Birthday Madness

Question for you.

How many birthday cakes and parties should a child have? Assume that this child is well loved and not filthy rich, but comfortable enough.

If you answered 1, you are sadly, sadly mistaken.

Here is what I can't figure out. I have 5 children. You would think that would translate into 5 birthday parties, right? Wrong.

You have one for each child's friends (at least once they hit school age). And even if you don't invite a dozen or so kids, most of my ducks at least want to invite a friend or two for a sleepover or outing. They need to be entertained and, of course, fed cake.

Then you have one for the extended family (grandmas, cousins, aunts/uncles). Believe me, you will rue the day if you skip this one. And depending on availability, this may turn into 2 events, one for Chad's side, one for my side.

Then you need to do something on the actual day of the birthday since the other events are usually on the nearest available weekend and sometimes shared with siblings/cousins who share your same astrological sign. So, even if it is just with your own little (relatively speaking) family, you still need to plan a special menu, and, of course, cake.

That equals about 15 birthday cakes per year for this family. Just for little people. If you add in Chad and I (and we do usually stick to the more rational 1 celebration per birthday). That is somewhere between 17 and 23 birthday celebrations/cakes per year. Well over one per month.

And I wonder why I never lose the last 10 (okay 20) pounds of baby fat.