Party Planning

Thus far, Maddie's experience with birthday parties consisted of a group of friends playing, the birthday boy/girl opening gifts, and then everyone eating cake and ice cream. Her birthday parties were always low-key. For the last 2 years we had them during our weekly playgroup time. No big deal, but lots of fun.

A couple of weeks ago, we went to a birthday party for a girl in her class. It began like any 4 yo birthday party. The parents were talking amongst themselves, and the kids were running around like the little hooligans they are. The mom of the birthday girl came into the room and said, "If everyone would please come into the other room- the magician is here."

That's right. A magician. Complete with balloon animals, cards, and a top hat. He entertained this group of preschoolers with snot jokes and a fake magic wand for about an hour. Maddie had a wonderful time, but, to my relief, she never mentioned it again.

Until we started planning her party. She suddenly remembered the magician and how much fun she had. I nixed that one, off the top. We settled on inviting some of her friends to Chuck E. Cheese's.

But, apparently, some doesn't mean the same to a 3 yo planning her birthday party. When I asked her who she wanted to invite, she named all 20 kids in her class. She named all of the kids in her former play group. She named kids I have never even heard her mention before.

I sent out invitations. To her old play group members, her best friend, and 3 friends from school. But she doesn't know that.

I'll probably just tell her that the others couldn't come. And they won't be able to, because they won't know about it. Right?

And, realistically, she won't even care. She'll probably be too upset and crying under the table because her mom was too cheap to splurge for a magician. Oh well . . .