Birthday party nightmares

by Doodle

It's that time of the year again for me and the fun and games are just about to begin as the 10 girls I have been friends with for the past 6 years try to out do each other in hosting the most terrific and extraordinary kiddies party ever. All of us attended antenatal classes together and so all our little Angels were born with in a few weeks of each other. From the start of autumn to basically the end of winter every second weekend we spend our Saturdays at a birthday party, by the end of winter I am more then happy never to see a slice of Birthday cake again or sing along to Happy Birthday!!!

However there is nothing uncomplicated about these parties any longer, the once easy going uneventful little chin digs that we use to enjoy together with some tasty treats and perhaps a jumping castle or sand pit for the little party goers has now turned into Birthday party Survivor. You are very fortunate if your child's party is one of the first as the bar has not been set as yet and so the pressure is not as crushing as for the poor Mums who have to compete towards the end of the party season.

On receiving one of the first birthday invites the games are officially opened........ Hmmm let's see what we are up against. A beautifully hand written 4 page invite from the Flower Princess of the North, complete with a poem and a point for point schedule of the proceedings for the day... PS: Please come dressed appropriately for the Royal celebration. My son is beside himself with excitement and is counting the sleeps until he goes to the Flower Princesses Birthday party. Saturday morning off we go to the nearest Costume hire to go get him an appropriate little outfit for the occasion. After an hour of trying on and taking off and much persuasion the Prince finally chooses a Royal blue cloak with gold and ruby buttons, matching ¾ pants and of course a crown to complete it. Wonderful we are ready and off to the party we go. I am eager to see what awaits us and I am already starting to picture what we will find in my mind. Knowing this Mums previous birthday celebrations I know we are in for a real treat.

Entering the Kingdom of the north and the Flower Princesses castle I am completely bowled over, I immediately begin to wonder what am I possibly going to do for my 6 year olds birthday that will be able to compete with this!!! The entire house has been turned into a real life castle for the little Flower Princess, equipped with a draw bridge and a moat and of course a red carpet for the guests. Pink and Purple fabric draped from the walls with the Royal Families shield and a huge board welcoming all to the festivities. Each guest has their picture taken in the castle that you can take home with you when you leave. We are lead into a beautifully set up little tea garden with matching pink and purple plates and cups every single little detail has been taken care of right down to the tiny little butterflies dotted all over the garden. Professional musicians gently playing classical music in the background (and I really do mean 3 real life musicians with their violins and flutes) while you enjoy the ever on going feast of treats that have been laid out. The children play games of the times with kiss the frog and riding around on stick ponies trying to win the hand of the Princess. You can hear the Moms chattering as more and more indulgences are brought out. The exhausted Hostess hushes everyone, bringing all the children together and the musicians begin to play Happy Birthday. The loveliest of Castle cake's is brought out with all the embellishments....look out towers, guards, flags and even a little princess on the bridge. The Adults and children alike all completely breathless...the oohs and aaahs are soon followed by the children fighting and tugging over who will have which piece of the castle. Finally the day comes to an end and each little Prince and Princess receives a party pack to take home, enclosed is a Royal certificate, a crown, chocolate gold coins, sweets and chocolates and a key to the castle for the next celebration.......

All the way home each of the Moms begins conjuring up magnificent ideas on what junior's party is going to be like, how to plan one bigger and better so that the now sleepy little Prince does not feel like his party was not fun or lacked all the necessary trimmings!!!! What are they going to hire and just how big can we make that Formula one racing car cake. With the Flower Princesses party lurking each night in the Mums dreams (nightmares more like it), keeping them up into the early hours working on party lists and visiting websites on the most up to date birthday idea's.......dam dam dam that Flower Princess!!!!! The once easy going enjoyable parties that we all use to look forward to with no mess no fuss were now causing the party planning Mums dreadful ulcers and stressing Dads as they heard their bank account being drained...... all for juniors 6th Birthday party!!!