Mum 70th low key ideas!

[HettyMeg]

My mum is about to turn 70 and she does not want a fuss/party but for us to do something all together as a family, but not in her house (too small).

There will be 8-10 adults and 4 kids aged 3 to 10.

We all live in different parts of the country so it's not simple. Whatever we do will involve people driving afterwards unless we stayed in a hotel which I don't think people will be keen for with kids etc.

I was thinking of either a small afternoon tea/prosecco/bites to eat at my house or lunch in a restaurant where I live (it is the middle of where everyone has to travel from). Is it s**t to make my mum travel for her birthday? How can I make it feel special without feeling like a party which she doesn't want.

FWIW I suggested a smaller thing with just the adult girls of the family (hotel stay, spa etc) but she said no.

My mum was the same. I hired the village hall and did an afternoon tea for the family. I’d have done it at home but there were too many of us. It was a very relaxing afternoon (for her), and she got a chance to chat to everyone which she wouldn’t have been able to in a noisy restaurant.

Could you find a nice hotel or restaurant near your mum that could offer you a private room for a meal?

Had similar recently with DA. Decided to do an afternoon party so that the older family members didn't have to drive home too late. Hired the village hall and got the local sandwich shop to do a buffet.

My mum wanted low key as my dad had died not long before her 70th birthday. I took her out for dinner just the two of us to a posh restaurant and she was really happy. She died not long after and I’m so pleased we had done it.