Mommy guild avoided

[asauer]

Since we moved into the Mustachian way of life we have seriously cut back on kid birthdays.  We let them have a couple of friends over to play and do cake and presents (they're 9yo). Both kids' birthdays fall near valentines day so we usually make some decorations and turn it into a kind of valentines party.  Then we invite family over for dinner and they get to choose what we make to eat.  We use our "fancy" plates and my husband and I pretend to be servers.

Because of all the ridiculous kid parties we go to, I did have some mommy guilt about our vastly scaled back version.  However, yesterday we celebrated their birthdays in our usual way.  When I was giving hugs goodnight, both of them said "this was my favorite birthday ever!"  It makes me feel so much better but also helps me to remember that kids remember feeling special rather than the $ spent.

[Nickels Dimes Quarters]

Good for you and good for your kiddos!

You are a badass mom -- you should only feel guilty if you (literally) buy in to all the parental crap out there.

NDQ

[Kitsune]

Those are awesome parties, though!

Growing up, our birthday parties were tea parties with elaborate mom-made cakes, and we would invite my grandparents and 1-2 friends. And we loved it. Literally, did that until I was 20 and living far away from home.

It doesn't have to be complicated and expensive, as long as it's fun and the kid feels loved.