Am I a joyless harpy ?

[cmotdibbler]

To not want a party for DS's 2nd birthday ? We managed to not do anything for his birth or 1st birthday (well, did buy a cake and eat it with him), but reading Mumsnet gives me the impression that I should have a little more enthusiasm for this.
It would be very boring unless he invited 'friends' from nursery (I know no one in this area), as his cousins are between 9-16.
Can I just wait until he's old enough to ask for these things himself. [Hopeful look]

of course you can! spend qulity time together is much more important. Save your money for when they'll remeber/apreciate it!

Yes, you can wait till he's old enough.

We had a party for DS2's second birthday (family and the friends who'd had second babies from DS1's postnatal group, but DS2 sang himself to sleep with happy birthday for a fortnight before his birthday, he was so excited...complete with blowing out the candles after each rendition...so I don't think he'd have let us get away without a party and "cake with cake lights"!).

But I'm of the "don't bother unless they ask" school of thought - do something you'll all enjoy with the money you'd have spent instead.

we spent ds1's 2nd birthday at an airport/on a plane

we were going on holiday BTW, not joy-riding

Phew. Was a bit worried that I'd be told I was a bad mum.
He will get a cake with candles and sung to at nursery, but he's never been to a party so has no concept of what they are.

He'll be most happy with a trip to a sushi bar and still getting num nums. Which seems like an odd combination now I type it out.

No, you don't have to have a party. Do something you will all enjoy

i think you are being perfectly reasonable

no need for self flagulation.

other peoples kids are rubbish

i think you are being perfectly reasonable

no need for self flagulation.

other peoples kids are rubbish

Sushi and num nums sounds like an excellent combination

Apart from her first birthday (which was really for the adults) dd didn't have a proper party until she was 4.