A card from Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Birthday Celebration (Your Kids)
Have you ever tried shoving a dozen balloons into the trunk of your car? It’s like playing a game of whack-a-mole, but you get no prize. How about copying and pasting email addresses for the whole class into your online invitation? Time suck. These are just illustrations of the many tasks you’ll handle when planning your child’s birthday party. Even if you keep it simple with a family dinner at home, this cardholder might be the one who battles rush-hour traffic to pick up a cake at a favorite bakery before it closes. Don’t forget candles, but no need to buy a present unless you’re also the “Gifts (Family)” lead.
Holding this card means owning all three
Conception
Your kids have birthdays
Planning
- Discussing party expectations with your child
- Creating an invite list
- Researching party location options, including available dates, pricing, and number of children allowed
- Planning family dinner and other special surprises for day of
- In school birthday party preparation and supplies
Execution
Note: Purchasing gifts is the responsibility of the “Gifts (Family)” cardholder
- Booking entertainment
- Designing an online invitation or ordering printed ones and sending
- Ordering favors, decorations, cake, candles, and paper products for party
Suggested Minimum Standard of Care
Did the celebration honor your child in a way that felt good to them?
A starting point. You and your partner agree the real standard together, and the holder meets it without reminders.
Holding it well
- The holder owns all of it: noticing, planning and doing. No “just tell me what to do.”
- Agree the Minimum Standard of Care together, then let the holder meet it their way.
- Not working? Bring it to the weekly check-in and re-deal it. Don’t take it back mid-week.
Put this card on your table
Deal it, agree its standard, and see who holds what. Free.