My daughters' birthdays are almost exactly 1 month apart from each other. I was thinking of having a combination party for them because up until now it has only been close family and friends. My older daughter is now asking about inviting friends from school. I would love to do something small and individual for each of them to celebrate their birthday but I still want to do a big friends and family celebration. Birthdays are huge celebrations in our house so I want to try to make them big and important. Is it possible to do this and 1)not stress out completely :) 2)not break the bank 3)not make anyone feel left out?
Just wondering if you've been in this situation and what you have done?
I don't see why you couldn't invite friends to the family gathering? It's a party after all! Just invite everyone together!!
I have only been on the guest list of a couple of parties for siblings with close birthdays.
Both parties were friends from school, where my daughter was friends with the older sibling and the younger one was not in school yet. We didn't know the younger sibling, but the invitation was stated it was a party for both girls.
It was fine, but felt weird at gift time. Was I suppose to bring a gift for the little one. Was it right not to? Was I really expected to bring a gift for the child we didn't know? Well at this point we knew her name.
So we purchased a gift for the birthday girl we knew and felt the parents should have thought this through and will have to deal with any hurt feelings for not receiving the same amount of gifts.
When the thank you note came around, it said thank you for the ____ gifts, from both girls.
A little awkward, although not the end of the world.
I would give them each their individual party.
No family, combined party.
Let your 6 year old decide what she wants to do on her special day.
Then 1 month later, have a little celebration for your 3 yr old doing something fun you think she would like to do.
When I was a kid, we had to do the BIG family celebrations for our b-day.
Let me tell you...........that was for the parents.
I never got to do what I wanted on my birthday.
The big family celebrations are great for Christmas, summer picnics, Thanksgiving etc.
My daughter is my eldest... and as she has gotten older, she has wanted her OWN b-day party. That means: JUST with her friends. From school and other friends. And that is what we have done. After a time, the whole family gathering type b-day party, was just grown out of. And with friends I have who have kids, I have noticed the same thing. And it is fine. Most people with kids, understand.
My son is the youngest and is 5 now. But this year... I noticed that on his own, HE has asked me, specifically, for his own "big boy" birthday party, and to him, that means JUST his friends. So we will do that for him when he turns 6.
My son and daughter, also have birthdays that are close together. We have never combined them. Each has their own... special b-day party with their own friends and who they want to invite. It is for them. Individually.
We don't break the bank. We like for our kids to have their own b-day party, and with friends they want to invite. We don't leave anyone out. If family etc. ask, we simply tell them, that this year the kids are having their own grown-up b-day party with their friends. No biggie. No one has ever taken it personally. And yes, b-day are huge celebrations. For the child... no matter if there are only 5, or 50 people invited. The quantity of invitees... does not matter nor makes it more celebrated or not.
We do not make 2 parties for each child, one for friends and one for family. It is just, 1 party. For the child and their invited friends.
Well, since your three year old is young enough to not need to invite friends or do something individual, I would recommend still doing a big, joint party for family and family (not school) friends. Both girls can celebrate with this group together, somewhere in between their two birthdays (maybe a little closer to the younger one to make her feel a bit more special). Then, on or around your older daughter's actual birthday, let her choose something special to do with a few friends from school. Hers could be at a special location, like a movie, getting their nails done and going out for dessert, bowling, skating, build a bear, etc. If you don't invite too many kids, the price won't be too crazy. As long as you make the big family celebration special for the little one too, she will feel like she got a party and it's ok that her sister gets a school celebration.
I personally do not think it is a big deal to have 2 parties for the 6 year old. One little party with a few (i mean 6 or less) friends either at home with a simple craft/activity and cake or somewhere budget friendly (park to roller skating).
The next party can be with your family and friends for both girls. In order to cut cost I would say not have 2 parties for the 3 year old. This will be nice for your family and friends (not all adults look forward to 2 separate bounce house b-day parties, but love see the kids grow up, plus I would imagine they would want to give presents for both children and not just the 3 year old.
If you feel it is short changing the 3 year old, then you can even it out down the road. I don't think a 3 year old will know the difference and bring out a calculator pointing out the inequity.
A friend of mine's daughters are almost exactly 2 years apart. We met them when the girls were turning 4 and 6, they are now turning 6 and 8. Each year they host a huge gathering at her father's house (he has a lot of space). They invite everyone in each girls' class, including their immediate family, family friends, and family members. They have several picnic tables set up for the kids to eat at, order tons and tons of pizzas from a pizza place that agrees to give them a deal for buying so many at a time. They have bulk snack foods and veggie and fruit trays, and they make tons and tons of cupcakes. They set up a moon bounce. They also have a toy train thing on the property. The kids either play on the moon bounce, ride the train, play on the swing set, or play with chalk. Everyone has a good time. The main cost is the pizza and the moon bounce, but they enjoy doing the party for both girls at the same time and it is a big event for them.
Keep the 6-year-olds party small and simple...like a sleep-over birthday with pizza and dvds, and then host your family party as usual. The three-year-old can celebrate her b-day with the big family.
