Can we talk about – Children’s Birthday Parties

So Baby B is 19 months old and we haven’t been to many children’s parties yet. Yesterday we went to a friend’s of ours little boy’s 3rd birthday party.

This is in no way meant as an insult to my friends, but frankly I was dreading it. A load of 3 year old children running riot in a hired hall with ‘new toys’ fills me with fear, especially when my little one is in amongst them all!

I have nothing but complete admiration for the very relaxed, cool parents who casually stood by the side of the matted play area, sipping their coffee and chatting happily, whilst their children just cracked on and fended for themselves.

I was a sweaty stressed mess! Stood wide eyed on the non-matted area watching Baby B like a hawk and just praying that he didn’t fall awkwardly on the bouncy castle and bite his tongue off. Some of you may be thinking ‘well that’s justified’, but it wasn’t, because my lovely boyfriend was without shoes hot of the heels of Baby B wherever he went.

The main problem was the simple fact that Baby B just doesn’t seem to understand the concept of sharing. From the moment he clapped eyes on the Little Tikes Police Car I knew we were in trouble. He of course had a quick go then got out to play with another toy, all was well until another unsuspecting little boy clambered into the car.

What ensued I can only describe as a MELTDOWN EXPLOSION!

Baby B opened the car door, was crying, stamping his feet and just beside himself that someone else was in his car. Road rage at its finest! Now as a person I like to remain discreet and not draw attention to myself and always thought my child would be one of the quiet timid ones – this however is not the case! Baby B has a tempter and for want of a better word is a bit ‘punchy’ shall we say. Please don’t judge us at this stage, he is not a violent baby and we are lovely people. I am sure that everyone has gone through this at some stage?!?!

Not wanting our child to seem like the hall bully we quickly whipped him away from the Police Car, whilst apologising to the other boys mum and demonstrating the right amount of discipline, saying all the right things like ‘you have to learn to share’.

Problem was we went through this whole process about 5 times over the course of 2 hours. He had a meltdown every time we either removed him from the vehicle or someone else had a go in it. The party ended for us when the lights were dimmed for the cake and all the children gathered around the birthday boy so he could blow out the candles. All that is except for Baby B who was standing his ground in the Police Car. When trying to remove him from the car he went into MELTDOWN EXPLOSION for the final time and we legged it so that the birthday boy could actually hear the chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’.

I didn’t even hang around for a piece of cake. That is how quickly we left. I never miss the chance of cake.

Soooo, my question is when does that change?!?! And how do I change into the relaxed cool parent, who not only has had the time to apply lipstick before going out, but also managed to have a catch up and normal conversation with other parents!?

Advice welcome – please!!!!!!

Oh, this is my other half, happily entertaining himself in the matted area. Baby B was at this stage firmly locked in the Police Car and therefore – quiet.

Related posts:

A birthday deception! No Longer a ‘Youngster’? Parent of the day