4 hours ago
Alright, first let’s wrap up last week’s poll, shall we?
Do you have a Twitter account/ How do you feel about Twitter?
-I do have an account and I love it! - 6 (26%)
-I have an account, don't use it that much - 4 (17%)
-I have an account, but I don't really "get" Twitter - 7 (30%)
-Don't have an account, prefer other social media - 0 (0%)
-Don't have an account, don't understand the point of Twitter - 6 (26%)
Votes: 23
Wow, I was a bit surprised at the results this time! I guess I’m surprised at how many people don’t really get Twitter. But I shouldn’t be, because it took me about two years (?) to understand it. And I’m still not an expert.
Twitter can actually be pretty helpful to bloggers (more so than for the general public, I think), but it is way easier to get into if you have a smart phone. If you have a smart phone and you’re a blogger, you definitely need to give it a good try. No excuses for you!
Any bloggers out there who consider themselves adept at Twitter? Because I think the results of this poll call for a post on understanding Twitter, but I’m not sure I’m the person to write it. But I would love to have you write a guest post for me on the subject. I’m serious. E-mail me at throughcloudedglass@gmail.com if you are interested!
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Okay, on to today’s topic, and the subject of the next poll – first birthday parties.
(From Wyatt’s first birthday party. I just realized that one of the lights in our chandelier was out. Ignore that.)
I’ve been thinking about first birthday parties a lot lately. Maybe because I’m only four months removed from Wyatt’s first birthday party. Maybe because it seems like lots of babyies in the mom-blog world are hitting “One-derland”! Maybe it’s because I still find cute ideas for parties that I pin to my party Pinterest board.
There are some amazing party ideas out there. Seriously. Just search “first birthday party” on Pinterest and take a look at what comes up. It’s hard not to want your own child’s first birthday to be just as fabulous as all that.
The cute themes. The birthday banners. The artfully decorated smash cakes. The highchairs. The party hats/outfits. The food tables. The favors. The guestbooks. The presents.
(Wyatt’s birthday guestbook.)
Anything that can be done for first birthday parties seems to be done these days.
I’m not necessarily saying it’s a bad thing. You all have seen Wyatt’s first birthday party post. You know the effort I put into it, and I had such fun doing it.
But what I’m getting at more than effort is the money that goes into all of this. Or at least the pressure for all the money to go into this.
A few months before Wyatt’s first birthday, I got the catalog in the mail. The first birthday catalog. Filled with tons of decorations, accessories, and pretty much anything you could think of wanting for a party.
I’m sure you all got the same catalog. How do these people get our names, anyway?
Sure, they had a ton of cute stuff in it. But I sat down and added up all the things that you could buy for one party, based on what they were selling in the catalog. And it was a lot of money. At least it was a lot to me, but maybe I have unrealistic expectations about what it takes to throw a first birthday party.
(Cupcakes.)
After I threw Wyatt’s first birthday party I sat down and added up how much I spent on everything, including outfit, decorations, presents, and food. At first I thought what I spent was a lot, but not after looking at the catalog.
And it made me wonder, what is the average amount that is spent on first birthday parties these days? I really want to know.
Because let’s be honest, people, the kids aren’t going to remember any of it. First birthday parties are often more for the parents and family than for the kids, just because of the fact that they won’t remember.
Wyatt won’t remember his first birthday party. I will. But he won’t.
I don’t remember my first birthday party. I like looking at the pictures. It was a circus theme, and I had a cake shaped like a circus train. But that was the extent of it – no elaborate decorations or any of that.
And I looked perfectly happy, thrilled even, with my little party.
And yet it seems like there is all this pressure to have an amazing first birthday party for our kiddos. Probably more so for us blogging/pinning people. And aside from the outside pressure we also put the pressure on ourselves, because who doesn’t want everyone to “ooh and aah” over our creativity?
I know I’m not immune. And I really don’t think it’s bad to spend a bit of money and effort making your child’s first birthday party special.
I just think there should be a balance.
So, in light of that, what do you think is a reasonable amount to spend on a first birthday party? How much would you/did you spend on your child’s first birthday party (including decorations, presents, outfits, and food)?
Tell me below if you feel comfortable, otherwise you can be anonymous and vote to the left! I’m going to leave this poll open a little longer to last through next week, and I'm allowing multiple answers for those of you who have multiple kiddos.
I’ll tell you how much I spent on Wyatt’s party when I do the wrap-up of this poll in a couple weeks!
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