Enough things in this thread are cause for alarm, that casual me actually got motivation to join the forum and reply.
1. What the heck do kids have to look forward to if there is an endless line of birthdays on their calendar? I remember waiting for "Jimmy Smith's" birthday, and feeling special because I got to go. I also remember hanging out at the park next to "Jimmy Smith's" place so when he got home from a birthday party we could go bike riding. Both were rewarding in their own way. And yeah, the freckle faced redhead never invited me to her birthday. That was a lesson too.
2. Allergies are on the increase for a couple reasons - first, life is now easier for folks with deadly allergies - they live past 5 years old. Tolerance is way higher than it used to be. But Like vaccinations, people like to feel 'special' and want society to change to suit the one kid at the risk of the herd, so we see the herd developing reactions due to low exposure rates to the allergens and the bubble mentality. Etc. ad nauseum.
3. With regards to asthma - someone posted about a bout of adolescent asthma coupled with eczema. If you have these 2 conditions, I would encourage you to have your heart rhythm checked at your next annual checkup. When in HS, I was running track and having regular asthma bouts, and chest pains intermittently. Eczema was an issue all my life. When I went to a cardiologist to have a 2D Echo done, he identified that a Mitral Valve Prolapse is common on folks with the other 2 conditions and is (was?) considered a genetic trait at the time. IOW, the asthma and eczema may be markers for a heart condition.
4. About gifts - the trend up here among the home-schooled, ultra Christian crowd lately has been to hold a charity birthday. The kids get cards stuffed with money for the SPCA or women's shelter or whatever, or they get supplies for the charities. Its all very nice. I'm looking for a way to get to be socially acceptable for my kids to host College fund top-up parties. I mean, we need the cash more than we need to contribute to the pacific gyre with more plastic crap every 3 months. I have no idea how I convince folks this is a better idea than dropping $20 at Toys R Us.
5. And finally... the birthday party stupid is a good market for you to make money if you are looking for a weekend gig. Sew together a costume and rent yourself out as a character for kids parties. Around here Batman gets about $250 a day. If you don't have that physique, go for Old King Cole at a lower rate. Women really have it made in this niche since "Princess Parties" are all the rage up here right now. Know how to make tea? Got a Goodwill nearby? All you need is a gown and a Tiara and you go teach kids table manners for an afternoon and collect your fee.