Sweet Sixteenth Culture Clash.

There's always something, isn't there?   Our oldest is turning 16 next month and to me, that's the big birthday.  But to my husband and everyone else, 18 is the big birthday.  So, he doesn't feel we should make a bigger fuss than usual when we only have two years til she's eighteen.  But it's her SIXTEENTH.     Funny how some cultural differences you don't even think about till they happen. 

Go on Mindy!  Start making it a big deal!!!!  Insist!

We'll all come to the party! 

I didn't realise what a big deal a "sweet sixteenth" could be until I saw a programme called exactly that on MTV and oh my god! One girl, couldn't find a dress she was happy with, so her mother took her to Paris to find a dress!  She then got a top of the line range rover for her birthday and the party and the 2 dresses (hand made for her) came to over $250,000 * GASP* at 16!

What a nightmare she was, rude, whining, crying when she thought for a moment she wasnt getting the car (her parents were trying to punish her) and she looked like 16 going on 40 once she had all the make up on!

Urgh!

Back to your original statement Mindy - you're right, It's always 18 & 21 that get the special treatment over here and I had never thought of it before now.

Awww, make a fuss. She's half American, too! I had a nice party. No Paris dresses or Land Rovers, but I do remember a big cake and lots of roses (I'm a June b'day).

How 'bout an American themed party or is that too OTT for a 16 year old who probably considers herself English?!

I got a surprise party w/ all of my friends and family. I loved it - best birthday I think of my teens.

I didn't realise what a big deal a "sweet sixteenth" could be until I saw a programme called exactly that on MTV and oh my god! One girl, couldn't find a dress she was happy with, so her mother took her to Paris to find a dress! She then got a top of the line range rover for her birthday and the party and the 2 dresses (hand made for her) came to over $250,000 * GASP* at 16!

What a nightmare she was, rude, whining, crying when she thought for a moment she wasnt getting the car (her parents were trying to punish her) and she looked like 16 going on 40 once she had all the make up on!

OMG!  I've seen that episode!  It's incredible.  There's a bit in it after she doesn't get the car and spends the whole time at the resturant sobbing where she says 'they're totally killing my birthday' in a really whining voice.     That's become our saying whenever we have too much dramatics from the teenagers.  It makes them laugh every time. 

The show is on right now on MTV.  I can't bring myself to watch it!  I grew up with girls like that, no need to remind myself!!!

My birthday is the day after Christmas.  So I didn't have a big 'do'...but my parents made a special cake for me and I got my first 'real' piece of jewelry...the grown up kind.  I still have the watch...it was cool!  I say, go for it.  Even if it's just a small celebration with the family...I think it's important to share all the celebrations of the cultures as she needs to know your side too!

I had this, too, when my son turned 16 last year.  Ended up just funding a big lunch at a local Chinese buffet for him and about a thousand of his closest friends... .  We made a "big deal" at home.

I did get to embarrass him, though, because I had to come in and pay for the meal!

Trying to remember my "Sweet 16"  my b-day, like Liane is after Christmas and right before New Years.  I had a big party at my house.  I got my first camera (Well, first nice camera) A Minolta Maxxum, I still have it! Somewhere.  I got  Jewelry at 18.  Though I already had some nice stuff from my 13th Birthday as well.

I had a 16th filled with teen agnst so to make up for it  I had a kick butt Toga themed 17th party at a recreation center on base complete with a group of friends who played in a band providng the music...

I could have gone without the teen drama of my ex boyfriend showing up, but it was still amazing.  I say go for it Mindy!

I must admit, as one half an Anglo-American couple, I love the idea of the 16th and they get the best of both worlds, 16th, 18th & 21st, I'll be in the US if I have any kids, so it will happen there (if I ever survive it of course!) but I would definitely do it here.

Just no range rovers for my future 16 yr old