I saw on the Today show this morning that a new 'trend' is parents creating registries for their kids' birthdays. At first I was like HELL no! But then I thought maybe that could be helpful? I have no idea what my 1st cousin's 9 year old wants, but I'm invited to every birthday party she has. And if people are going to ask the kids' parents what they want anyway, why not point them to a list?
What do you guys think? Tacky or useful?
Re: Birthday registry?
This is true. I hadn't considered that lol
I find that tacky as hell.
But I also think it's tacky to have huge birthday parties for your kid every year. Sure, a first birthday is a must, and maybe a few for "significant" birthdays. I don't understand why all of the parents' friends/relatives need to be invited every year. I think that the majority of kids' birthdays should be limited to the kids' friends, or at least limited to relatives who are close enough that they know what the kid wants.
ETA: Also, I'm not in love with the lesson you're teaching your kid with that.
So it may not be a major etiquette faux pas, but I'd still side eye it.
I see this all the time from my FMIL who makes cakes for birthday parties. She's a genius and makes GORGEOUS cakes, and people will pay several hundreds of dollars for her cakes, but looking at them I'm thinking "Uhhh...that was an adult party with a kid who happened to have a birthday." Seriously, your 3 year old is not going to appreciate the hours of work my FMIL put into meticulously carving this princess castle from cake.
I'm cool with mom making an amazon wish list for the kid. And if anyone asks, "hey what does bobby want for his birthday?" and pointing them to that said list.
I am not ok with mom giving free reign over the computer and letting the kid go crazy on amazon, toys r us or what have you, and then putting the info on an invitation, spreading the word etc.
There's a right way to do this, and it be less side-eyeable.
As a kid, my mom always took me shopping to pick out gifts for my friends' birthday parties. That was part of the fun of it (even though it wasn't my birthday) and I think it taught some important lessons about giving gifts. That's something I assume I will do when I have kids, too. Ordering something online from a registry is convenient and all, but just not as much fun.
Exactly. I'm helping my sister plan her kid's first birthday party this spring. He likes applesauce and long naps. He seriously does not give a shit about the party theme.
He's not even clued in enough to care that there will be cake. Babies seriously don't care.
THIS. As I've stated in previous posts of mine, I'm COMPLETELY CLUELESS when it comes to kids. If there was an amazon wish list I could utilize, I'd be all about it. I just have a big problem if you announce to me that your kid is registered at amazon, toys r us and build a bear.
NO.
I'm not trying to sound like I had a we-walked-uphill-both-ways childhood, but my birthday parties were like 10 people at a public park. If the weather sucked, we were in my basement. The most popular gifts were Barbies, movies, games, and whatever the hot toy was. Pretty low pressure.
If I had a registry it would have been Nintendo, a skip it, some Polly pockets, and marble tracks.
I think people way over-think, over-invite and over-celebrate these days. Its just a birthday, it'll be around next year.