[blparent] Planning a birthday party

Wed Jan 30 16:13:27 UTC 2013

        I don't like the advice to invite the number of kids that the birthday child is turning.  The number gets bigger and bigger for one thing.  Also, many schools want you to invite the whole class so nobody feels excluded.
If you do want to limit numbers you want to invite all the boys, or all the girls, or everybody who has seen your kid eat a bug, something like that.
Kids' friendships change like the weather and you don't want to get into the business of "She's friends with Susie this week but not Billy so we won't invite Billy".

As for having parents drop off their kids, you can do that. Know though that I'd not accept an invite to a parent's home that I didn't know and one who had made no effort to get to know me. You can always tell parents they don't have to stay but are welcome to if they or their child would like.  That way they know they can leave but aren't being forced to leave.

You've got many options here.

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 8:34 PM
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blparent] Planning a birthday party

I think we can complicate life at times, grin. Of course no one you are
uncomfortable with need be in your home, but if by strangers you mean
the parents of other children, you need to determine if you want to
invite parents or not. If parents are invited along with their kids,
they most likely will keep an eye on their own children. If you don't
want a bunch of parents hanging around, consider asking a few family or
friends to help out. Regardless of how you do it, obviously no one
expects you alone to watch a group of kids.

And as for keeping people out of your things, just have people available
to watch certain parts of your home so curious children don't get into
trouble, and if you're worried about other parents nosing about, well,
are you really that worried that fellow parents would do this? I think
perhaps you're worried unnecessarily about this, but again, if you're
truly uncomfortable with this, don't invite people you don't trust.

Also, how many children are you planning on having over? Having a
smaller guest list will go a long way to help with this situation too.
Many etiquette guides recommend only inviting the number of guest as the
age of the birthday child. So if they're turning ten, only ten friends
are invited, and so forth and so on.

Some people may be a little turned off by you touching food, but they
don't have to eat then. As long as you keep your hands clean, no one can
fault you. Sighted people use their hands too. You can use plastic
gloves if you're too worried about it. Also, prepare all food in the
kitchen away from all the guest including the slicing and serving, then
all your guest will see is food on serving dishes or prepared plates,
and I guarantee no one will wonder how you prepared it, smile.

And as for games, I go back to the asking of family and friends to help
out, if possible.And sit down and actually write down all the thoughts
and ideas, and how you can implement them. This will help you feel more
organized and maybe put you at ease a little bit too.

Anyway, these are just my thoughts. Good luck. I can't wait for Declan's
first birthday, grin! Only seven more months to go, LOL!

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter, editor, Slate & Style
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

"If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can
satisfy, we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for
another world."
C. S. Lewis

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2013 23:06:18 -0700
From: "Jo Elizabeth Pinto" <jopinto at msn.com>
To: "Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blparent] Planning a Birthday Party
Message-ID: <BLU172-DS40DC49FCDF3E124E81472AC2C0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
        reply-type=original

Hi.  Did you have parties for your family and friends, or parties for
kids
you didn't know well and their parents?  I don't mind having people I
know
in my home, but I feel a bit nervous about inviting in strangers.  How
would
I keep them entertained?  How would I keep them out of where they didn't

need to be?  Would I need help with decorating?  Games?  Would the other

parents help me, or would I be on my own with the kids?

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