How old were YOU when you had your first birthday party?

[devilisunaccomplishedinprada]

The whole shebang with friends and everything? I was 8, and it was in McDonald's no less. It was 1986 though.

Reason I'm asking is because in them days it wasn't the norm to have a party for every single birthday from the age of 2 and invite the whole world and his friend like it seems to be the norm now. DD1 (5) has never had a birthday party - well not the type were you invite loads of people and kids anyway. Every year I always do a little tea party and close family come round and she always has a birthday cake and gets to the blow the candles out.

But I don't see the point in forking out for a party for loads of kids half of whom won't turn up. I guess part of me hasn't had that kind of party for her yet because she just doesn't seem that popular in school. I'm ok with that I was never popular in school either. She has one best friend and a few other friends who she plays with. She's only ever been invited to one party and that was her best friend's party last year.

She did ask me before xmas if she could have a birthday party for her 6th birthday in April, and I said I would think about it. I really don't want to do a party because I don't think most of them would turn up TBH. DD1 has some SEN issues and her social skills aren't up to what a normal 5 year olds would be, there more like a 3 year old's. I don't want her to be upset when hardly anyone turns up.

I know I could get to know some of the mums at the school gates but blimey it's hard. About 90% of them are complete stuck up cows. I have literally had them completely blank me when I've said hello or smiled. First time it happens I think oh she hasn't seem me, but second, third and fourth time then I know I'm not being paranoid. I know it's because dd1 has poor social skills, she's also a complete tomboy and hates playing with girls (apart from her little sister ). I think other mums see her as weird.

So I guess I'm trying to justify to myself that I'm not scarring her for life by not giving her a birthday party yet, and I'm actually trying to save her heartache by doing it. I do plan to let her have parties when she's older and hopefully has more friends and better social skills. We've planned to go to Rhyl Suncentre on her birthday instead as she loves swimming and is a little water baby.

When I was 1. My father Pakistani & his friends always celebrated the first year of a child's life with a big party. (I think to celebrate that the child is still alive) Not sure if this is in every Asian family or just mine?

I think my parents had a couple kids and a cake when I was 3, but I don't remember.

When I was 4 and at nursery, they invited the whole class for a party at my house. Back in the days when parents didn't stay... and my parents fondly imagined that the children would enjoy games like feeling the objects in a sock and writing down what you thought they were.

My parents are still traumatised...

pass the parcel?

I had a party every year from the age of one. There are photos of me looking bewildered in a party hat.

Birthday parties were the norm though, amongst my friends at least. Everyone had a big, invite-the-whole-class kind of affair with bouncy castle/magician/swimming party etc.

Consequently, DD has always had a birthday party, from her first birthday onwards. Though now we invite fewer friends - a handful - since she's at the age where she has a group of close friends.

I had a party every year from 1 too - my MUm was very into the idea (and I was the 3rd child) although they would be at home. Rumour has it that, as I was due on my borther's 3rd birthday, my Mum prepared the whole party stuff and froze everything so that if she went into labour the party could still go ahead.

I think I've inherited the party gene. DD's had a friends one since 2 (and her first was friends of family). Yesterday was her 4th birthday party - 30 kids in a hall, thank god for a great entertainer !!

I was 6 and it was a traditional party at home.