In this episode of The Parent Chat, we’re talking kids’ birthday parties. Birthday season at Dylan Dreyer’s house means a constantly morphing cake order (Ninjago is out, football is in), a calendar full of other kids’ parties, and a lingering question: are kids’ birthday parties just another arena for competitive parenting? Dylan gets honest about why she’d happily skip the big party, and what to do about "no gifts, please" invitations, gift-opening that’s become a pile of bags, and a December birthday two days before Christmas.
Whether you’re hosting, RSVP-ing late, or wondering what to bring, the takeaway is simple: make the day about the kid, not the Instagram.
00:00 Planning Rusty’s birthday (and the Captain America cake saga)
03:00 Why birthday parties feel like too much
05:00 RSVPs, forgotten parties, and what to bring as a gift
06:00 Are birthday parties competitive parenting?
07:00 "No gifts, please": what does it really mean?
08:00 How you celebrate: listener answers
09:00 Birthdays right before Christmas
11:30 Phone a Friend: Shannon Doherty
13:00 From over-the-top first birthdays to keeping it simple
15:00 Making a birthday feel special with less
16:00 Skipping goodie bags and easy DIY decorations
18:00 Celebrating a January 2nd birthday
20:00 "Five things I love about you" (the easiest birthday tradition)
20:30 Is social media driving party pressure?
21:30 Gift etiquette: what to bring and when invitations say no gifts
23:00 Opening presents, thank-you notes, and keeping parties short
25:00 How siblings sway every birthday theme
27:00 Dylan’s takeaways: make your kid feel special
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