Tag Archives: essay

  • Throwing a kid’s birthday party without losing your mind

    Children’s birthday parties often start with squeals of delight and joyful anticipation but end in tears and swearing. From mum and dad, I hasten to add.

    You see, us Generation X parents always want to do our best for our kids. Our mothers made us every single cake from The Australian Women’s Weekly Cake Cookbook when we were growing up and we feel responsible for ensuring our own kids have those same special memories of their birthdays.

    So, yes, we can get carried away. Been there, done that, had the breakdown over the icing that wouldn’t set.

    But this year I got smart. I managed to pull off a 5 year old party for 20 children with a fully home cooked menu without breaking a sweat, a nail or a plate over somebody’s head (usually, my unfortunate husband). A first for me.

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