1. Four months before party: Daughter tells you the theme she would like for her birthday party. Tell her that the party is too far away to do anything about it. Forget about party for three and a half months.
2. Two weeks before party: Decide that party is really going to happen. Soon. Scramble to put together and send out invitations.
3. Sunday, five days before party: Realize this party is less than a week away and you haven't put together a preparations timetable. You'd better go shopping for party goods - immediately. Decide to "wing it" and not make a party shopping list.
4. Still Sunday: Go to local party supply store. Discover they don't have themed items you had intended to purchase. Mutter to self in disbelief that this store could be so poorly stocked. Since it's too late to order party supplies online, because you don't want to pay expedited shipping costs, improvise and purchase the items closest to theme. Pretend not to see the disappointed look on party girl's face.
5. Monday: Visions of party girl's disappointment return. Guilt strikes. Go to other local party supply store. Wander aisles in disbelief that two stores can be so poorly stocked. Leave store empty-handed.
6. Tuesday: Take children along to local warehouse club to buy food for party. Shop without food list. As cart becomes loaded with party and non-party food, realize guilt over poorly planned party will result in double-sized grocery bill. Leave store with lighter wallet, but return to good mother status.
7. Wednesday: Go to local bead shop to figure out theme-related craft for party. Find bead shop owner doesn't have theme-related beads. Still stumped over how stores can be so poorly stocked. In desperation, accept store owner's suggestion for alternative beading craft. Spend double the amount intended. Go to second craft store to purchase the remaining party craft supplies. Guess what? This store is also stocked inadequately. Why don't they have the pillowcases for your tie-dye project? Wander store in shock and accidentally purchase double of other items. Lucky you, now you have returns to make after the party. Follow this trip by going to two different supermarkets looking for theme related candy for goody bags. You guessed it, no luck.
8. Thursday: Go to discount department store to find the pillowcases required for craft. Whew - finally someone has the goods. Go back to first party store to purchase theme-related candy and guilt-induced, extra decorations. Purchase everything you can find remotely related to theme. Do I need to say it? Spend twice as much as intended on candy and other supplies.
9. Still Thursday: 8:00p.m. - 9:00p.m. - Assemble goody bags. 9:00p.m - 10:00p.m. - Bake cupcakes. 10:00p.m - 11:30p.m. - Bake cookies. Midnight - Fall asleep exhausted, with visions of tomorrow's to-do list rattling in head.
10. Friday - Party Day: Frost cupcakes. Do last minute clean-up for party. Wait for children to return from school to decorate together as promised. Decorate. Arrange party goods, snacks, set-up crafts, bark orders at husband (just why didn't he come home earlier?). Collapse. Relax. Ooops! Doorbell rings, no time to relax until tomorrow. What were you thinking?
