Tori Spelling has posted pictures of her 4-year-old daughter Stella’s birthday party on her website and, well, it’s pretty impressive.
The former 90210 star said she wanted to give Stella “the party of her dreams” and that was a tea-party themed party for 20 that looks a lot like something from the pages of a fairy tale.
Desert tables, fresh flowers, balloons, edible glitter, teacups and saucers and princesses.

Stella's Party
See more images of Stella’s birthday here
Tori wrote on her website: “Stella had strict orders… She wanted her tea party to be all hot pink and purple with pops of yellow. For her dress, I found this amazing (and very well priced) party dress on Etsy.com that you can order in any color tulle. It’s was the perfect blend of fairy couture and princess poof!”
Celebrity party planner and author of “Party Like a Rock Star,” Jes Gordon, spoke to “Good Morning America” about the bash.
“I took a look at Stella’s party and to me that was Stella. It was awesome. Every little detail really described who she is as a beautiful, feminine little girl who loves to host, loves to have a tea party and loves to have fun. You’re showing a lot of love for your kid when you do this.”
The party which was hosted on Tori’s estate may look lavish, but it’s part of a growing trend that sees parents fork out the big bucks to celebrate their little ones special day. It’s even the subject of a new reality show “Outrageous Kids Parties.”
Do you think there’s too much pressure on parents to throw their children lavish parties? If you’re a parent – what do you do for your kids’ parties? Or what did you do for your birthday party when you were a child?





Comments
75 Comments so far
Somehow I seriously doubt that her 4 yr old daughter said “She wanted her tea party to be all hot pink and purple with POPS of yellow”
Thats a party planner talking!!
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that cake is soooo cool.
OTT yes, but amazing
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What happened to McDonald’s kids’ birthday parties complete with melting icecream cake? Aaah they were the days.
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The Maccas where I used to live had a partnership with a local art and craft shop, so you got to go and paint a fairy plaster, and then walk down the road for your Happy Meal and cake
I don’t think they do that anymore, though…
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The dig about Tori’s looks is horribly catty
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I love Tori Spelling. She really seems to love her kids and would do anything for them. Watching her shows always seems to bring me to tears as she speaks with such an honest and unconditional love for all her children. Yes she can be over the top- but Stella’s party was sweet and age appropriate without that bratty Bratz dolls theme. I’m team Tori all the way!
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“You’re showing a lot of love for your kid when you do this.”
PFFFFFFFFFFT.
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The only time I have had a themed b’day party for son was for his 4th. It was a Batman theme, bought all the kids Batman masks, capes, Batman cake, etc. Had it in a park and all the little Batmen went crazy running around, it was great. The last few years have been pool parties, as we have a pool, so they are dead easy, but if he asked for something different would try my best to put together a party to be remembered. BTW he still remembers the Batman one!!
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Yes you should’ve seen the superhero party she threw for her son a few years ago. Unbelievable.
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pictures not working ……. frustrating
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you aren’t missing much….really!!
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seriously? I know mums here in melbourne that hold parties like that for their kids. It seems to be a growing trend, not just for celebrities.
Minus the dress up disney (adult) princesses, usually it is a fairy or magician etc.
We used Millemelise (AMAZING party planning company) for our daughters 4th birthday 4 years ago and people still tell me it was the best party they had ever been to. i did nothing, they organised everything from invitations to cake, entertainment, food the lot and it was in an utterly beautiful surrounding at COMO gardens in South yarra. can’t remeber how much it cost, i think around $30 a head, but this was 4 years ago and i was slightly mad and not on medication at that time
if you look around there are definatly companies who provide this and better, i love a good party and have been known to throw a few, but i’m just a big kid who never really grew up!
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I have several friends who have hired magicians/ clowns/ animal farms/ insect farms for their kids parties. What’s the big deal? The kids love it, the parents love it, WIN WIN. As I see it, I used to spend a lot of money going out for birthday dinners/ drinks before I had my daughter, now I’m home with her more often than not. So I’m saving lots of money in that aspect, why not spend it on an awesome party for the girl I love the most?
Also I used to be a fairy for kids birthday parties, the looks on their little faces when I did my “magic spells” was priceless. You don’t get many of those years, best to enjoy them before they become grumpy teens who don’t want you at their party at all!
