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Happy Birthday to You
(and You and You)!
Strategies for Celebrating Times Two or More
By Elizabeth Lyons
Children's birthday parties are not what they used to be. In the olden days – you know, three or so decades ago – these yearly celebrations were made up of Pin the Tail on the Donkey games and piñatas; cupcakes baked in ice cream cones; little girls dressed in their best smock dresses; and homemade gift bags filled with google-eyed animal erasers and yo-yos for guests to take home. These days, arrive at a birthday party for a 2-year-old and you are likely to find a real donkey or two, a giant jumping dome and a clown who's scaring every possibility for a tantrum-free afternoon out of half the attendees.
It's no wonder that preparing to celebrate a birthday for twins or more can render parents a bit nervous. Don't fear. It is certainly possible to provide a fabulous party without borrowing the inhabitants of a barnyard, permanently traumatizing anyone or breaking the bank.
The occasion of the first birthday is viewed as monumental by most. After all, gone is the era of sleepless nights, waking/sleeping/eating scheduling challenges, the introduction of solid food and possibly weaning off of the formula that's ruined nearly every couch and carpet in your home. While each of these successes provides great cause for celebration, keep in mind that at this age, not only will the babies not remember the festivities, they will likely sleep through them. Therefore, it is my perspective that the first birthday is a fantastic opportunity to throw yourselves – the weary parents – a party (disguised as a first birthday party, of course) to celebrate all that you've survived this past year!
This is perhaps your one and only opportunity to make all birthday party choices in the areas of decorations, food, cake flavor and design, and most important, beverages. So take all the liberties you'd like. Just don't forget to have your camera at the ready so that you can document your children's every moment sleeping, screaming and otherwise happily celebrating.
