• Home
  • Work with me / About me
  • Disclosure
  • Terms/Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Website Terms & Conditions
  • Contact

Northern Mum

Crossfitting, pancreas acting, single mum to three

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • mail

dont expect an invite….

I have got my best suit out, ironed he who helped create them a shirt and we have both had our weekly bath. We have to look at our best as we are off to see the bank manager tomorrow. Truth is we need a loan, and a substantial one at that. Twin girl and boy turn five in less than seven weeks and they need a party and we need a loan in order to lay one on.

 When did parties evolve from having a few mates round playing pass the parcel wrapped in newspaper to a full on catered affair with entertainment. I had a magician once – it was at my wedding! I had to wait until I found the man of my dreams, get knocked up and force him to marry me before I could have such luxuries but for children it is the norm. Had I have realised five years ago the stress this would cause me not to mention the expense I would have kept my legs crossed a few more months to ensure the birthday didn’t fall right after the bottomless purse event that is Christmas.

I mean, jaysus, its obscene, we have held the ceremonious party in our house a few times but after last year we swore never again. It was a blur of four-year olds racing around my three bed terrace abode screaming just because they like the sound and hitting each other with balloon swords. It took me a good bottle of Oyster Bay (oh yes the good stuff) and he who helped create them a double whiskey to be able to even attempt the clean up afterwards. The dog still whimpers whenever we mention the word party.

Do you know what I did for my birthday this year? Sod all! Well kids threw me a party consisting of them and he who helped create them and a cake which I bought myself but the grand total spent on the event was fifteen quid. We will be lucky with the twins if we come out of it with change from a monkey.

First we have to pay to use the freezing cold hall. Despite the fact that the children running around yelling will act as solar heating therefore saving them money. Then we have to find someone to entertain them as quite frankly the idea of playing musical bumps for two hours bores me. Now these ‘entertainers’ aren’t clowns you know. At the going rate of hundred quid an hour plus expenses they all live in mansions by the sea laughing at us poor fool parents who have not yet realised that applying bad makeup and running round with a feather duster ensures you more return than the current stock market.

Then the food, now here we have a dilemma, do we go for appearances and hand out beautiful sandwiches made on wholemeal, accompanied by carrot and cucumber sticks and hummus and olives. Or do we go for child popularity and head down the pound shop and stock up on e numbers in a bag and slap a bit of Philly between some bread? Either way with the guest list my daughter is currently compiling it will cost the earth.

I have found one money saver, rather than invites I am just going to stick a sign on the school gate saying ‘free childcare for two hours at the hall’ I will presume everyone is coming.

Trust me you don’t want to know my opinion on party bags…………

Comments

  1. Susie @newdaynewlesson says

    December 5, 2010 at 8:43 pm

    I think the big problem is adult peer pressure.

    I used to be one of those who made a really big deal. 5 kids later, I don’t really care what anyone thinks. My kids have learned the value of money and that sometimes you can’t have everything you want.

    I find it so sad that kids now need a big deal, loads of pressies instead of celebrating the day with family in a meaningful way and being appreciative and grateful for whatever gifts they get.

    Wishing you loads of luck!

    Reply
  2. Clare McCarthy says

    December 5, 2010 at 8:55 pm

    I don’t need a party bag as the 2 hours child care sounds great! Plus I know how good you are at party entertainment thanks to the life saver you were at our sumer garden party (one advantage of the drunken christmas party!!!) As always love the posting Clare xx

    Reply
  3. MummyMatters says

    December 6, 2010 at 7:00 am

    I went to a kids party recently in a village hall where the parents had just hired an ‘it’s a knockout’ style bouncy thing and it had only cost £100 to hire. And the kids loved it! I guess it depends where you live but could be worth looking into? Also went to another one where the parents MUST have been teachers. They invited the whole class (about 30) and had different stations set up around the hall with different activites at each station. Arts/crafts, whack a rat with sweetie prizes. Decorating discuits etc. They had approx 15 mins at each station (all in manageable groups) and then food before just having ‘wild time’ to music for last half hour?

    Reply
  4. Liz Fielding says

    December 6, 2010 at 4:42 pm

    Maybe, if you had the courage to abandon the whole party bag nonsense, the other parents would fall on their knees and thank you. You would all, forever, be released from the blackmail and when news leaked out, house prices in your child’s catchment area would rocket.

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      December 6, 2010 at 7:46 pm

      I am not that brave!!!!

      Reply
  5. Kylie Hodges (kykaree) says

    December 6, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    I have palpitations just thinking about kids parties, and boy child is only 19 months.

    Is changing religion to one that forbids birthdays and the celebration thereof justified?

    Best of British, and I think E numbers all the way, if your offering free childcare, make the parents pay with tanked up kids up all night!

    Reply
  6. Debbie says

    December 6, 2010 at 9:50 pm

    I’m with you – although I do still part with the cash every year, whilst grumbling about it. I made the very silly mistake if marrying a man with a birthday in the first week in December and then giving birth to another.
    This year we did football at the local leisure centre. My son and his friends (age 6) loved it and it was stress free for me.

    Reply
  7. Kate says

    December 6, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    I was very lucky earlier in the year as the bloke that runs the kids Sat morning sports activities ran a party for Monkey at the hall. He did it for nothing as he was considering doing parties. I think he’s decided not to – not because he didn’t like doing it cos he did but I think he realised how much it would eat into his weekend and he’s newly married. I gave him some beer in the end and did the food myself.

    Missy Woo saw an entertainer at a friend’s party and he was quite cheap but he was booked. The ones that weren’t – well the price just went up and up. In the end, we decided to go for a local playcentre, an early start so it wasn’t too crowded. have had parties at playcentres before now and that cost me £160, all in bar the cake.

    Local leisure centres are also worth a look;their prices can be reasonable too.

    Reply
  8. andthenallithoughtaboutwasyou says

    December 9, 2010 at 12:16 am

    I feel for you we have done the parties with my niece now the nephew has started, and we have had two at home. They are stressful, very stressful good luck hope you get it all sorted! xx

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Jane is a working Mum of three and has great hair. One of these things may not be true.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 10,117 other subscribers

Categories

  • All Posts
  • BB's journey with DDH
  • Breastfeeding
  • mummyblog
  • Paleo / Crossfitting
  • Reviews / Featured Content
  • Travel / Out and About
  • Twin Girl and Type 1 Diabetes
  • Uncategorized

Tots 100

TOTS100 - UK Parent Blogs
TOTS100

Search

Follow on Bloglovin

Follow on Bloglovin

Previously on northernmum….

Awards!

Tots100 MAD Blog Awards

Looking to Save Money?

Check out my thrify blog, full of ideas to eat and play well  – for less money!

www.fromspendingtosaving.co.uk

Northern Mum

Copyright © 2019 Northern Mum Crossfitting, pancreas acting, single mum to three
Site design with help from DigitalJen

Copyright © 2021 · Slush Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT