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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think winter birthdays are more limiting

31 replies

Blablabla1984 · 18/07/2016 12:16

Summer birthdays are more flexible because you can have them outdoors on indoors.

My little one will be 2 a week before Christmas. Last year we had about 15 people over with a big pot of chili in the slow cooker, a pot of rice and a birthday cake. Everyone had a fab time, it was nice to catch up with friends.

What are some other nice indoor things to do at home with friends and family for a winter birthday?

OP posts:
Artandco · 18/07/2016 12:19

It's depends, it's been a wet summer until now so an outdoor party has been luck.

0-5 years - various parties at home, mainly food and family, with a few small children and easy games

5+ years, take a couple of friends to cinema, indoor Rock climbing, skating or similar

MargaretCavendish · 18/07/2016 12:20

Is there a joke I've missed here? Why have you posted this in July?!

TeenAndTween · 18/07/2016 12:20

YABU Smile
Summer birthdays are worse because everyone is away.
Summer birthdays are also worse because you are always young in your years and everyone else gets to do stuff 'before' you.
When your LO is at school, just do the party early December in a nice indoor place.

MsWorthington · 18/07/2016 12:23

DDs birthday is two days before Christmas, we don't tend to do 'at home' birthdays, instead she's had ice skating in the local park, trips to the panto and tea with Santa, who even gave her a birthday card. There's so much to do for children in December it's not hard to make the day special. I appreciate winter birthdays post Christmas are a bit harder though.

Original poster
Blablabla1984 · 18/07/2016 12:24

Margaret I know it's early but we've got family that lives abroad so we kinda need to organise things and dates ahead of time so people can book flights and hotels.

TeenAndTween I see your point :)

OP posts:
MargaretCavendish · 18/07/2016 12:25

Regardless of where your family live I think it's bonkers to be planning a party for a two year old five months in advance!

CodyKing · 18/07/2016 12:26

We've had pizza parties Santa train skating and cinema - so something different to outdoor parties

And one year we delayed the party by 6 months as DS wanted an outdoor one - had tea and cake at home on his birthday with the delayed invite

Original poster
Blablabla1984 · 18/07/2016 12:27

Margaret not planning yet, just seeing what others have done for winter birthdays. I appreciate your opinion but no point to be so harsh. Just like some people shop all year round for Christmas, some do last minute shopping on 24th Dec..... Each to their own.

OP posts:
branofthemist · 18/07/2016 12:28

I have a late win teams a summer born.

The summer one is worse. You can't bet on the weather so there's always the 'indoor or outside' debate. Dd (12) sees her friends have a birthday way before hers. Her best friend is early September, so nearly a year older. When she is older some will be able to drive before she can even have lessons, for example. She does like the fact that her birthday is almost in the middle of the year, as far away from Christmas as you can get.

The winter one is easy to organise -always indoors. He likes that he isn't one of the youngest.

branofthemist · 18/07/2016 12:28

I have a late winter and a summer born

Juanbablo · 18/07/2016 12:30

In this country you can't even guarantee the weather in July and August. It was touch and go for ds2's friends party last week.

Mine are October and March (2 in a week). So we just accept that it's indoor parties for us!

BikeRunSki · 18/07/2016 12:31

DH's birthday is at the end of July and he'd agree with teenandtween. My birthday is in early November and is always overshadowed by bonfire night. When I was a child we always went to bonfires in lieu of a party, so I'd agree with the op

DS's birthday is the first week of September and seems to be perfect.

whois · 18/07/2016 12:35

I've got a winter birthday.

At least you HAVE to plan for an indoor one so you aren't dissapointed with the weather on the day.

Did the 'hire a hall and get an entertainer and invite the whole class' thing ones.
Small group home for traditional birthday games and tea.
Made pizza and watched a film at home.
Indoor activities out of the house - bowling, ice skating, swimming, trampolining, cinema, laser quest etc

KittensandKnitting · 18/07/2016 12:37

What does it matter she wants to talk about it now :) I plan Christmas months and months in advance :)

Brother was born in July (shit need to get a card) I was born in November.

I love having a winter birthday :)

Bonfires, Fireworks, marshmallows on sticks around a fire (actually a BBQ), hot chocolate, warm ribenna, sausages and soup. Never have to worry it will be sunny enough SPOILER ALERT it's rarely sunny :) woolly boots, hats scarves and mittens - I love the summer but very very found memories of winter birthdays

No mention of Christmas though please :) even in Novemebr i used to sometime get gifts wrapped in Christmas paper or Christmas selection chocolates.

KittensandKnitting · 18/07/2016 12:42

Lots of bowling as older, ice skating, one year mum hired a projector and we watched Cinderella in the living room (im 39 so was quite a big deal having this at 7!)

SaucyJack · 18/07/2016 12:45

DD2 has her birthday mid-December, and I actually think it's a great time of year to have a birthday.

Schools are relaxed, lots of bargain toys and party clothes in the shops, loads of parties/activities everywhere- and just that general sense of excitement in the air all around.

But yes, it is too cold for a BBQ in the park.

And January birthdays must be really shit.

LizzieMacQueen · 18/07/2016 12:49

I'd have a traditional party at home for a 2 year old; so pass the parcel, musical bumps, in and out the dusty bluebells, hokey cokey, that sort of thing.

iklboo · 18/07/2016 12:53

DS's birthday is around Bonfire Night. Sorted.

BikeRunSki · 18/07/2016 13:21

DS's birthday is around Bonfire Night. Sorted.

So is mine, and no it's not!!!! As a child I hated that my parents thought they could tag my birthday onto whatever firework do was going anyway. As an adult I hate that I can't do something with my friends as we're always out at bonfires with the DC.

sharknad0 · 18/07/2016 14:06

MargaretCavendish

Don't be silly, there's nothing wrong with being organised, and sometimes you need to.
For a 2yo you can rent a small hall - very cheap around here - have a few toys or an entertainer, make your own buffet and have a lovely party with family and friends. Not everybody has a house big enough to welcome several couples + children, and it doesn't need to cost a fortune either.

Sorry OP, nothing helpful here about a party at home.

KittensandKnitting · 18/07/2016 14:08

I love that my birthday is close to bonfire night

But have been obbsesed with the things since I was a tiny human :)

freetrampolineforall · 18/07/2016 14:09

I'm a January birthday. It's far from shit. A couple of dd's friends are January birthdays too. Post Christmas is such a downer and a celebration cheers everyone up.

PuraVida · 18/07/2016 14:23

you want to be trying to organise a party for mid August. 75% of people are on holiday, another 20% will forget because it's the holidays and they don't realise the date, then you plan something outside and is pisses down :(

coffeetasteslikeshit · 18/07/2016 14:31

As they got older it went:

Parties at home with pass the parcel
Parties in the community hall with a disco
Laser tag parties
Go-karting parties

And now they want paint balling parties...

Much easier in winter I reckon. Summer is difficult... have to plan too far in advance Wink as have to get invites out before school finishes.

scaryteacher · 18/07/2016 15:03

ds is an October birthday, so we have had soft play (when younger), swimming parties, laser tag, hired the village hall and had an entertainer, bowling, cinema, have taken him and friends out for an Indian (we sat on a separate table)......now he is 20 he sorts himself out!

My birthday is January as is that of dh, so we go out for a really good meal somewhere in between the days.