Monday, February 9, 2009

Kids' party cutbacks send pachyderms packing


Even elephants are having trouble finding work these days.

With all the economic turmoil going on right now, parents who used to throw the elaborate let's-rent-a-whole-circus birthday parties for their children (who sometimes were too young to remember it later on anyway) are cutting back.


"Kids' Parties Take a Pay Cut" (from MomLogic) quoted one mother as saying, "No matter what's going on in the economy, I don't want my children to think that they can't have something as basic as a birthday party."

Really? I'm all for celebrating life's milestones; however, since when are birthday parties "basic" in the same sense as food, shelter, clothing and - perhaps this is where the confusion really stems from - love?

Maybe when we get things sorted into the right categories, we'll be on the way to sorting out the rest of this economic mess too.

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Photos by D'Arcy Norman.

4 comments:

  1. I certainly agree with you, Stephanie.Some years we have skipped having a grand b'day party and chose to instead go to the book store and buy books or some great toys/craft activities instead. I always tell my kids never to take the luxuries for granted and be thankful for all that we have.
    BTW, thank you for your comment on my blog.

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  2. so far, our best bday parties are just family. We've done two big "friend" parties and they ended up stressing Dacey out (and Mama too). I love the casual ease of gathering family to celebrate.

    No elephants required.

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  3. Nithya and Megan: Lots of great ideas! Thanks!!

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  4. great point...and i agree w/ you. we try to keep things simple w/ the kids' parties. and really, the kids are still happy whether or not they get an "extravagant" party or not.

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