Birthday Madness…Already
In a couple of weeks my daughter will turn twelve so, naturally, the only thing which has occupied her thoughts for the past month is her birthday. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone get so excited about it and she does this EVERY year. She’s planning, thinking, looking at pictures of cake on the internet, figuring out what she wants, what she wants to have for her special dinner, where she wants to go out to eat after church the following Sunday because it’s the one Sunday of the year which she can choose.
In short, she’s just about driven me crazy with it.
We finally settled on a murder mystery party–age appropriate, of course–and she’s got seven little girls coming over in costume to figure out the crime. It’s set in the 1800’s, so we’ve done up the invitations, complete with the wax seal and have them ready to go today. (Probably should have thought about the 100+ degree weather before that little stroke o’ genius, but… )Â
“Okay,” I said, once the last invitation was ready. “We’re not going to talk about your birthday anymore until it’s here.”
“But what about my–”
“We’re not going to talk about it.”
Pitful, whining, miserable face. “But it’s my birthday!”
“Not. Yet.”
Yes, I am an evil mother. 
August 20th, 2007 at 7:54 am
No. YOu are the good mother because you think about it ahead of time. I’m a notoriously bad planner. And it sounds like fabulous fun — I think I’m going to have to borrow your idea.
August 20th, 2007 at 8:07 am
I have two murder party games in my closet I’ve never used. I just might have 7 friends to play with now! If the one at the retreat goes well, we might have to try it again sometime.
DB starts talking about his birthday 2 days after the last one passes. Me, I’m sitting around the day before mine going - I don’t know what I want!
August 20th, 2007 at 8:38 am
You are a good mother. That’s quite a party. Thankfully, AC is still at the age where Chuck E Cheese is the Best. Party. Ever.
August 20th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Yep, agree with Jen–you’re an amazing mother with excellent planning and foresight! (I’m the evil mother! I put this kind of thing off until it’s too late and we’re left with bad time slots at the kids’ gym or whatever the location of choice is…
Hope you can avoid birthday talk for a while!
August 20th, 2007 at 8:42 am
No, you aren’t evil. You’re just teaching her that life isn’t all about her, something I have to remind my daughter of quite frequently.
August 20th, 2007 at 8:54 am
You aren’t evil! I’m with the rest, I tend to leave the planning to the last minute and end up with horrible time slots at the place of choice.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:17 am
I think you’re doing a great job!! A Murder Mystery Party takes a lot of planning. You should be commended for investing so much time and energy into making her 12th so memorable.
And she can’t help but be excited. She a tween and they get excited about lots of stuff.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Good mom, I wrote my son a check for his last birthday. Keep up the good work, little lady.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Jen, you are welcome to the idea. The best part about it is that it’s cheap.
Andrea, count me in. I’ve always wanted to do this, which is why I’m looking so forward to the retreat.
Kimberly, I remember the Chuck E. Cheese days. Leave the mess there, no clean-up. Sigh… That was wonderful.
Fedora, when your kids get older they won’t let you put it off.
Danniele, I’ve done such a good job of making sure that her b’days are good–because when she’s an adult she’ll be the one organizing everyone else’s stuff–that I’ve created a monster. She *loves* her b’day.
Kira, don’t worry. When Sweet Pea and Baby Girl get a little bit older they won’t let you put it off.
Kathy, you’ve got that right–she does get excited about lots of stuff.
Ginger, I’m sure your son was happy with a check.