Not have a party for my sons first birthday?

[hardin]

I'm not sure what to do. My sons first birthday is next month. I'm not sure if I want to throw him a party or celebrate some other way. First off my parents are divorced. My step mom doesn't really talk to my mom period and is jealous when my father talks to my mother which I don't know why. It's awkward getting them together, not only for them but me. My inlaws are weirdly jealous of of my family. My son is my mil first grandchild and is my moms second grandchild. My mother in law always tries to out do my mother like its a competition and recently I have found out she has been saying things behind my back and getting angry when ever my mom sees my son. Overall, this party is stressing me out, mainly because if getting everyone together and it be all on me. What should I do?

[jerard]

Have 2 parties, one for each side of the family. Keep it simple. A homemade cake, and he can wear a "happy birthday" hat.

We do 2 parties, one during the day (10am to noon is normal playdate time) for our playdate group with lots of kids, and one at night (when hubby gets home from work) with just us and any other family that wants to come. If family is coming in a few days later, we might have a third birthday celebration.

You could do them at 2 different times or on 2 different days. These days more than 1 party is pretty standard.

Do a smash cake. This is a small cake or large piece of cake the 1 year old gets to eat with his hands, smashing it up and making a huge mess. Take lots of pictures of this. By age 2 they are not nearly as messy, so this is the only year you can really do a smash cake. Some 12 month olds won't make a big mess, but most will.

Even when my kids are older we will continue to have more than 1 celebration for their birthday. We will have 1 for friends, and 1 for family. Perhaps 1 at my MIL's place, so her family can see them too since it will be easier for all of them to attend if we go to them. We may also arrange to see my parents 6 hours away the weekend before or after for a celebration with my parents. I'm all for the "birthday week" instead of 1 party.

[macquaid35]

Have a family dinner for each family? Don't do anything at all. If people complain tell them no one gets along and you aren't being paid to mediate.

[mohammed47]

If I were in that situation, I would look at it like this ...

I am celebrating the first year of life of my baby. It is a very happy occasion and would be a birthday party I would always remember, no matter how extravagant or simple. I would not want it tainted by stress or fighting so I would only invite those people who were interested in celebrating it in a positive way. If that means just you and your husband and child, then so be it. If it means you can also invite some friends (possibly ones with kids his age) then that's fine too. If anyone was offended then I would just simply say, I don't want to deal with your bickering and petty drama and I wanted to enjoy his birthday. Until you can all be civil with each other then this is how it will be. You shouldn't need to throw two parties, that is ridiculous.. They need to grow up.

[rickie]

do to different simple birthdays, cheap ones like at the park and the same cake and all so no ones jealous you can invite some friends and maybe a few games, keep it simple maybe you can have a small lunch and a small dinner party just make a plain vanilla cake but then again someone might get jealous because they did not get to see them first but they can get over it. do not stress out stay calm oh and give him small cakes so he does not have a sugar overload. and if people are jealous tell them to leave it is a happy occasion you want your son to have a good birthday.