my son 1st Birthday....!
By elamel
@elamel (127)
Philippines
March 28, 2010 8:21am CST
my son will be turning 1 year old this coming June. A lot of things change when he came into our life. He make our home happy. He is the living toy in our home.
As his birthday is fast approaching, there's a lot of things or question that comes into my mind. One of that is do i need to give him a big birthday party? or will just go to church to attend mass and have some family dinner out?
one of the reason why i'am reluctant of giving him a party is the budget. We are all suffering from economic crisis.
what about you guys my mylot family, what's your opinion about this.
17 responses
@kcbabez14 (967)
• United States
28 Mar 10
The 1st birthday is always the best party for a child. They might not understand it but they love the attention and the cake! There are always ways to throw a party that will not cost you much. If your really worried about the cost here are some ways that you can have one that will not break the bank.
1. Have a small party. only invite close family and friends
2. Have a pot luck where everyone brings a dish
3. Make the cake yourself (boxed cake mix can run any where from $.89 - $1.05) and frosting out of a can is only about $2-3. But remember to make a cake for everyone and just for your little one. This will be the cake he will smash into.
4. Don't use decorations
5. Have the party at your house or even at a park. Here there will be no cost of renting a place
6. Make the refreshments such as lemonade or koolade instead of buying pop.
7. don't buy plastic forks and spoons or paper plates (only problem with this is that you will be doing alot of dishes!!)
Also one thing that my family has as a tradition for the 1st birthday is how their lives will eventually be. We set a shot glass, rosary, and a silver dollar in front of them and the first one they grab will predict what they will become. Shot glass = substance abuse/won't go anywhere, Rosary = Religious, Silver dollar = rich/fall into money. It's a cute little thing that we do. My son had grabbed the silver dollar on his 1st birthday and my daughter grabbed the rosary and then the shot glass. So my family jokes that she will be a drunk nun (When i actually think she will be a princess because she has the attitude now and wants everything).
i hope this helps you and congrats for his 1 year coming up. Hope everything goes great for what you choose to do!
@myramae19 (667)
• Philippines
29 Mar 10
you seemed really exited!
sure, every parent feels that way. And every parents wish for a big birthday celebration for their child but if the budget won't do for a party, so it's better to be practical, simple family dinner after attending mass is great! happy birthday in advance to your son!
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
28 Mar 10
My heartiest wishes for the little master. Thats his first birthday, well a party is very common. And of economic crisis, i prefer not to have a party, rather go to church to get blessings for the young prince. Go out with your family and have dinner. Happiness from your heart matters for the celebration. So spend your love and happiness that day and go an outing!
@jinjer168 (1596)
• Philippines
28 Mar 10
Hello elamel, are you a filipina just like me? well as a mother like you, i also have this question in my mind everytime my daughter's birthdate comes. She is now 6 years old and with her first birthday, we gave her a bithday party.
With your plan as to attend mass on the date of his birthday, that really is a very good thing to do, for we must thank God for giving us 1 wonderful year to live and ask Him for more days of blessings.
With your concern if you will give him a celebration, you are the one who knows your financial status so it depends with you. If you feel guilty because of economic crisis then celebrate it simply. Advance happy birthday to your baby!
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
29 Mar 10
It is so true that babies are like living toys to us…even now I tell my son (who’s 10+) that he’ll be my living toy forever LOL
I can understand the economic crisis so well…its really a global phenomena and nobody except the privileged class, seems to have been spared. Its very sad but true that last year, when our son turned 10years, (a special occasion) we could not celebrate the way we wanted because of financial crunch.
I don’t think you need to spend this year at least, coz at 1 years he’ll hardly understand what’s the fuss is all about. And then some children don’t take to crowds kindly…so you can keep it to a few close people, the church and a simple celebration.
@sweetgirl_k1 (3972)
• United States
29 Mar 10
I think you should do what you think you can afford. I had my son a birthday party with family on his first birthday. I try to do a birthday party for him each year because he enjoys them and I love watching him be so excited. I know at one year old they don't really understand so you might could do dinner out with family if that is what you want to do.
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
29 Mar 10
He's one year old and will not remember the party by next week! Of course, you shouldn't give a big party. How did parents get roped into trying to outdo everyone else with kid's parties?
Cook a cake, let him destroy it in the presence of family and have a good day.
@verabear (796)
• Philippines
29 Mar 10
Birthday parties are always fun, but you shouldn't have to break the bank to throw one. Since he's just turning one and the party isn't likely to be something he would remember in time, you may want to keep it as simple as possible. Yes, going to mass is a good start, then perhaps a small gathering for dinner. Or, you could invite kids in, but only serve simple meryenda rather than a full meal. Remember, your baby won't have an idea what's happening, and won't have a memory of it after some time. It might be good to reserve money for a bigger bash when he turns two or three.
@much2say (55318)
• Los Angeles, California
28 Mar 10
How exciting . . . happy early birthday to you son! When my daughter turned one, we just had a family get together dinner for her . . . same as we always do every weekend but with added cake and presents - hee hee. It was special to her and just enough. We figured even if we had a gigantic party, she would not remember it . . . so we thought a nice, family setting in which she was comfortable with anyway was perfect for her. So we waited until it was important for her to have a big party . . . this year she turned 5 and wanted a party with her friends - so she had one and enjoyed every bit of it.
Budget wise - yes, I hear you on that one! Like I said, we always had family get together on weekends anyway, so we just added the cake and gifts (small gifts - nothing extravagant from anyone). We had a coupon for a first birthday cake for free at the local grocery store bakery (I guess many stores do that) - and it was just enough. So it is possible to have a nice party without busting out the wallet!
@Ladyslipper (1327)
• Philippines
28 Mar 10
Hi Elamel,
Good day!
For me it does not matter how we will celebrate our child's 1st birthday. As long as you are complete and he is healthy that is enough. There is no need for a really big party unless you have a big budget for that. I just don't agree to those who borrow money just to throw a big party for their children.
My son will be having his first birthday this coming September. We will have a party but I would have to spend on what we have. I'm just planning to invite our friends together with their children. We will have balloons and cake. We will laso have games for the children.
@longbangod (1785)
• Philippines
28 Mar 10
A lot of people really do their best to give their first year old baby a big party, other people even will borrow money for the occasion, but for practical reasons, and in my own opinion its not that important. As long as you prepared something to eat as a form of an offering to God, as thanksgiving for the fruitful year given to the baby. And perhaps going to church to pray for better future for the child in addition to giving of thanks would complete the birthday.
@eloveriz2004 (499)
• Philippines
28 Mar 10
My son's first birthday will be on May 22 and I am so excited for that special day to come. His dad is away from us since he worked in Saudi for greener pasture. I want to give my child the grandest celebration but it doesn't mean I'll spend much for his birthday. I just want him to enjoy on that day with lots of balloons, cake, foods and mascots - I will do everything to make him happy at the right way of spending.
@kucluk (33)
• Indonesia
28 Mar 10
i think you can cooking some food for the family, have a dinner together it will be better than a birthday party. dont forget to teach what the meaning of birtday. is not always must be a party, there are a lot of think you can do to celebration it.
well, maybe it is to earlier but happy birthdays to your son, have a wonderfull birthday. God Blessed you all.