sillygirl

My son's first birthday is Wednesday. We had a party yesterday, and I got thinking afterwards.

We told people not to bother with gifts, that this was more for us as a "yippee" for making it through a full year (although I guess I could very well go crazy in the next couple of days). Besides, the kid's happy with an empty water bottle.

So now I suppose there are two things:

First of all, what are some birthday traditions you all have had, either for yourselves as kids or for your own spawn?


Second, what do you do to teach your kids that presents are great, but they're not *important*? I realize that a one year old won't understand that people are giving him things for a reason or begin to think he deserves gifts for any occasion, but I don't want to raise one of those children. I remember having friends growing up who'd bitch because they didn't get enough presents, or that their gifts didn't cost enough. How do you NOT teach your kid to be like that?

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Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly-Rose Franken
....absence makes me miss him more...

squeeeb

a big tradition in my family for birthdays, and most holidays, was my parents would and make it a pretty horrible event. they would also often forget it was my birthday, once forgetting to pick me up from school, like a movie, it was rather hilarious. this pretty much scarred me against holidays and birthdays for life. this actually worked out in my favor cause now birthdays and holidays are just another day to me and i don't get all stressed at trying to have a perfect one.....i don't care if i get a present, i don't bitch that i don't get anything, and i can't say i miss it....

this might not help you, but it's a thought...you could just downplay the day and the kid wont feel like he is missing out on something or feel he is owed something just because he was born...

for my kid, we would have small parties at the roller rink, or the climbing gym, make it a fun day out, kind of downplay it. as she got older, we toned it down and made a special meal or whatever, got her one nice thing and she seems pretty happy about it all...now, for her birthday, if she goes out to dinner with freinds, she is happy....

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onward to mayhem!

MexicanOnABike

you keep the birthday gifts a great thing if you keep the rest of the year gifts to a strict minimum. I never got toys EXCEPT for on my bday or xmas. so I really enjoyed anything i got even if it was just a hotwheel car, box of legos, etc...

and now, whenever i get something, i'm always so happy whatever it is.

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