How Much Did You Spend on Your Child’s Last Birthday Party?

I know it wasn’t more than $360,000. We can’t all roll like Daddy Diddy, but as parents we do want to make our children happy, and celebrating a milestone like a birthday with a big party, often means digging deep. But how deep do you dig? My five-year-old is dreaming of a huge bash to commemorate her sixth year of life (which thankfully doesn’t happen for a few more months). She has been begging for a safari-themed party at our local children’s museum. For three hours, up to 20 kids can dine on lion-shaped cake, make toilet paper roll binoculars, … Continue reading

Getting Kids to Listen

Recently overheard “conversation” between a mother juggling her 6-month-old baby and 2-year-old toddler, while her 4-year-old happily frolicked around the parking lot of my daughter’s school: “Lily, get into the van. LILY! Get into the van now. LIIILLLY!!! Stop running around and get into the van NOW! LILY FRANCIS, YOU GET INTO THIS VAN NOW!!! LILY! VAN! NOW! ONE… TWO… LILY… onetwothree… I mean it… GET. OVER. HERE. NOOOOOOOW!!!” Enter another mom, who scoops up the errant child and deposits her into the van that holds a now screaming 6-month-old, an ornery 2-year-old, and a hoarse mother. While you might … Continue reading