Why I Stopped Having Birthday Parties For My Kids

I don’t remember my first birthday party, but I remember my last. I was 13, and a bunch of my friends crammed into my family’s tiny living room to watch movies and have a snack. I remember my mother sitting on a stool in the kitchen complaining, and one of the guests stealing a bracelet, but outside of that, nothing about the event rings any bells. I'm also pretty sure I only remember it at all because my mom was adamant that I never have a party again.

For every birthday party I can’t remember, however, I have one that remains steadfast in my mind. When I turned 12, my mom picked me up early from school and while we were in the car, she gave me a rosy gold swatch watch with a robot on it. She congratulated me on turning another year older, and she took me to the mall for a treat. This birthday was my most treasured, and the one I’ll always remember. And, if I'm being honest, it's also one of the main reasons I decided to stop having traditional birthday parties for my kids.