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I think it’s cute. It’s not inappropriately lavish… the girl won’t be expecting cars and naked women jumping out of cakes or skywriting for her next one. It’s just very… well, pink! If you have some money to spend on a million pink things for your 4 year old I don’t see why that is a crime if it’s not doing her any harm.
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Talk about Princess Syndrome….
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OTT, yes, but not really compared to the toddler birthday parties being thrown every weekend all over the USA – they go BIG there, and for a big celeb party this actually doesnt seem too bad! Seriously… the parties there are off the charts though of course they are heading that way here too – unfortunately. No kids need all that fluff but hey, the parents do it to impress the other parents so, that’s just how the cookie crumbles and hopefully the kids still get to have some fun in the midst of all the stress about matching napkins and cake pops etc!
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I think its gorgeous. I have a secret and growing adoration for Tori Spelling, I have ended up being a fan of her shows (prior to this I did assume she was a floozy!) and she seems like a truly down-to-earth person, and a loving mother.
She is really into crafting and party planning and is great at small details.
Yes– this party would have cost a lot when you factor in the balloon arch, fresh flowers and bounce house. However, its not what I would call OTT and hideously lavish. I think Tori (“knowing” her, as I do
) would have genuinely done a lot it herself. If you have the money, why not?
Truthfully, I think you’re either a “details person” or you’re not (nothing wrong with either).
I LOVE entertaining (and I am broke!).
I always go to the n-th degree, and it actually doesnt have to cost a bomb. Eg whenever I have people over (or even just one friend) if I’m doing a cheese plate I take all the dips etc out of their packageing, transfer to rammekins, pick some flowers, etc. I’m sure some people think I am nuts and think they have an equally good time dipping crackers into the Swan packet, but at the end of the day I LOVE entertaining and the small details and thats why I do it. So I ‘get’ Tori. And if I had that much money… I would!
Besides the cake. It’s monstrous. But I have a feeling it would be a freebie as the baker has been featured on her show.
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Completely agree. I thought she was just a faulty fake boob bimbo until I too got to know her well through her tv show.
she truly does seem down to earth and a very hands on mum. You only get to throw so many birthday parties for your kids before they get ‘too cool’ for lolly bags and musical chairs so why not make it special. I think her party looked beautiful and not at all ‘lavish’. I would appreciate your flowers and dips in ramekins.
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If this was an average kid in suburban Adelaide, then the balloon arch and bouncy castle plus lavish afternoon tea might be over the top- but it certainly does happen, even here. And for the kid of a Hollywood celeb, I think this is not all that lavish really!
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That party looks beautiful! If I had the money I would do it too and my girl would love it. We had a party in our backyard for her 2nd birthday (nothing like this one) which she adored. She loved the fuss of her, the balloons in the trees, her friends in dresses, the cake. I love parties!
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I adore it. Sounds like my perfect party.
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Forget about the kids, I’d like that for MY birthday party
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Oh i love this idea and it’s only a tea party in the garden which can be as expensive or as cheap as you want!
I love themed parties and have had a go at a couple myself – I did a lego party last time for my little boy – made a cake that were lego brick(from a Donna Hay Kids magazine) and then just themed everything in all the primary colours and borrowed a few of my older sons big yellow lego sorter head and lego to create games like how many legos in the jar etc! It wasn’t expensive and you can get some great ideas online!
Themed doesn’t have to mean expensive!! Plus the internet is full of wonderful ideas that don’t cost the earth!
I’ll be bringing home a little girl (after two boys) next week and would love to do a tea party theme for her birthday as she gets older!
I also think that the comment of “You’re showing a lot of love for your kid when you do this.” relates to the time and effort not the cost!!
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I think it looks gorgeous! I loved throwing my daughters 1st birthday recently and went a bit over the top myself but I don’t regret it, it was a celebration of her turning 1 and us getting through that first year
If Tori or anyone else can afford it, then good for them!!! Everyone is entitled to throw whatever type of party they want without being judged for it.
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Stunning.
If I had the money to celebrate my childrens birthday parties in this way, every year I WOULD!
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Teehee, desert tables…
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Really? This is nothing…the photos are gorgeous. This post is dripping in judgement.
