Confessions of a PartyHolic

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My name is HIDTL and I am a partyholic.

I plan parties. Big ones. Lovely ones. I cant help it.

Every year I throw a xmas party for all our friends and family which is now almost legendary. Father Christmas makes an appearance. Each child gets a present (£1 and under though mind you) there are a couple of xmas themed childrens games, a raffle for a bottle of champagne for the adults (this year's nod to the recession was 150cl sparkling perry - incidentally my Mum won it, then decided she didnt want to pack it to go back to America so it is still sitting in my cupboard ) and the best of all is the unlucky dip.

For DS's 2 bdays thus far (he is 3 in August) I have had big parties. 1st bday was pirate themed, 2nd was things that fly.

For DH's 30th (he is 35 this July) I did a treasure hunt around the village where clues led him to his surprise bday party at a pub, then I presented him with his gift of a trip driving round Europe with me.

I am now at the point where I am planning DS's 3rd bday party and the excitement is setting in. I was thinking about getting a pony and some animals to add to the already 11 animals I have and have a farm themed party at my house.

I am aware there is a thing where Mums like me are seen as competitive with throwing parties but I SO am not!!!!! I really really enjoy it!!! I just love it. I like the whole thing of it. And when you meet me I am a very very down to earth person and try to always make people feel really comfortable as of course that is the first thing of being a good hostess!

So anyway... I am lurking on the parties board. And I havent got a point in posting this other than confessing that I am a Partyholic. And to ask you all not to think I am competitive I just love throwing parties.

Parties are excellent for your mental health. But like everything, there is a continuum

LOL yeah I dont know where I am on that continuum.

HIDTL you sound like great fun, and how lovely for your dcs to have a mum who loves a party. I sometimes hear other mums talking about how they loathe having to do their dcs' parties and although I know it can get stressful I feel a bit sorry for the dcs.

On that note have you any tips for how to do dcs parties and not get too stressed so that you can also enjoy it yourself???

Hello my name is CTGH and er, [looks around nervously] I'm a partyholic too!!

I love planning 'em more than attending the things actually ...

Have had grottos in the roof, pirate boats at the bottom of the garden, and jazz trios descending the stairs. None of it costing a fortune I might add.

I help my friends organise their dc's parties and once dd's party is over ... I immediately start thinking of ideas for the following year. Can't help myself. Love party bags. Love thinking of interesting food ideas. Love organising activities. Love researching venues and entertainers.

I need a 12-step recovery plan ....

BTW Eskimum - it's all in the preparation - it really is. Once you have every single detail covered you really can sit back and relax. In fact I was able to do just that during the middle part of dd's party last year when she had 16 fellow 5 yr olds over. Honestly, the only hectic bits were the arriving and leaving ...and that's always madness however much you plan. The other tip is to always have two or three more helpers on hand than you think you will need.

thank you for not drawing out the flame thrower!

I got a great idea for DS's 3rd party this year, get 5 bales of straw at £2.50 each (we already have one sitting in the garden) 3 in a row then 2 on top of that in the middle to make a straw climbing frame? Still not totally settled but I reckon it will be that. Now will just have to come up with a tractor... I had a huge pirate ship filled with playballs for his 1st and a cardboard airplane I made for his 2nd.

I agree it is in the planning. Also a lot of stuff you just set up and let it do its magic, such as the straw climbing frame and a cardboard plane for children to climb around in. You lay out the (minimal-ish) food before they arrive, you have all the bits for the 1 or 2 party games ready in order by the play place and thats it bobs your uncle.

But I love thinking of tips and helping with ideas so if you want any let me know!