onehotmamafromMI Posted August 30, 2004 Posted August 30, 2004 I just lost my job after taking a week off to help take care of my dying Grandpa. I promised my daughter a birthday party, but since I live week to week on my paycheck and don't recieve child support I don't see any way I can throw her a party let alone give her the one I promised. She has been so looking forward to this party but her B-day is Sept. 15 and even if I find a job there is no way I will have the money by then. How do I let her know there is no way I can give her a B-day party and make sure she understands why or atleast somewhat understand. Please help me or give me a solution. I'm desperate to make this happen for her but I don't know how.
dyermaker Posted August 30, 2004 Posted August 30, 2004 I think you can make an effort to throw a party in your own home, at little to no cost. Instead of buying paper hats, sit down and make some with your daughter. That may sound lame, I can't remember what I did when I was younger--I never remember the actual party being a huge deal. Is she inviting friends? Find activities that don't cost a lot of money, or are free. Borrow a new, kid-exciting video from a friend, and show it at the party. Make pizza bagels instead of ordering pizzas. I've been to a birthday party where instead of an (expensive) cake, a box of ding-dongs were purchased. Each had a candle, and I like those better than cake anyway. If you want to avoid the formal obligation, make it a day party, and spend quality alone time with your daughter when the other kids leave. I don't know your daughter, but try to give her something relating to her interests. Remember that if other kids are coming they'll be bringing gifts too, it's not like she's going to feel gipped. I'm not being hokey, us kids just love attention. You can make her feel special without spending a fortune on her, and she's going to remember the time you spent with her when you were strapped for cash for a lot longer than she'll remember whatever new 40 dollar barbie doll is on the market. You don't need to explain the financial situation, but if your daughter begins to feel slighted, don't take it out on her, just explain to her that you don't have the money right now to buy things--the sooner she learns this the better. I'm sure you've told her something to that effect before--what do you do when you're at the grocery store and she wants everything there? I think my point is that kids just want to feel special on their birthday, and spending gobs of money on them is for parents who don't have the time to do it the right way.
Kizzyfur Posted August 30, 2004 Posted August 30, 2004 I remember we used to go to the lake and have hambergers and hot dogs cooked on the grill for my birthdays. Nothing fancy. Just spending the day with family and friends. I agree with dyer, it's the time you spend with your children that count the most. Then I always just popped the heads off my barbie dolls.
meanon Posted August 30, 2004 Posted August 30, 2004 That's horrid. My daughter is 6 on Sept 11th and I am in the middle of planning her party. Dyer's right though, at this age you can wing it. Do you have close friends who can help? Ask them each to bring some food. Have a picnic, it's more fun and she is less likely to compare it to the other party teas she's been to. Kids love playing out. If you know the weather is good then borrow outdoor toys. Get a book from the library or google for party games to play. Ask one of the other Mums to do face paints. Have a table set out with an art activity. This way your kid will get lots of presents too, which you may not otherwise be able to afford. Some of the parties my children have enjoyed most have been very inexpensive. It doesn't cost a lot to have fun and make them feel special.
tiki Posted August 30, 2004 Posted August 30, 2004 Have a yard sale if you have to! I agree, kids don't need much. But you can get a small cake for hardly nothing. Have a friend or family member help you out financially.
Tracy Posted August 30, 2004 Posted August 30, 2004 It's very doable....you can have a part without much cost, like everyone here has said. I wouldn't even worry about "food". Get a cake mix from the store (just a few bucks) and make it yourself. Have koolaid to drink. Do you have a park in your community? I just threw a party for my daughter at the playground in our community. I wasn't strapped for cash, that's just what she wanted. They will probably preoccupy themselves, but if you want to have something else to do....come up with games like egg toss. These cost nothing. I've searched online for games like this for school parties...there's tons of ideas online!!! Party favors would be the only problem. My girls have been to parties where there weren't any and it wasn't a big deal. Cake, drinks and fun are the main things, which you can handle pretty cheap. You can find a bunch of beads and string to make bracelets pretty cheap...that would take care of party favors and something to do.... Be creative, don't give up without trying to find a way. Do it together.....my daughter would love to help me find a way to make it happen. Now, start searching for ideas
moimeme Posted August 30, 2004 Posted August 30, 2004 When I was 12 or so, my birthday party was a sleep-over. Dinner was boxed mix or tinned spaghetti and french fries and my mom's homemade cake. My friends ranted about that meal for years!!! LOL Kids are pretty easy to please at that age. You could have a make-your-own pizza party using bagels or pitas. The stepkids (6 & 7 at the time) *loved* 'pizzas' I made using tinned pizza sauce, chopped sandwich ham, and grated cheddar! That was it and they loved them so much they even requested them for Christmas dinner!!!!
Author onehotmamafromMI Posted August 31, 2004 Author Posted August 31, 2004 I am really happy about this party now. I think that I will have the kids make their own party hats to wear with all of the kraft items I have around the house. Then we will make bagel pizzas (having the kids put on their own toppings , then go play games at the park in my backyard. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE IDEAS, i FEEL MUCH BETTER NOW!!! please anymore suggestions will be more than welcomed.
Recommended Posts