Our kids are at the age where there opinions are becoming more and more defined. Particularly when it comes to what they prefer for presents and while I think it’s great for family (grandparents, aunties and uncles) taking the kids to chose what they would like or giving an ‘experience’, I’m sure I’m not the only one who has found gifts from kids’ birthday parties unused several months or a year later. This bothers me and I’m not sure why. 

I also find it amazing how many birthday parties our kids are invited to. I simply don’t remember going to that many birthday parties as a child. What it means for the parents hosting is a lot of planning and organizing. The guests’ parents find themselves buying many presents and wrapping them. I hope they are enjoyed!

Recently a family sent a birthday invite on behalf of their son and I was very impressed. They simply requested that in lieu of gifts, each guest give $5 and their son was going to divide the total into 3 portions to donate, save and buy a gift of their choice. I don’t know what you think of the idea but I loved it! There are so many concepts that they touch on with this proposal – great education AND so easy on the parents!!! I wonder what he’ll choose.