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Totally agree. I actually don’t think this is that OTT. It just looks like a really pretty party for her little girl.
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Me too. Actually considering how wealthy they are it was quite tame. Looking at it, I think most people could do something similar themselves without spending too much money. If you were very dedicated you could even do the balloon arch yourself!
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My MIL is going all out for my nieces 1st birthday. It is a mad hatters tea party, and even my SIL is getting nervous with her plans. She’s constantly on eBay buying props, bought everyone a Disney costume.
(I made the mistake of mentioning going as the Queen of Hearts, she got so excited and now I am in this massive, pouffy dress and she wants to paint the over-the-top makeup on me!)
She’s gotten mismatched chairs from the side of the road, gumtree, even going to buy a door from Bunnings to put at the opening of the garage to complete the theme of going into Wonderland.
Every day it’s “Look what I got for Mia’s party! Only $2/$3/$5!!” It is all going to add up to hundreds. And her birthday isn’t until August.
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Oh dear, watch out for the 10th/18th/21st!
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Oh to be loaded!
Looked beautiful, she did a great job.
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I would expect nothing less from an event coordinator. I’m sure I saw on one of her shows that she organises weddings and parties. She clearly loves doing it. It is over the top for a 4 year old birthday party?….yes, but she can afford it and it obviously gives her and her family much joy.
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I actually kinda got into Tori’s show on Foxtel and to be fair to her, she loves arts, crafts, interiour design and working on events. She has put a book out called ‘Celebatori’ which is full of event ideas, DIY, catering etc. It’s not too bad. Considering she loves a good event and she is no doubt creative, this birthday party doesn’t seem over the top to me. Her father once brought in a snow machine to give her and her brother a ‘white’ christmas in LA- now that’s over the top!
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I don’t know why everyone is so negative about this kid’s birthday party. When you look at it, it is only an outdoors tea party. There may be expensive flowers and tableclothes but apart from that it seems to me to be a low key little girl’s party.
Any parent could do an equivalent to that party for their little girl for a very low cost. Just get some pretty miss matched china cups and saucers from op shops, make food like cucumber sandwiches and scones and little tea cakes. Put up a table outside in the yard with a pretty tablecloth, find some flowers from around the place…some pretty pink balloons on the trees and there you have it.
The little girls could come dressed as fairies for a fairy tea party or just wear party clothes.
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Agree!! I get a fair bit of grief from my friends because my house, my kids’ rooms, parties, etc are all a little ‘martha stewart’ for them. But you know what? I love doing it. It makes me really, really happy. I never spend much on anything, but I love pretty stuff and enjoy planning events (which, I understand that Tori does too). What is the BIG DEAL? If that is where people like to spend their time (and what money they DO have) then why not let them? For those who bang on about how ‘crazy’ it is, I think that says more about them than the other way around. Not everyone does things for a gold star from their peers. Some people actually do things for themselves, and their family. If I tried to impress my friends, I wouldn’t do half of what I do!
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Completely agree! I love throwing lovely parties for my girls. We don’t have much money at all and I scour cheap shops to buy things but when I put it all together, it looks so gorgeous.
And my girls love, but more importantly, I LOVE DOING IT. Each one is a little creative project for me. The planning, the setting up, the hosting. And god knows, as a SAHM mum, I need some projects for myself. To keep my creativity alive, something to focus on, to be surrounded by things that make me happy. Helps ward off the anxiety that I suffer as well.
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COULD NOT AGREE MORE LADIES
Tori Spelling has recently released a book on styling boutque children’s parties which I would say was fueled by her passion of her children’s parties. It looks fabulous! Boutique parties are all the trend now and I say go for it. If you can afford it.. Why not!
I recently did a boutique party set up in a scooby doo theme for my sons 5th bday and he loved it!! You know what, styling a party is a bucket load of fun and was a nice change from the low key life of a sahm lol. The best part? How my sons face lit up when he saw the party set up! He turned to me and said ‘wow mum, you did this all for me?’. Warms your heart
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personally i loved my birthdays where it was simple and just 3-4 friends around played games and mum made us number cakes etc and ive been to one of my gf’s child’s bday parties where there were like 40 kids!! it was too much for me! haha my children will be having just simple bt fun birthday parties
bring on the Women’s Weekly Kids Cake cookbook! haha
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I hosted birthday party last weekend. I was excited by my Women’s Weekly Kids Birthday Cake book and ready to bake. My God…what a failure. It looked nothing like the photo….the bad bit…it was only the number 1. I won’t give up…I’m still gonna try the pool party cake for number 2!
