I used to host a party every Halloween. Here’s what went into it. Buy booze. Get Halloween costume. Clean kitchen and bathrooms. Run vacuum. Have party.
My daughter turned three recently. Here’s what went into it. Run balloons to get helium, but not too early or they could deflate, so I ran them the night before, picked up that morning. Mop house. Vacuum all non mop areas. Clean everything. Mow. Weed whack. Get juice boxes and mini-waters. Get booze. Get food for kids. Get food for adults. Draw welcome sign with chalkboard. Put in order for coffee. Pick up up cake. Put up decorations. Get custom t-shirts for kids. Figure out gifts. Print stickers for take home bags for kids. Order stuff for take home bags for kids. Wear dog out, give up, put dog outside. Pull out serving dishes from depths of storage. Realize balloon store left part of order, drive back and get it while people are pulling in. Realize you forgot to put out ice and cooler. Realize you forgot to get ice cream out. Write down who gave what gift so you don’t forget thank yous. Everyone leaves – everything in house is sticky now. Kids make everything sticky.
Yes, it’s a lot of work, but the difference is my daughter is dragging her new toys to bed to snuggle with them at night and no one called the cops at her party. Plus booze made everything sticky at my old place also and I had nothing to show for it but a hangover and a $50 costume I never wore again. Oh and no one invited their friends who stole CD’s or jumped off the balcony. Maybe these kid’s parties aren’t so bad after all. Except the music. Please, God, stop the music.