Hannah's Party

Hannah's Party


We only did one year where Hannah was at school and we had a big invite the whole class plus all the outside friends as well party. Since then, I keep thinking it will get easier and it really doesn't. When she turned 6, she was no longer at school and I had this idea that we would take a couple of friends to see a film and get some food. I looked but couldn't see any appropriate films coming out at the time (which was odd as her birthday is generally in or nearly in the Easter holidays). So a change of plan and we booked a party at the stables where she rides. We invited 7 children, but only 2 of them could come in the end and they were her cousins! Her best friend was going to be on holiday so she and her mum took Hannah on a special birthday trip (celebration one), we had one meal out with her auntie who happened to be in London on her way back to Edinburgh on the day before her birthday (celebration two), the usual meal out with family (celebration three), took two friends who were unable to come to the riding party to the cinema....err, wasn;t that where we started?? (celebration four), the actual riding party (celebration five) and a My Little Pony tea party for her friends who were under 5 and therefore not old enough to attend the riding party (celebration six). Hannah, being good with numbers (sometimes...more of this anon!), noticed that she was six and had had six celebrations. Did this mean she could have seven when she was seven and eight when she was eight. Only if I can have 39 for my birthday, I told her and we heard no more about that idea!

It *was* more straightforward when she turned 7. Meal out as per usual with family and we stopped trying to make it "easier" and booked a venue for a big party to which she could invite everyone.

Then for her eighth birthday, which is soon, we started off with a plan to have a 10 pin bowling party and invite 11 children, plus her. This ought to be easier than it has in fact proved. She's a home educated only child...she isn't supposed to have any friends!!! So far this list of 11 children has 21 names on it!!! Fortunately for her, I had a small windfall last week and decided to spend some of it on her party so I can afford the extra children...it;s just the logistics of it. Maybe they won't all come. what worries me is that they won;t *say* they are coming and then turn up! am going to have to be very strict about chasing replies. Except that the people who will reply are the people I have contact with on a regular basis anyway and the ones who probably won't are the ones I don;t know and never see!

Next year I want to do the Natural History Sleepover and she will be *VERY* strictly limited to 4 friends. Really, I mean that!