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Lol I did the Hickory Dickory Dock cake last year for my son, for his 3rd I’m attempting the train!
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I’m having a crack at the yellow (in our case, green) racing car this weekend, ugh. Praying to the baking God’s for assistance or I’ll be racing to the shops at the last minute!
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I find their recipe for the cake to be too dry, I add about 1/2 cup of milk extra. And the icing recipes aren’t great. I used a butter icing recipe recently and it was SO much better. I think it was from taste.com
My BFF and I made the train cake easily by buying pre-made chocolate cakes (already iced) from Coles, then decorating them with lollies and chocolate biscuits (for the wheels). It cost about $30 all up and he LOVED it. You don’t have to make it from scratch for them to love it
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I hope those little kids were allowed to run around and play with all of those pinky-pink props and sets. Poor little rich kids can’t help having the parents that they were born to.
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No need to worry. I’ve watched every show of Tori and Dean and while yes it is only a show those kids definitely get to run around and have fun, and be kids!. Their family might be rich and famous but they appear so down to earth. I would love to go to one of their parties, looks like so much fun!
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My little fella had a party on the weekend, I told him he could invite 5 little mates. With siblings (his and theirs (most of his little friends are in single parent families)) we had a considerable tribe of kids here. We have 3 kids bedrooms so I set up a little people village in one room for the little kids, duplo in the other and lego in the 3rd bedroom. I put all the other toys away. I had party snacks on the train table in our family room and at my sons behest we didn’t organise games (he just wanted to ‘play’!). The kids migrated from room to room, and then headed outside to play on our trampoline and in our backyard bushes! A mum commented to me on Monday that she though it was great the kids were just allowed to run outside. He thought his party was really good, and the best part – most of the time I could have spent organising a lavish bash was actually spent cleaning the house afterwards!
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“…You’re showing a lot of love for your kid when you do this.”
Really? So if I don’t do this for my kid then I’m not showing enough love? What happened to good ol’ kisses and cuddles, and unconditional care and love?
What a stupid thing to say.
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I think she meant it’s one way to show a lot of love for your child….not the only way!
Don’t take it too literally.
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Nup I agree. I read that to say (in a guilt inducing way) if you don’t go ott then you don’t love your child ie pay me a lot to do your kids party
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Yup that’s how I took it too.
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First of all, I think parties are great if that’s what the child wants, doesn’t bother me what other people do. I love having parties for my two! I love to see them enjoying themselves and being made to feel special.
But I don’t think saying ‘you’re showing a lot of love for your child when you do this’ is a fair comment. I certainly can’t afford much in the way of parties, especially considering one of my children has a birthday extremely close to Christmas. But we do the best we can with what we have, I don’t think a small scale party (or none at all some years) is a representation of how much we love our kids.
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I certainly can’t afford much in the way of parties,
I think that you could do a version of that party very cheaply. It’s just a ‘tea party’ held out doors. You could pick up cheap miss matched tea cups and saucers from opshops and make food like scones and little cucumber sandwiches. The kids could come dressed up as fairies (or not) and it would be a fairy’s tea party.
It would be a very low key and low cost little girl’s birthday party
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So far my two little guys haven’t shown much interest in tea parties but I do see your point.
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You know, if I had multibucks, I’d throw my kids their dream bashes too. I don’t have multibucks, but still do the bloody best I can. When Miss 13 turned 11 she asked for a disco party. I hired a mirrorball and some flashing lights, loaded a bunch of her cds onto the laptop, got some decent speakers and decorated the family room. One of my darling guy friends came as the surly bouncer, resplendent in black and sunnies, his daughter was our Mocktail waitress – putting food colouring into soft drinks and adding fruit garnishes and umbrellas, my sis in law was in charge of face and body glitter and temporary tattoos, and I was the judgy wudgy door bitch complete with wrist stamp. It was hilarious, and probably cost us maybe $100 in snacks, softdrink and decorations.
