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 son just had his 1st birthday, & i collaborated with both sets of Grandparents to throw him a fun decorated party in the park. It was a lovely day and there is a water spout area that the kids can play in, we rented a bbq pit area with park benches & had a HUGE spread of food. I had bubble machines blowing which attracted other kids even not with our group. Friends came with their kids & friends came even without kids :D I made cupcakes for the party goers & made my son his own personal GIANT cupcake decorated to look like a monkey. (monkeys were the theme). It was a success & i'm sure we spent well over anything i've ever spent on a party for myself! LOL. but he's totally worth it & i'm already thinking of what we will do for next year! :D
For the most part I'm actually more like the Dad but I know that when it comes to Halloween I go a little CRAZY!
Yes, I've done the awesome cake. I'm guilty of renting the kids' gym with two assistants. I've even reserved an entire swimming pool complete with underwater pictures. However, life, stress, and finances always dictate what we are and are not able to do. When my daughter said the toothfairy gave her friend gold, she got a $1 gold coin and was satisfied. When family isn't available, I plan a friends party. When family will be coming, I plan a barbecue at home or a park. This year I have been overwhelmed with so many ongoing issues, that when my youngest turned 4, my husband paid for pizza to be delivered to her preschool and I bought cupcakes. She was thrilled to have all her friends help her celebrate. My 6-year-old will be turning 7 on the same day we travel home from an out-of-state assignment. We plan to stop along the way and celebrate with family. She said she just wants a "regular party" this year anyway. So, we will have balloons, flowers, dinner, and s'mores. I have been acused of not treating all my kids the same, as though I have to spend a particular amount on each birthday, but guess what...all my kids are different. I believe each child will experience their own special life memories, and they don't all have to have the exact same thing every year or that another kid had. That's life. And if I get too tired or stressed to put in much effort, it's always my husband who says, "So, what's the plan for _____'s birthday." Go figure.
NOt in this house, we are to dang poor to go overboard. Plus I don't think my kid needs all that hoopla to have a good birthday. This year we went into the city (about 2 hours away) and just had a blast at the park. Cost me a total of $50
Birthday cake: cupcakes and I make them do their frosting...they like to lol.
The tooth fairy leaves $1.
A good report or other good behaviors like completing all chores for a week results in a dessert on Friday night. We otherwise don't usually have dessert. Or they can pick two things from the dollar store.
Halloween costumes are almost always bought used or hand- me- downs. I don't have time to spend making them and refuse to buy expensive new ones.
I'm on the boat with teachers get gifts?