30th birthday

[Peaceloveandhobnobs]

DH is a few years older than I am, and for his 30th I bought him a big present and took him out for dinner in central London. My 30th is at the end of this year, and he has started asking me what I want to do to celebrate. As my birthday is close to Christmas, we usually just go to the cinema and out to dinner or something like that, but I feel like I would like to do something more special this year. The trouble is that we will have a one year old by then, so I don't know what to suggest. We don't have family nearby and we only have NCT friends (ie, they will also have one year olds!). Any good ideas? I suggested a night in a hotel alone, so I could sleep, but I think I need that sooner rather than later!

You don't say if you have any parents nearby who might be able to babysit, so I'm assuming you don't, but if you could organise an overnight babysitting, a special meal just the two of you could be great.

I wouldn't be out off asking friends out or over for a meal just because they have to find babysitters - you just have to appreciate that some may be unable to go. In my experience, people really try to make the effort.

If your one-year old goes to nursery, you may find it easier to do a daytime thing - most michellin starred restaurants have a cheaper, fixed price menu for lunch, but the food is just as good. Only downside is less wine, but that also makes it cheaper!

For my 30th I had a party at my house - 20 of us in a fancy tent in the garden including friends and family and although my 2 yr old was up early the next morning, my inlaws stayed over and offered to do bedtime and breakfast duties.

Alternatively, you could embrace the child thing and have a daytime event that people can bring their kids to. My friend had a Mad Hatters tea party with fancy dress for all. I think quite a few of the kids had a bath together and went in travel cots upstairs, then they were transferred home later when the parents went home.

Hope there are a few ideas to tempt you there...