DD 10th birthday tomorrow (school day) - is this “normal”?

[Acunningruse]

For context, I have been stressed with work recently, kids only went back to school yesterday and so I haven’t been as focused on DD’s birthday as I ought to have been. Combine that with social media influencers (I know, comparison is the thief of joy, etc) and I just feel I need a reality check that this is the right level of “special” for a mid-week birthday?

Wake up and do presents
her favourite breakfast (waffles) with a candle in and we will sing happy birthday
go to school- (haven’t got badge or sash- could pick up today?)
birthday tea at home with grandparents (she requested this rather than meal out)
cake and candles

Rather than a party we are going away for the weekend but not for 2 weeks.

just checking it seems special enough? I haven’t ordered the big helium balloons this year as it seems such a waste, we take a picture with them and thsts it. But maybe that makes it special? Aaaargghh

It’s lovely ! I do birthday bunting in the kitchen ( and reuse every birthday) . No sash that’s too much . Maybe a badge but it’s a bit attention seeking . Maybe they just mention it to a few friends at school

Sounds perfect, I cant imagine what else people do. I mean mine never got the weekend away, they would have had a trip to the cinema /day out at the weekend.

Sounds like a great birthday. Hope she enjoys it.

We don't do badges or sashes. Or balloons and banners at home for that matter! (Had a nasty incident when DS10 was 3 when a balloon popped in his face and badly injured his eye. I hate the bloody things now!).

What you have planned sounds lovely and completely fine.

Honestly and kindly you need to get a hold of yourself!
I am assuming this isn't her first school day birthday i mean what else is there to do on a Tuesday morning?

Yup, that’s what always happened with my children when they had a birthday fall on a school day (most of the time, I think I can remember once or twice when one of their birthdays happened to fall on weekend.

My youngest is August born through, so she will never have to go to school on her birthday!

You're thinking of sending her to school in a sash? People do that?

Sounds a really nice birthday plan to me OP.
Why on earth do you think she needs a sash?
Why on earth are you watching Socual media influencers? You certainly don't want to instil in your dd the idea that birthdays should be about the performative nonsense on Social media.
I'm sure she will have a lovely day with what you have planned. So long as you relax and enjoy it with her.

Why is it attention seeking to have a badge on your birthday 🙄 she's only 10 once!!

Sounds lovely @Acunningruse don't listen to party poopers!

Thank you everyone, the reality check I needed! @Bjorkdiditits definitely a thing…

step away from Instagram, that's a perfectly lovely birthday for a 10yr old!

This sounds lovely OP. I agree with you that balloons are a waste of money as well as being terrible for the environment.

The badge and sash sound awful but the rest sounds nice. I can’t think what else you would do!

Oh good heavens - just stop comparing yourself with others. What a lesson for your children!

Mine only got a birthday badge if it came on a card, I didn't purposely buy a badge but a nice breakfast and happy birthdays in the morning was the norm they didn't have a party every year the cinema or a day out with a friend at the weekend, is really normal Op you are doing a weekend away which is lovely.

All sounds great!
My 10 year old always wants a birthday badge, but it seems to be the done thing at his school and he loves a bit of attention 😁You'd know about if it was still the done thing at your child's school.

We did....
One or two presents before school.
School had a birthfay badge.
They were sung Happy Birthday at scgool.
Cake, and presents after school when tjete was time to enjoy them
Plus, from The age of 8/9... a bpuquet of flowrrs not balloons. They loved tbeir special flowers.

When mine were young they always had presents after school. Birthday days were very much for family and the party if they had one was at the weekend.

We used to take cakes/sweets into school (small Primary) but that might not be allowed any more

I hate, hate, hate how ott and showy birthdays have become. And yes there is definitely a competitiveness there too.

Although the trend for ott activities or large parties has died out a bit here now. Its all about "party in the park". Those lucky enough to have summer borns tend to do an after school / trestle table / kids run around parties now. I'm very jealous!! Seems like a very simple and wholesome way to throw a party.

Mine are all winter born (1 a month before Xmas and 2 - who are not twins - in Mid January) so we're always limited by the weather, usually skint and generally just peopled out come January

Mine always get a special breakfast (IE not their usual porride) a dinner of choice (take away or dinner somewhere like Pizza Express where there is a deal on) and something small with a few friends or a family party with cousins the weekend before / after. My eldest took a mate with us to the Science Museum for his last Birthday and then we went for milkshakes. My January kids sometimes have a joint family thing depending on when their birthdays fall or else they have a weekend each but it's always something simple like a few friends over for a movie afternoon.

I do banners, balloons and a badge, we do a cake etc. But it's all very cheap, cheerful and low key. We have reusable banners and my January kids are just few days apart so we rehash the balloons (I go for generic "happy birthday" banners / badges so can use for all of them!)

I always want my kids to feel special and for it to be their day but we don't have the time or money or inclination to go too lavish.

Long winded way of saying your DD day sounds perfect @Acunningruse 😅

Sounds great!
We also did presents and special breakfast- tried to get a card w a badge as they liked ‘showing off’ to their friends (and why not).

Then had a couple of friends back after school for tea and cake, then usually a weekend party.

ignore SM, it’s a load of codswallop!

This is what we do on birthdays in school days. We also give the kids the choice of a party with friends or something more expensive with the family that they want to do, like a theme park or weekend away or a major present. We don’t do both. I think it’s over indulgent to do party and birthday tea and an expensive trip. This year our son chose a really expensive bike. Last year it was Alton Towers. The year before it was a Fortnite laser tag in the forest party with friends. My youngest always chooses something with family and a birthday tea with grandparents where we do the cake and have a few nibbles.

we have a little birthday playlist that is played for every birthday. Stevie Wonder 'happy birthday', Altered Images 'it's your borthday'... can't think of the others but there are only about 5 or 6 songs but it gets everyone cheery!

Adding that people who do those huge balloon arches and photo shoots and it’s all matching colour coordinated and the whole house looks like a wedding coordinator has come in to set it up for a kids birthday are in my opinion slightly insane!

You can get a birthday sash ? I am so getting my sister one of those for her 70th next month, and I will insist she wears it all day !