Teen Birthday Parties

Long term readers will remember that in the middle of all the holiday hustle and bustle, I have to plan a party for my older daughter's December 27th birthday. This year she turns 13 - I can't believe it! - and the perfect party idea presented itself, requiring an early party this year. We are taking her and a group of friends to see the movie "Twilight" followed by dinner at Friendly's. She and her friends are wild about the romantic vampire series, and they can't wait for the party this weekend. If it wasn't for this idea, I'm not sure what her party would have been. This is the year that many of her Jewish friends will be celebrating their bar/bat mitzvahs - and few other parties can compare with those. As I look ahead, I wonder how many parents even throw parties for their teenagers. So I've put together this poll, and invite readers to share how they've handled birthday parties for their teenagers.