1st B-day ~ FREAKING OUT, help..please!!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2003
1st B-day ~ FREAKING OUT, help..please!!
5
Mon, 09-13-2004 - 10:38pm
Okay, so my daughter's first birthday party is on Sunday. That's fine, right? NO....it's going SO downhill.

It's at my mom's apartment because we live like 40 minutes (more for some people) away from everyone and I thought about other people and having to drive all the way up to where we live. So anyway, my mom lives in a duplex type apartment. It's cozy for her, SMALL but that was all okay because it's like Fall here in CT and we can just hang out outside if needbe. Right? Mmmm, NO. Ivan will be spreading itself over CT on Sunday ~ woohoo, lucky us. So, this means there are going to be 30 people in my mother's apartment who might I also add doesn't have AC.

What am I going to do? I'm FREAKING OUT. Literally!!

I mean, I'm completely (almost) over the fact that everybody is going to be talking about how my daughter's first birthday was a complete mess and so not fun, I'm over that. I'm worried about how 30 people are going ot fit in my mother's kitchen and living room and be able to function?


OH MY GOSH....

and BTDT moms with some CALMING advice?? Please!! Even if you have to make it up at this point, anything that'll get me thru this party to celebrate my sweet girl's first year of life....


Tammy (a not so calm mom of 2)

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2004
Tue, 09-14-2004 - 12:07am

I have a small home so maybe some of my ideas could work for you...



  • There's no reason you can't have a party in a small place, as long as you plan ahead. Smaller living spaces can actually make a party feel cozier.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2004
Tue, 09-14-2004 - 2:38am
Wow, well I wish you safety with Ivan coming. Hopefully everything will be ok. I read mommybeetx response, and she had some great ideas! Would it be an option to maybe move the party, to another location in your mom's area? ie Chucky Cheese, McDonalds, BK, bowling alley, any place where they would have AC and something to do for the kids that are coming? Just an idea, but good luck with the party and let us know how it turns out! Don't stress too badly, it will work out ok. *hugs* And you will definitely have a story to tell your dd about her first bday party when she gets older, with Ivan and all. :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Tue, 09-14-2004 - 7:51am
I didn't think about the "not enough room" thing until I saw everyone standing around the kitchen. I had games planned, so the fact there wasn't anywhere to sit wasn't a problem. My ds will be 2 in January and I'm not sure what I am going to do yet. Don't worry it will all work out.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Tue, 09-14-2004 - 9:56am
can you, due to the bad weather approaching, delay the party til the following weekend... you can do something JUST for you and your child ON her bday, and do the family stuff when the weather isnt so threatening.. i am sure everyone would understand. and maybe then, you could hold it at a local park , in a pavilion... and remember..the party is for your child..... not the guests......so just make sure it is the best day for her..and if the others feel put out...... and not comfy.too bad......it's not their day......i always focus the day around my child.....
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2003
Tue, 09-14-2004 - 2:48pm
Sounds like the stress is about the location, not the party, so....change it. I know that it would be a pain to get in touch with everybody and to find a suitable location elsewhere, but it sounds like that might be less stressful than worrying about something that you can do not one thing about all week. Pick a restaurant that is close by, and ask to reserve a back dining room, or some indoor kid activity center. We even had one for our one of our boys at an aquarium, and everyone walked around and looked at fish together, then had lunch/cake at a restaraunt attached later. It was great--the kids got to run around, so they didn't make everybody crazy, and there was no big mess to clean up. Not to mention that with it being away from home, it has a set beginning and end, so you can keep the kiddies on a more normal schedule... After years of these events, and several of my own making, I promise that everyone expects very little for a first birthday LOL! They expect that the baby will cry at the presents, then eat the wrapping paper, and want to wear cake in her hair. If she's awake and actually looking at stuff and doesn't suddenly develop a habit of biting her great aunt on the leg you're doing great lol... Really, it's okay--you laugh when you look back, I promise :)

Anyway, just politely explain to your mom that with the upcoming storm, it would be more comfortable for everyone to meet somewhere cool and dry...and that way she won't have rain soaked feet tramping mud through her condo. Good luck, and don't stress :)