Trending: It's OK to Simplify Your Kids' Birthday Parties

Maybe it's because we're thinking about our daughter's upcoming birthday, but I was struck by two recent (and maybe hot) takes by moms rethinking the pressures around kids' birthday parties:

Namely, pushing against the idea that everyone in the class should receive an invite and returning to a simpler kind of kids' birthday party.

These two opinions seem aligned to me. While we've been on the receiving end of class-wide birthday invites and have enjoyed some wonderful celebrations, the pressure to reciprocate and replicate mounts, and early, doesn't it? Our daughter is only turning 4!

Both moms offer some suggestions that might help you put more focus on the important stuff (celebrating your kiddo) and less emphasis on the extras:

• Feel OK inviting only your kids' actual friends.

• Kids shouldn't feel obligated to include (and like) everyone.

• Keep festivities small and simple most years.

• Consider going bigger for those milestone birthdays like the first one and 5 or 10, etc.

In Chicago Parenting News:

• There's talk of expanding full-time preschool to all 3-year-olds in Chicago.

• Illinois is offering guidance on fall vaccinations for RSA, COVID-19, and the flu.

• Not a joke: The city's first AI-focused, teacher-free school opened this past week.

Parenting IRL: How Long Did You Nurse/Pump?

We relaunched our New Moms Group programming this week (thank you to everyone who joined us!), which makes this Discussion Forum question about feeding particularly relevant.

For those who pumped, nursed, or combo-fed, what would you share about your journey?

Join the conversation, and we'd love to have you join us for future sessions of our New Moms Groups starting in October.

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