I can’t believe I’m doing this. Can. Not. BELIEVE IT.
I’m having my son’s birthday party here. At my house. Hopefully in the backyard. In November in Pennsylvania. Yeah, riiiiiiiiight. It could be 30 degrees or 60 degrees. There’s just no way of knowing.
I swore after C’s birthday last year that I would not ever, ever, EVER have another birthday party in our home. EVER. And it didn’t even go badly. It’s just too much stress and chaos for my delicate sensibilities.
Well. After looking into having D’s party at a sports complex, where they will supply everything and do everything for you, Husband has decided we can do it better and cheaper here.
And the backup plan, in case of inclement weather?
My new, will-have-just-been-finished basement.
AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHH . . .
Nothing like christening one’s brand-spankin’-new carpets with cake and ice cream and 10 eight-year-old boys.
What are your best tips for having a birthday party at home and not losing your mind?
23 Responses
I don’t know any tips yet, but we are in the same boat with little kids. I looked at all the local places to hold a party for that age, and the prices were astronomical compared to having it at home. So we will have it at home. I hope it isn’t freezing too! Maybe the forecast will change to a bit warmer.
I think you need to go back to your scripture from today. It will all be okay. Your carpets will survive.
(Also? ScotchGuard)
hire help.
babysitters, whatever it takes.
No good wisdom here. Just wishing you and your carpet the best of luck. I would say, just RELAX and have low expectations. That will help you enjoy the chaos.
Close your eyes, plug your ears, and don’t think about it at all. 🙂
Just let it happen and clean it up when it is over..
Plan two more activities than you think you need. Seriously. I’ve done the kids parties at home for the past five years, and I always get stuck an activity or two short. Make sure to include a meal (think pizza), if possible, as it kills some time and gives them a breather.
We’ve never been able to find a teen to come help, but my friend has and it made a huge difference.
Good luck! I’ve been trying to convince the kids to have their parties someplace else this year, but they are now conditioned to think that only the cool kids have parties at home…
Chant “focus on their faces, not at the floor” 🙂
You also find a way that they could all play PlayStation – if they are like my boy they won’t move the entire time they are there. he he
I love the http://www.familyfun.com site for ideas. Not sure if they will help not lose your mind… but it sure makes the planning easier!
Drink.
A Lot.
Although, I have not done a birthday party inside, I did host a superbowl party. The only thing I can suggest is–lots of carpet cleaner and spot remover.
DROP CLOTHS!!! Cover those carpets! Somehow make it part of the theme 🙂
Hardly anyone we know has parties at home. My kids have been the rare exception, and all the guests seem to like it. The parents, OTOH, think we’re nuts. But the bar is set way higher around here than we can manage once the kids pass the “cheap roller skating party” age (around 8).
And as weavermom said, video game parties work well for boys at this age. We hosted one. We had them all bring their Game Boys and hosted a tournament. There was also a multiplayer Game Cube tournament going on. 7 years later, kids will still mention the fun they had at that party and it was the easiest party EVER. (And it’s SO easy to make a cake look like a Game Boy!)
I’ve only had 1 party at the house. The kids did great on the carpet. It was the 1 1/2 year old sibling of one child that the parents wouldn’t keep track of. He ended up eating 5 fists full of red icing (off the uneated cake!) then puking not once nor twice but 4 times on my carpet. The father’s response? “That’s what you get for having cream colored carpet.” Grrrrr…
No more at home parties for me! Good luck….
My best birthday-party-at-home-tip-for-NOT-losing-your-MIND would be to leave… 😉
Let them have the party there and whoop it up, who says YOU have to witness the carnage! 😉
No realy though, every time we have a party at our house for the kids I end up saying “that is the LAST party I EVER have at my house” – until the next year that is…sigh. And those parties I only invited our mothers too! 😀
My best birthday-party-at-home-tip-for-NOT-losing-your-MIND would be to leave… 😉
Let them have the party there and whoop it up, who says YOU have to witness the carnage! 😉
No realy though, every time we have a party at our house for the kids I end up saying “that is the LAST party I EVER have at my house” – until the next year that is…sigh. And those parties I only invited our mothers too! 😀
My best birthday-party-at-home-tip-for-NOT-losing-your-MIND would be to leave… 😉
Let them have the party there and whoop it up, who says YOU have to witness the carnage! 😉
No realy though, every time we have a party at our house for the kids I end up saying “that is the LAST party I EVER have at my house” – until the next year that is…sigh. And those parties I only invited our mothers too! 😀
My best birthday-party-at-home-tip-for-NOT-losing-your-MIND would be to leave… 😉
Let them have the party there and whoop it up, who says YOU have to witness the carnage! 😉
No realy though, every time we have a party at our house for the kids I end up saying “that is the LAST party I EVER have at my house” – until the next year that is…sigh. And those parties I only invited our mothers too! 😀
My best birthday-party-at-home-tip-for-NOT-losing-your-MIND would be to leave… 😉
Let them have the party there and whoop it up, who says YOU have to witness the carnage! 😉
No realy though, every time we have a party at our house for the kids I end up saying “that is the LAST party I EVER have at my house” – until the next year that is…sigh. And those parties I only invited our mothers too! 😀
My best birthday-party-at-home-tip-for-NOT-losing-your-MIND would be to leave… 😉
Let them have the party there and whoop it up, who says YOU have to witness the carnage! 😉
No realy though, every time we have a party at our house for the kids I end up saying “that is the LAST party I EVER have at my house” – until the next year that is…sigh. And those parties I only invited our mothers too! 😀
My best birthday-party-at-home-tip-for-NOT-losing-your-MIND would be to leave… 😉
Let them have the party there and whoop it up, who says YOU have to witness the carnage! 😉
No realy though, every time we have a party at our house for the kids I end up saying “that is the LAST party I EVER have at my house” – until the next year that is…sigh. And those parties I only invited our mothers too! 😀
My best birthday-party-at-home-tip-for-NOT-losing-your-MIND would be to leave… 😉
Let them have the party there and whoop it up, who says YOU have to witness the carnage! 😉
No realy though, every time we have a party at our house for the kids I end up saying “that is the LAST party I EVER have at my house” – until the next year that is…sigh. And those parties I only invited our mothers too! 😀
My best birthday-party-at-home-tip-for-NOT-losing-your-MIND would be to leave… 😉
Let them have the party there and whoop it up, who says YOU have to witness the carnage! 😉
No realy though, every time we have a party at our house for the kids I end up saying “that is the LAST party I EVER have at my house” – until the next year that is…sigh. And those parties I only invited our mothers too! 😀
We always have a sleepover for Nine’s birthday. Usually it’s four boys, but we’re lucky because Nine’s birthday is in the summer. They swim, and we get pizza and they have to eat outside. The only snacks we have in the house are like popcorn or something that doesn’t stain. They all just run outside to eat, even breakfast, because they all want to get up and swim.
I guess just try to find things to eat that aren’t messy…or only have cake at the party (not food) and have them eat at the table or outside if possible. If you have an afternoon party, you don’t need to be feeding everyone anyway.
Good luck!!
I have to link back to an old post I wrote for my son’s 8th birthday in May. At the bottom of the post there is an link to an article written by Dave Barry about birthday parties. It is worth the read.
Charlotte
oops it would help to include the link.
https://charadam.blogspot.com/2007/05/happy-birthday-andrew.html
Blame it on my pregnant brain. 🙂
-C