Kid birthday parties are the worst. There, I said it. And as the school year ramps up, I know that the candy-colored invitations will start appearing in my kids’ backpacks any day now. Admittedly, my kids love birthday parties and the invitations they receive are a kind gesture – especially when manners seem to dictate that a child should invite everyone in their class so as to not leave anyone out. But I counted 25 cubbies in my son’s classroom. 25! That’s a lot of bowling shoes.
You know what else it’s a lot of? Presents. Presents to buy for kids we might not know very well. And if the party is for my kid, it’s a lot of gifts to add to our already massive stash of stuff. First-world problems, I know. But I have found that navigating the world of kid birthday parties can be as anxiety-inducing as trying to get a downtown dinner reservation during Parents’ Weekend.