Ahh too many birthday parties!!

**itsahumanzoo** · 11-13-2009, 04:34 AM

We were invited to a 3 year old's birthday party on Sunday, and I'm bouncing back and forth between going and not. Obviously I feel obligated to bring a gift, but honestly I don't have the money for it. I really wish I had a gift stash right about now.

He's turning three. I have a couple packs of Cars stickers I bought on super cheap clearance that I could throw in with a gift, but that's about it. I usually buy an outfit for birthdays and spend $10, but I don't even have that much right now. I guess I could hit up the dollar tree for some random stuff but I don't know. I'm kind of leaning towards not going at all. I sort of don't like the mom that much anyway. I told her that Sundays are hard for us, so she's probably not expecting us anyway.

We have another party on Monday as well, for a one year old. The mom really wants me to come, but I also don't have the money for a gift right now. I'm thinking about just being straight with her and telling her I just don't have any money but we really want to go. Is that tacky? I just don't know!

Thoughts?

**joyofsix** · 11-13-2009, 06:14 AM

I would just be up front if the mom is a good friend of yours. Surely she would understand. As for the 3yo. If you want to go I'd make some homemade playdoh with kool-aid so it's scented and package it in baggies. My kids love this stuff.

**Lora88** · 11-13-2009, 07:23 AM

I would skip the 3yr olds party as you dont want to go and if you dont attend a gift is not necessary As for the party you do want to attend unless I had a gift I would not go and I wouldnt tell someone I didnt have the money for a gift. Your friend will feel obligated to say oh come anyway and if it was me I would feel bad but thats just mho.

**nuisance26** · 11-13-2009, 09:22 AM

~My mom sometimes gave favorite food items to kids that young. A couple boxes of Cheerios, animal crackers or whatever is their favorite.~

**Nishu** · 11-13-2009, 10:43 AM

If I were you, I'd skip party number 1 and just be straight with mom number 2.

Would you even be comfortable sitting through a party with a mom you don't even care for that much? Don't punish yourself. She's not expecting you anyway!

**Kitten20** · 11-13-2009, 10:48 AM

I would definitely skip party #1. You don't care for her that much anyway, and she probably isn't expecting you since you already said that Sundays are hard for your family. As far as party #2, if the mom is a close friend, I would be up front and say that things are kind of tight right now, but you'd like to go anyway and see how she responds. If you don't know her that well, I would probably skip that one, too. Then again, I'm not much of a party-goer.

**itsahumanzoo** · 11-14-2009, 08:57 PM

Thanks for all the advice. I was talking to my friend today (who was also going back and forth about it) and I realized I had some good Kohl's coupons that were about to expire. So I went there today and got an outfit and a toy for the 3 year old, and a shirt for the 1 year old for $2.15. So we're going to go to the party.

I don't hate the mom or anything, but she's just more of an acquaintance. Our kids are friends though, so I'm glad we are going. Plus, food will be there, so I don't have to make lunch!

I still need to finish up the present for the 1 year old. I found a tutorial on a blog for some super cute pants so hopefully I can find the time to throw them together. I have some knit material that would be perfect, and should match the shirt I got.