First Birthday

It is my son's first birthday on February 1st. Which, I'm not gonna lie, I am finding a little distressing. My husband laughs at me and says it is a happy thing and I know it is! But He's my BABY! And he's growing up! Sniff!

We were not going to have a party or anything for it because he won't remember, we're a little strapped for cash, and I'm not particularly in the party spirit. It is also my husband's sister's birthday two days after my son's and we always get the family together to go out for a meal so we thought that would do.

Yesterday night my SIL announced that a restaurant would not be good enough for a first birthday because apparently he has to have cake and jelly and a nice party. She was all "Party at mine or yours?" So we said ours because we weren't going to make her host a birthday party for our kid, it seemed wrong.

So now I have less than a week to put together a birthday party that we didn't even want to have and I am feeling a little bit stressed and seriously annoyed. I kind of feel like my in-laws are stepping on our parenting toes a lot and I'm already getting a little sick of it.

So! Rant over (Sorry! Had to get it out!), any cheap/creative/fun/quick party ideas?

Perhaps a game of 'pin the tail on the SIL'? She's the one who more or less pushed you into a party you weren't intending to have and don't have the cash for. It is completely reasonable to view it with the realization he won't remember it anyway.

There's no need for expensive decorations. A pack of balloons from the pound shop should do it. Save the themed decs for when he is older and into favourite characters.

If you don't have it at a meal time, cake and drinks would really be enough, and you can get by inexpensively with tea and coffee.

Hugs to you for the feeling he is growing up too fast! I don't have any of my own, but my nieces and nephews all grew up/are growing up too fast. The oldest was just a baby last week and she will be 21 in September. Enjoy every minute of him.

I don't blame you for ranting! That would be seriously annoying. Perhaps have your husband talk with his parents about their interference? You don't want to let it build up and say something out of anger later on.

Regarding the birthday party, my family (as in extended aunts, uncles, cousins) celebrated everyone's birthday ages 1 to 80. Whoever was hosting served chips & dip, some sort of candy to pick at, cake, tea, coffee, water or soda. We ate that, sang happy birthday and opened the presents or cards in front of everyone and the was end of it.

You're right, your kid won't remember turning one. I certainly don't and there are no pictures to prove a party was even had and I've managed just fine. 

Don't feel pressured to have a party you don't want to have. Not having one won't affect your child.

When my son turned 1, we were still in the States but still across the country from any family. It was just the 3 of us--him, myself and my DH. I made him a cake and allowed him to smash it to pieces, sent the pictures to the relatives via email later on. Other than that, it was a fairly low key celebration. Fine with me!

And Happy Birthday to your little guy. Enjoy! I know how fast they grow. My "baby" just turned 4 last week.  

Ha Ha   My "baby" is 31 on 1 February!!

You should be able to celebrate his birthday (or not) as you see fit.  Trust me, wait til he's 7 and wants to invite his entire class and you have to round up "entertainment" for the little blighters. 

Thanks for your replies! We ended up doing a bit of a circus theme with just a few streamers to give the room a circus tent feel and bunting up around the walls. It was super easy warmed up frozen chips/onion rings/chicken tenders and hot dogs. I did make pretzels and candy floss though which as a big sticky mess Not food I'd actually let the kiddo eat, but good enough for the visitors

I made a 6 layer rainbow cake though, which as probably a bit overboard. It took hours.

Some good came out of the party I guess, I was so worried about everything going well that I didn't have time to panic that My Baby! His Birthday! It's in TWO DAYS! Also it gave me something ne to rant about--who gives someone a sandbox in January! Where in the world are we supposed to put that