This time last year I was firmly in the No Party camp. It was a month before my daughter’s third birthday and her only request was to spend the day riding a pony, eating cake and opening presents. Easy. I was totally let off the party hook.

I looked on with amusement as friends organised parties for their soon-to-be three year olds. They posted Facebook updates about feeling stressed, alongside pictures of intricate handmade party invitations. “They’ve totally brought this on themselves,” I thought with smug disdain.

You see, I saw these mums and secretly judged their choices to host spectacular parties for their kids. To me, it seemed like the parties weren’t really for the children but were for the mums themselves, giving them the opportunity to show off their amazing motherhood skills – a chance for a bit of one-up-mumship, if you like.  Continue reading »