birthday party as stressful as christmas???

[genia]

Hi, my ds is going to be one on the 20th and we are having a big family party (both sides) this Sunday. Much as I am immensely proud of my little baby and want him to have a nice day (which I am sure he will as he has recently become a show off!), I seem to be dreading the day in the same way I dread Christmas. On his actual birthday we are having some babies and their mothers over and I am much more looking forward to that. I think it has something to do with the dilution of maternal "control" I feel when family is around as they also lay claim to some of it (especially my parents)... oh well..

I can sympathise genia. We did the same had a party for friends from Mums & Toddlers on the day, and a family party the following Sunday. Except my in-laws decided to turn up to both! Not very happy but could hardly close the door in their faces (all 4 of them) on DS's birthday....

It can be difficult I suppose having both sides of the family there because it seems like they should have an equal share of DS and if he goes to MIL and not Mum or vice-versa I feel guilty. So then he ends up getting passed round like a parcel. Have already started thinking about his 2nd birthday which is not until February!. Anyway no advice but try and enjoy at least his actual birthday and report back on how it all went .... Good luck

I can sympathise too. This same syndrome is rendering me totally incapable of organising DS2's christening. I'm just dreading it, so I'm putting it off. At this rate he'll be starting school .......

genia - how did it go?

Hi
It went fine actually. It takes me a while to adjust to the changed circumstances and some things ARE irritating - like dh's elder sister walking into ds's bedroom (without knocking) just as he is completely naked and I'm trying to get his nappy on and fawning all over him (she's totally baby mad but not as nice to her own kids); dh's brother going on and on about how like another nephew ds looks (which I don't see at all); my mother grabbing ds out of my arms at one point when I had him because he was getting tired and saying "can we have him for a bit?" (as if he were a parcel) and posing for about a million photos with him... Having said that however, people were also very sweet and ds had a lovely time showing off and playing and it all went quite well. I was in a bit of a daze but only because I usually am if we are organizing something at home. My MIL is staying this week, my parents have been here (in their flat nearby) for a few days but are going home (abroad) tomorrow. I'm quite looking forward to the baby party on Wednesday...
I don't know, of course I want ds to have aunts, uncles and grandparents that all love him but I am still slightly in shock at just how much family contact we have had since he was born.
There must be more to life than this? Where has my freedom gone???