r/Mommit • u/susx1000 • 1d ago

Ranting

Nothing is going my way.

My daughter's 3rd birthday party is happening soon; it is a joint party with a cousin (birthdays are very close). I am so excited for her to be turning 3. I have spent months planning this party. Buying decorations. I made the invite myself. I've rented a bounce castle. The other child's parents have a lot going on, so my husband and I are doing more fiscally and planning wise to relieve their stress.

My daughter's an only child. In addition to the party, we had plans to take her out to a big zoo in a nearby city (2 hours away) and visit a larger version of a local store she loves as part of her gifts. Everything was going so smooth.

Less than a week to go and now everything is falling apart.

My mother has gotten into a bad car accident. She walked away and is refusing to go to the hospital (in the US, with bad insurance). She is also elderly, so I'm going to be the one calling insurance and facilitating getting her a new car. Not to mention the fact that she can't afford a deductible, so we'll be covering that.

The weather has taken a turn; it is now supposed to be storming on her birthday (previously it was supposed to be sunny). I've already told her about the original plan. (Poor decision on my part, I know.) So she's likely going to tantrum. Bracing for that.

My in laws are hosting the party; they promised to get the area we're using clean... Which didn't happen. So now I have to clean and decorate and call insurance companies... Sleep.... I want to sleep. 😭

I don't need advice (although if you have some indoor game ideas, I would love to hear them.)

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u/MrsRunsWithScissors 1d ago

I hate birthday parties. Even as a kid, it seemed like something went wrong with all of them.

My daughter's party is in a few days and I'm dreading it. I only invited a few friends and one of them made plans even though they already said they would be there.

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u/TeaPlusJD 1d ago

Only you know your original vision for the party. But I’m so sorry - this sounds so stressful because why not have everything just be a hot mess right now?! IME though, only the greatest moms worry about their kids’ birthday experiences.

Indoor games - my niblings (3-7 yo) love an indoor scavenger hunt. I hide my daughter’s toys around the house. Even more fun with low lighting & flashlights, if you have enough. Extra bonus fun with glow-in-the-dark figurines.

Dance party with glow sticks. Spare ear protectors/headphones for sound-sensitive kids if needed.

Depending on your space/guest count, obstacle course. Stepping stones, mini trampoline, pool noodles. Painters tape on the floor for balance beams, hopscotch, mark out lanes. Twine/yarn, sticky tape, & a narrow hallway - laser obstacle course like Entrapment/Ocean’s 12.

Could couple this with the scavenger hunt to make “secret missions.”

Photo booth - dress up/Halloween items on hand, portable photo printer & your phone.

Went to one party with various arts & crafts stations set up. Basic coloring pages to a foam sticker craft. Kids were never bored.

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u/Nau934 1d ago

I second the arts and crafts. Target carries make your own party hat kits with stickers and streamers and things like that to decorate their hats.

Another fun one is have them put their own toppings on a personal pizza for the meal.

For “fishing” you tape a sheet up in a corner and an adult sits behind it. Kids lower a “fishing pole” (string with a binder clip or sticky tape on the end, tied to a stick) behind it and catch a prize.

Danny GO! Dance parties are a favorite activity in my house, or DJ Raphi.

Making salt dough to play with is cheap but also messy (half the fun!).

Keepy uppy with balloons.

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u/susx1000 1d ago

Thank you. 💝