Birthday Parties as Social Microcosms

A friend asked me the other day what I'm blogging on. I said that I blogging about parties--but not the real nuts and bolts. There are other fantastic blogs that are already doing that--see who I am following for some ideas. I told her I'm really blogging about the little social subtleties of parties--the stuff that people worry about but don't usually talk about. I caught a skeptical look on her face.

I understand the skepticism. With all the "real" stuff to worry about in the world, why sweat the little stuff. In theory I agree. But, in reality, our lives are made up of the little stuff. And the more we can navigate the little stuff with grace and ease, the happier and less stressful our lives become.

So, back to parties. Thinking about our kids, their birthday parties are one of the top events of the year in their lives. And, as anyone who has tuned into an episode of Bridezilla can attest, big events tend to bring out the best and worst in people. Why not use parties--birthday, anniversary, holiday, whatever--as an opportunity to teach our kids (and ourselves) a thing or two about how to be in the world. Being a gracious host or hostess, making others feel valued and welcomed, handling feelings of disappointment, dealing with real or perceived social slights, expressing gratitude and joy--all of these are skills that have real value and make a difference in the quality of our lives.

Visit us at www.bijouxinabox.com