tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4493743982916615525.post6312041755705362247..comments2024-03-02T00:37:59.566-06:00Comments on JD Moms: Birthday Party Etiquette?JD Momshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16997109617634288645noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4493743982916615525.post-74137939459753204282011-04-07T09:39:21.510-05:002011-04-07T09:39:21.510-05:00What a cute story about your boys! Thanks for sha...What a cute story about your boys! Thanks for sharing!Karennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4493743982916615525.post-48356619334589596152011-04-06T16:28:58.545-05:002011-04-06T16:28:58.545-05:00My boys are much older but we always opened presen...My boys are much older but we always opened presents at the party. I did remind them before every party that people took a lot of time and thought to think of a present to buy them. If they got a duplicate or something they already had they were to always say thank you and then we could return it later. One of my favorite memories is how one of the boys opened every gift and said "Thank you! It is just what I always wanted! How did you know!" He was about four so it was so cute.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4493743982916615525.post-59610689623341350112011-04-06T10:32:15.647-05:002011-04-06T10:32:15.647-05:00I have seen the non-opening of presents all the ti...I have seen the non-opening of presents all the time: I think its actually an ok idea. Here's why: you are correct that it teaches the kid about gratitude and thanks, but it also can lead to a LOAD of hurt feelings. For example, at J's last party, we opened gifts and all the kids starting wanting to open all her presents (after she removed the wrapping paper) and she didn't want that. Then there were the kids that wanted to open them before she did. Plus with opening, there is always the risk for the notorious "I already have that" or once they open the "favorite" present they focus on that alone. I can really see the benefits in not opening. I think my sister-in-law has always had the best solution for this. At my nephew's parties, when we come in, we are met at the door by my nephew and then he usually opens the present right there, in front of just us. There is no drama of "I want to help open" from a crowd of kids, and because its just my present there is not the notorious attention paid to that "favorite present". I have always liked this idea. <br /><br />J is invited to parties all the time so I've seen it a lot of ways...but this last party I went to I thought had a great idea. They let the kid who brought the present come up and give the birthday girl the present and then help her open it. That way everyone got to "help". I liked that too. <br /><br />As for siblings, you are much more polite than I am. I always bring H and L with me when J goes. I don't let him hang with the birthday kids or eat cake etc unless the Mom says okay, but I always bring him along to just play with me while we wait for J. And so far everytime I have went to a party H has been welcomed in with open arms along with other siblings. J and H are only 15 months apart and so the kids that know J know H. If it is at someone's house I normally just take J myself and leave the boys at home, but if I have to I take them. So, I wouldn't feel bad if you decide to take Sweet Pea next time.Mandinoreply@blogger.com