

I'm excited for that.

Karen* · 06-04-2007, 10:28 PM

I had big parties pretty much every year till I turned 10. For my 1st and 2nd birthdays, we held it at a local park. Don't remember my 3rd birthday. My 4th birthday, we had it at a restaurant called Toon's (R.I.P.

). That place was MADE for kiddie birthday parties, they had an arcade and a little marching band that would play and sing every time it was time to blow out the candles on the cake. Then every year after that, we'd just celebrate with a lot of people at our house. Although we stopped having them after I turned 10, we had another one in 2002 when I turned 14 to coincide with my mom's 50th birthday (Our birthdays are only three days apart). Now we just find smaller, simpler ways to celebrate my birthday.

Ireneparalegal · 06-04-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo_Luvs_Ketchup

Well my sister had parties and I always knew how much they cost, so I just told my mom I didn't want one. In reality, I didn't want anyone to spend that much. Also, I didn't have anyone to invite to those sort of things. I was the loaner lol. But my mom says I'm having this huuuuge bash when I graduate from nursing school

I'm excited for that.

And you deserve it!!!!!!! congrats!!!!!!!

How thoughtful of you to think of your family's finances rather than expect a huge party. You know how many kids want extravagant parties? Too many. You are a sweet daughter to think of your family first.

Cactus Jack · 06-04-2007, 10:30 PM

All of them consisted of going to the movies. Not surprising eh?

06-03-2007, 10:37 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Your Birthday Parties as a Kid Growing up, my mother would have us invite a few friends, and we'd have cake, ice cream, snacks, party favors and play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. When is was a special birthday, such as the 1st, 5th, 10th, 13th or 16th, my parents would have a bigger party with adults, but still held it in the house. It seems these days, that kid's birthday parties have turned into a competition. Every kid doesn't have parents who can afford gala events with clowns and ponies.

06-03-2007, 10:46 PM	#2
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	You think so? Because your parties sound about the same as the ones I had and went to...but even that was like 8-10 years ago.
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06-03-2007, 11:20 PM	#4
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	Ohhhhh wow. I think up until about my 9th birthday (the last birthday my parents were married -- I turned 9 in '94, and my parents separated shortly after that with the divorce becoming final in early '95, before I turned 10), I had family-type birthday parties. I loved these, because I always got a lot of presents. I do remember I got to have more than one birthday party some years, though... I recall my 7th and 8th birthdays being like that. I had one with my friends, and another one with my family both years. Not in the same day, of course. From that point onwards, I have to think about it hard. I recall no birthday parties when I turned 10 and 11. When I turned 12, we were visiting family in Denver. So, we had a birthday party for me there and I recall going to a mini-golf course later that night. My 13th was the ****tiest birthday... Nobody seemed to remember my birthday. I got no presents, either, but I didn't care. It woulda been nice to have had an acknowledgement, at least. And I made quite a few computer screw-ups that day that took a while to fix. Not something I really like remembering. My 14th and 15th, I spent with friends. I got a surprise birthday party when I turned 16... it was a family thing, too. nothing really from that time onwards. Since I turned 17, I've always been taken out to dinner. That's fine, and I actually prefer that. My 21st last year was pretty interesting... I'm sure you can guess what happened at the end of that night.
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06-03-2007, 11:51 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Since my mom and I have our birthdays a day apart (Mom's is 9/19 and mine is 9/20) and my dad and brother's are 2 days apart (Dad on 8/12 and my brother on 8/14), there have been plenty of double birthdays in our family, mostly our relatives came to our house and we'd have cake, ice cream and presents! When I turned 11, I had a birthday party at the local skating rink with all my little friends. At 20, I had friends over to the house for an 80s style party. Now that some of our closest relatives have passed on or have grown up, our birthdays are limited to the immediate family going out to dinner. Then we go back to the house for cake, ice cream and presents. My brother didn't know what to get me for my last birthday. I told him he could wash and wax my car - and he did! Deeds have become more important than actual material gifts.
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06-04-2007, 03:29 PM	#7
Courtnee MAN VS SAMMICH. Forum Star Join Date: Mar 23, 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 16,413	I used to just invite friends over and we'd play in the yard and have cake. For my 11th birthday I didn't get ANYTHING. Nada. Zip. Zilch. From that point forwards I stopped having birthday parties. Hell, for my 14th birthday, I had to buy my own cake!
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06-04-2007, 08:37 AM	#6
Already Gone Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 31, 2004 Posts: 2,587	We had small family parties. For milestone birthdays, we had bigger celebrations. I prefer small gatherings. I've never been one for big parties.

06-04-2007, 09:43 PM	#10
Jo_Luvs_Ketchup Member Eternal Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 09, 2003 Posts: 4,195	I never had a birthday party.

06-04-2007, 10:28 PM	#13
Karen* paradox. Forum Superstar Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 28,365	I had big parties pretty much every year till I turned 10. For my 1st and 2nd birthdays, we held it at a local park. Don't remember my 3rd birthday. My 4th birthday, we had it at a restaurant called Toon's (R.I.P. ). That place was MADE for kiddie birthday parties, they had an arcade and a little marching band that would play and sing every time it was time to blow out the candles on the cake. Then every year after that, we'd just celebrate with a lot of people at our house. Although we stopped having them after I turned 10, we had another one in 2002 when I turned 14 to coincide with my mom's 50th birthday (Our birthdays are only three days apart). Now we just find smaller, simpler ways to celebrate my birthday.
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06-04-2007, 10:30 PM	#15
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	All of them consisted of going to the movies. Not surprising eh?
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