The Birthday Party Competition

I love birthday parties. Not my own mind you....my birthday is in a few days , and I really don't give a flip about what happens on that day. I love hearing from my family, and any gift is always well received. But, I don't particularly want a fuss made over me. For my girls though I love to plan and budget for a perfect event.

The key word to that though was budget. Because my own personal challenge is to figure out a way to do a completely unique and different birthday party on practically no budget. This is my own personal challenge.....and I love it! My problem is that it feels over the last few years that everyone has made throwing their child a "perfect party" a competition. What became in my mind a personal challenge, had had to be "outdone" by some of the other moms......ARGHHHHHHHH!

Here are some examples (mind You completely different moms in each example)

Our Party
Last year I organized a scavenger hunt. Divided three teams of four girls and one mom in charge of each team. Came up with a list of twenty fun things to do/collect/or photograph all over town, and then we met up at a friends house who loaned me her backyard for a pool party and barbecue. It was fun and cost me hot dogs, chips, and nailpolish in goodie bags.
Competitive Party
This lead to a mom taking all kids out for expensive Libby Lou Party and then out to eat at fancy restaurant and overnight at out of town condo by the beach.


Our Party
Regan had movie night/hotel pool party. I bought all movie tickets using Fandango bucks earned in surveys. Fed the kids on samples at Sams where I bought their candy for the movie theatre. Hotel gave me a deal got two rooms (priceline...and then screw-up). Breakfast and indoor pool included. Total Cost about $70 and that was six kids and another mom. No Goody bags at that party
Competitive Party
One Mom invites double the amount of kids to rent several rooms at same hotel, then pays to keep pool open extra hours, and takes kids out to breakfast (even when provided for free) then takes kids to Build-a-bear the following day

Our Party
Rebecca is given permission (since I am a coach) to have a slumber party at out tumbling gym. Kids get to jump on trampolines til midnight and we organize games. Then I brought TV and DVD and they watch movies til sleep time. I had 30 girls at this party. Food partly supplied by survey groups, and bzz/houseparty stuff. Goody bags were candy. Cost about $35 for food and goodie bags
Competitive Party
Slumber Party at semi-close zoo that lets the girls help feed the animals, take midnight flashlight tours, lots of educational things, and then another breakfast tour.

I think You get the idea. What I consider a fun personal challenge has turned into some bizarre competition (and boy could I list way more examples). Many of our friends have stopped doing birthday parties all together because they felt theirs would not measure up and their child was being judged by the party. It is ridiculous! As I move into birthday party mode for this weekend, I am glad it is only three girls and that they are genuine and good kids, that will not feel the heat to up the ante.

Do you feel like birthday parties have gotten out of hand?