Moms you are awesome. You are kind, sensitive and loving beings who build a wonderful playground of a world for your children. You're listeners. You're givers. You're dreammakers. But... and don't take this the wrong way... but you tend to go a bit "overboard" at times.
Whether it's birthdays, a lost tooth or report cards, you prepare and celebrate like it's a royal wedding reception! Us guys, on the other hand, well, fine. We probably downplay it just a tad. Sure, you probably think we're a sloppy bunch of lazy underachievers, but in reality we want our kids to learn that life is cruel and harsh. They don't need a trophy just for making in the potty. Throwing them a parade for getting an A on a report is just going to shoot their ego to the stratosphere.
Think I'm being a bit melodramatic here? Okay, let's break things down:
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Birthday Cakes
Mom's Plan: Spend 27 hours stressing over a complicated Fozzie Bear cake that includes 8 cans of frosting, 6 bottles of food coloring, 3 boxes of Duncan Hines cake mix, and a bag of Kit-Kats, all while her hand is cramping up from decorating Fozzie, making dinner, helping the kids with their homework, and keeping them out of the kitchen.
Dad's Plan: A box of Twinkies and one well-placed candle.
The Tooth Fairy
Mom's Plan: Once little Ryan's asleep, sprinkle "fairy dust" (i.e. glitter) by the windowsill, trailing off to his bed, as well as spending three hours writing a personal poem that's then tucked in an envelope with $10 and gently placed under his pillow.
Dad's Plan: A firm handshake with the kid. "You lost a tooth? Good job."
Report Card
Mom's Plan: Reward Jason with McDonald's for dinner, and a brand-new Wii game for having such a great report card. Stick the report card on the fridge and comment on it every hour, as well as call every known living relative to let them know what a genius your boy has become.
Dad's Plan: Buy the kid a calculator so he can improve his math grades.
Halloween Costume
Mom's Plan: Take some sewing courses, then spend $47 on yellow material, $10 on Styrofoam balls, $9 on stuffing, $40 on brown boots and then start working on the world's craziest Sponge Bob costume, staying up until 3 a.m. for six weeks in a row to get the costume just right, so it'll look perfect and grow with your child. Then on to your second child's costume...
Dad's Plan: Cut a hole in an old white sheet. Boo.
Teacher Gifts
Mom's Plan: For each child's teachers, buy up a slew of Macy's Gift Cards and insert into a custom mug that displays a photo of the child and the teacher, listing the wonderful lessons learned this year. Each mug will contain each individual teacher's favorite candy, and then gently placed in a box that's wrapped with wrapping paper made up of photos of your child studying.
Dad's Plan: Teachers get gifts?
Do you tend to go overboard with your kids accomplishments? Or do you downplay them?
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Comments 70
My SO got me into doing bigger parties for everything. He helps, and everyone loves it! I'm also frugal to the core, so its like a contest for me to see how much I can do with 100$ for each birthday. *that's a personal limit I set on decorations, food, and entertainment* every year, I'm able to do more and more with that little 100$. Last birthday we had:
A princess bouncey house, gift bags for my daughters friends, a buffet lunch, a home-made, but nicely decorated *by me* cake, silly string for all the kids, a small present for my other 3 kids *we do this at each birthday* and we bought a wii new wii game just for the party.
All on 100$
So if that's neurotic, well, maybe Andrew needs to pull the stick out and have some damn fun! You don't enjoy your family much if they're not focused on you, do you Andrew?
The only thing I qualify for on here is going overboard on cake. But I like making nice cakes. I do it from scratch (frosting too) and everyone is always jealous of my mad cake skills. LOL.
It all started when I made a Barbie cake for my older daughter. She wanted one where the cake was the dress...and I couldn't find on in stores. Easy enough, I thought. Then they wanted me to make all their cakes. Whatever.
They get a dollar for a lost tooth, no glitter or poems lol. We buy our Halloween costumes. They can pick whatever they want as long as I don't have to sew it. I can hem things but sewing a whole outfit is a bit much for me. We haven't even gotten to letter grades yet, but when my 7yo brings home a good spelling test (she hates spelling) it goes up on the fridge and she gets a pop or something and a good job. I don't pay my kids for doing good in school...they should be doing that anyways.
I LOVE ANDREW KARDON! BEST BLOGGER AT THE STIR! He is always spot on!
I am much more practical. I believe in KISS Keep It Simple Stupid. I try to plan the most fun for the least amount of money. I do tend to make more things than I buy, but it is usually cheaper and doesn't usually take that much of my time. I also enjoy making things the kids like it better and they know I have put the effort into it instead of just going to the store and buying something.
Aw, SWasson, sorry for us not pretending there are no gender differences waaaah!!! Here's a kleenex.
Oh my gosh, this is so funny! This is so me and my husband!
CLASSIC!!!!!!!!!