Open Sesame? October 29, 2012
We’re kind of a big deal in the local toddler birthday party circuit lately. (I hope you read that sentence in Ron Burgandy’s voice.) It seems like every weekend we’re at some preschool hot spot or in a suburban backyard sipping juice boxes. That’s just how we roll. Don’t hate. Mama’s gotta get her cupcake fix.
We’re in full-tilt party planning mode as Charlotte’s 2nd birthday is Friday and her party is Saturday. I’ll let you in on a secret. I love it. I stayed up well past midnight Saturday night cutting out “2’s” and “C’s” for her Sesame Street soiree. Oh, how our weekend “partying” has changed!
I’ve noticed something about the last five parties for 2 and 3 year-olds that we have attended. At every one of these shindigs, the Birthday Girl or Boy did not open their gifts in front of their guests. These were parties both in homes and at local attractions. Granted, there were a couple of parties we had to leave early. They may have opened presents after we left, I dunno. We hung around late at the party for the son of our very close friends. Most people had gone when I asked if he could open his gift from us because I knew the parents would get a kick out of the present we found for him. Other than that, I didn’t even know if the child got their gift until the Thank You note. (Which annoys me by-the-way. I’m not a fan of the Thank You note. I personally think it’s unnecessary and I feel silly when I get one. I’m not giving you a gift to get a note about it. I also procrastinate when writing them. I know! I know! Call Miss Manners! I’m an outrageous faux pas!)
Anyway, I got to thinking about Charlotte’s 1st birthday party. Did I commit a major kid party no-no last year when my then one-year-old opened her stack of presents in front of everyone? Did I bore my guests to tears and come across as an attention seeking moron mom?
I personally like seeing the child open their gifts. They get to tear paper to reveal some noisy, blinking nonsense. It’s cute. Who doesn’t like seeing a kid get a present? I considered having Charlotte just open friend gifts at the party and save family presents for later.
What is the etiquette these days? Is there a rule, or is it decided on a party-by-party basis? What have you done in the past? What have you experienced at other parties? Should I have her open her gifts in front of the group, or wait until later?
I’m excited to hear your take on this. Thanks!
(Oh, and I did write Thank You notes and I will again this year too. Relax.)
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I’d be super bummed if I didn’t get to see the child open our gift. We make the effort to choose something they’ll like and I want to see them open it. Also, I think thank you notes are the classy thing to do. But maybe I’m old fashioned
You’re not old fashioned. It is classy, I’m just lazy. Ha! I just don’t want others to feel like they have to send me a note just because I gave them a gift. You know?
I so feel you on the thank you notes. I don’t even notice when I don’t get one! hahahaha. basically, if my bff texts me to say, hey we got your gift my kid loves it, that’s a thank you note that is far better than us pretending we like to write each other notes ha. But I will also take a hand drawn/sticker filled picture as a thank you as well. And that stays on my fridge, not the thank you note. Umm..we had our kid open her gifts at her 1st bday party but we didnt have a million and one people either. I’d think it was kind of weird not to open them but if there were a ton of kids that could be a meltdown city. Um can we have baby showers/wedding showers where they dont open the gifts there? please? make it an open house with booze and food and come and go and they can open later. id be all over that.
Ha! Right? Showers are a funny thing. I may have her open them. We’ll see.
I’m totally with you on opening gifts at the party. I think it’s fun to watch the kids tear into the paper and gift bags! I also like to see the kids open the gift we worked hard to pick out. My little one opened gifts at her 1 and 2 year bdays and I plan to continue with that. I loathe the thank you card!! I do them, but I don’t like them
Okay! Good! I may end up letting her open them. That way she can say “Thank You” to the kid who gave it to her.
We don’t generally open gifts at birthday parties… but we have good reason. For Travis’ first birthday there were literally 60+ people. (We way overdo first birthdays) It would have taken him hours to open everything. For his 2nd party I was 39w pregnant and we just had a playdate with 4-5 other kids – he *did* open gifts that time. When Travis turned 3 and Justin turned 1 – it was a blowout with too many gifts to open at once. When they turned 2 and 4 they had a combined party at the pool with mostly Travis’ friends. We didn’t open that time because I was worried Justin would be upset if Travis had more presents to open since most of the guests were Travis’ friends. ALL that being said, as a guest, I do like to see the birthday kids open presents.
Yeah, we have about the same number of people as last year, but I may just hold off on the family presents until after the party. Then, it’s just her friends and that won’t be as many gifts. I love it that you can do their parties together. That is awesome!
If I can thank you in person to your face as you hand me the gift…I’m not gonna follow up with a note. But if you’re not there for me to thank, then absolutely I will send you a card or even call you directly to let you know I loved it.
Hmm…that’s an interesting protocol. Gives me something to think about. Thanks Natalie!