All that matters to me is that the cherubs have fun. And if its lavish and over the top – good luck to em!
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That’s a really cool party idea! What a great mum you are
(esp. love the bouncer idea)
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That sounds fantastic… should have hired you for my 30th LOL!
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But if this is what her birthday party is like for her 4th birthday, what is she going to expect for her 21st? Every birthday party from now on will have to be bigger and better than this one or she’ll be disappointed. And we wouldn’t want a disappointed child, would we? If she gets all the bells and whistles for her 4th birthday, by the time her wedding comes around she’ll have nothing to look forward to. She will have been given it all by then.
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Insane. Over the top. Children will be happy with cake (mostly the icing) and a present.
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Don’t think that’s a fair comment. You don’t know what those children will be happy with. Imagine what her LA peer group is like and the parties Stella’s been to. Sounded like Stella was calling the shots from this article anyway.
More broadly, I don’t know any 4yo who don’t want a party of some kind and would be happy with just a cake. I really feel for kids who don’t get a party of some kind to celebrate with their mates. Has happened in our extended fam, and think it sucks!
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I’D be happy with a cake with lots of icing and a present, and I’m 24!
I really do love fondant, as well.
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Noice.
Like the colour theme and the party ideas, but surely someone of that wealth could afford a table cloth!
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Ugh. The vulgarity
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What is wrong with the galleries lately?! They don’t work for me anymore.
Also, yes, this is way over the top for a kids party. But it’s Tori Spelling’s kid, I don’t think regular people vs Hollywood millioniares should be compared.
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Happens to me too, but if I refresh the page a few times it usually comes up again with the clicky arrows! (can you tell i’m really technically minded!?)
hope it works for you too!
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yes refresh! Sorry guys, we’re working on it. I promise!
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Completely off topic, but Lucy, your photo is so pretty! I always think so, but never saw the point in saying as much.
There’s been enough nastypants behaviour of late on MM, feel like saying something nice, just because.
I hope everyone has lovely, earthquake-free days. x
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Day. Made.
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Groan…..I think its all become so competitive and insane.
Kids having lavish parties every year is creating a generation of indulged brats. Kids dont need a lavish party every year and they certainly dont need to invite the whole class. A mum complained to me last week that her daughter wasnt invited to another childs party. I said I thought that perhaps they didnt want to have 20 kids there. She said that was ridiculous because the parents have lots of money, they could afford it! I told her I thought the cost of the party was irrelevant, maybe they didnt want their child having a huge party and receiving 20 gifts. The mum then said that her childs feelings were hurt because she wasnt invited. When I told her that was good because learning to deal with disappointment is an important lesson in life she thought I was being horrible!
The world has gone mad.
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If only there were more parents like you!!
I have a friend who seems to be constantly having themed birthday parties for her kids (she has 3 so I guess every few months is pretty constant).
When I was a kid we were happy with some yummy kids’ food on the table (honey joys, chocolate crackles, jelly set in orange rinds, a bowl of snakes), a few balloons and a some games like pin the tail on the donkey and pass the parcel. A party like that was a m a z i n g ! !
Outdoing the Joneses is definitely creating a generation of indulged brats.
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You will find that if you have a party with
the kids will still have an awesome time. Kids are always kids. Only the parents grow up and start competing.
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Indeed
Perspective has been lost by many!
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Hey Alyssa
jelly set in orange rinds sounds really cute – you will have to message me the recipe!
x
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It only becomes competitive and insane if you ARE competitive and insane.
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Too true! Some people have themed parties because they enjoy it…not because they expect everyone to do the same. I don’t see why people care so much – they don’t have to do any work, and no one expects them to do the same. Just go and enjoy the party!!
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Oh…I don’t know. I grew up in a family with a few kids and while we certainly never lacked for anything, we didn’t go nuts either. There is something magical about completely spoiling a child once in a while. I can’t tell you how much joy and pleasure it gives me to see my child’s face light up on her birthday when seeing the pile of gifts or enjoying cake (which she rarely gets). I love it. Why not bless your kids if you can? You don’t have to spend mega-bucks, but you can make them feel extra-special, something every child cherishes.
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