Wednesday, May 27, 2009

"Put another candle on my birthday cake, my birthday cake.."

$100,000 birthday parties for 2 year olds? Do you think that's excessive? A FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR CAKE?

I was waiting for the article to say "....and they're all Republicans.."! Ya, all of Hollywood is Republican, right?

Where will these kids go for a kick when they're SWEET SIXTEEN? Marakesh for a year of hookas and shish kebab with 20 friends?? Well, maybe these parties don't leave much carbon footprint.... that'll make the parents feel much, much better.

24 comments:

FrogBurger said...

Good, they make other people work. Capitalism is a beautiful thing, isn't it?

I just think that for a little less than 25k, she should get a new pair of jeans. That's the only problem I'm seeing with this lavish spending.

Z said...

Well, FB, you DO have a point! If you've got it, you should be able to SPEND it! It does help the economy.

I guess I'm coming more from HYPOCRISY ...
And ruining children with excess..we rarely see happy stories of the children of the rich..

both things aren't good!

FrogBurger said...

I agree with you. I was just being really sarcastic.

Z said...

I know your second paragraph was sarcastic, for sure...
but the first one? well, you do have a point!!
caterers, ballooon people, invitation printers, gift sellers, etc., right!?!$$

shoprat said...

Maybe they'll go here. (video is very poor . . . but . .)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnlFVdz5rH0

L said...

I have 4 children. I want to give them the world. Thats why I make them clean up after themselves, help others, clean up after dinner and pay for their own trip to Paris (my oldest is going next year with French class).

The future of our great nation is dependant upon parents who are willing to be *mean* and teach our children that delayed gratification and earning our own way reflects great character.

They could put this money to great use paying people to cater meals for the homeless or needy in their neighborhood and having their children serve along side them. That would be a great lesson in giving and serving and understanding how blessed they are to have the financial means to give to those who need it.

Not that I have an opinion!!!!
:-)

Z said...

Laretha, imagine our avatars being practically the same picture? Love that! GOOD ON YOU, MOm! I'm all FOR 'mean'....
I have a phrase I 'invented' a few years ago "You must never spoil your child because you can NEVER make it up to them" (or society) Thanks so much for coming by!

Z said...

SHOPRAT, that is hilarious...

A story you probably would prefer not hearing is this:

I was listening to Prager a few months back and he was talking about being raised in NYC and how all the kids left for the WHOLE summer to the Catskills, etc.(my own family had a summer house in Grafton, anybody know it?) But, I digress...
Prager said the kids didn't speak to their parents for all the whole summer unless something was wrong. They could write, but that was IT, and everyone learned and grew up and the folks got a break..great activities, wholesome living ...super! (I was such a daddy's girl when I was little I can't imagine a summer without my folks, but that's just me and, probably, it would done me a WHOLE lot of good, franklY!:-)

Anyway, Prager's been told by counselors that kids today are asked NOT to bring their CELL PHONES with them (we're talking little children) but, the parents can't stand being out of contact every day, so they SLIP another cell phone hidden in the suitcases just in case a camp counselor finds the first one. TEACHING THEIR KIDS TO CHEAT and be so dependent on their parents they can't grow up and figure out normal daily struggles without crying on their parents' shoulders!

Imagine teaching your children to LIE and cheat? that blew my mind. I'm so so so worried about America.

Chuck said...

Each to his own. I think it's silly and I'm with you on the hypocrisy thing. If this were happening in Dallas with a bunch of GOP oilmen (actually it probably is) the media would be outraged. When it happens among the liberal movie gods, the media thinks it's cute.

When I was in school, we were broke (I think the actual word is poor), my kids always had a good birthday and good Christmas. We sacrificed and gave them what we could but more than that we just spent time with them.

cube said...

This is an example of excessive consumption. Kids, especially little ones, don't care... this is all about the parents.

FrogBurger said...

I'm with you on the hypocrisy. It lacks decency in a way. But maybe those guys are giving a lot to charities and it offsets it.

I don't want to judge too much as I just spent 25k on cheese and wine. Joking!

Z said...

cube's right; what's a 1 or 2 year old going to remember? In these cases, it's 'keeping up with the Joneses'..all about the parents.

Heck, I barely remember my (homemade birthday cake and balloons with a few games) parties when I was 8 or even 11!
I DO remember a special lovely tea mom had for me for my Sweet Sixteen, however..because it was SPECIAL. SHE cooked,she did a gorgeous job.
TREATS are remembered because they're SPECIAL. The ones which stand out in our minds give us wonderful memories. These poor kids will just be expecting more and more..

Frogburger..alles chez nous avec les vins et les fromages ce soir, si te plais!

Chuck, excellent point about the Texas oil men... there'd be no celebrating in the media over THAT!

Papa Frank said...

What did you get for your birthday little one?

I got a terrible example and a room full of fake people trying to buy friendship and influence.

Anonymous said...

Z, I heard that same story about the parents sneaking cell phones. What a shame. Letter writing is a long-lost art. I love getting and sending letters. Big Sis does, too.

I guess I'm just lazy...my kids get stoked about a homemade chocolate cake decorated by mom and streamers hanging in the kitchen when it's birthday time. We invite friends when the kid turns 5 or 6, and I BEG grandparents to buy things like art lessons (BIG SIS!!) instead of more barbie dolls...not that they listen.

Less is more.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't stand to watch the entire video. These women are breathlessy planning parties for small children or babies who would be happy banging on pots with spoons.

"Everyone is paring down their spending these days, but it's hard to cut back when it's for our kids."

None of this has anything to do with being "for their kids".

I guess in hollywood, It's politically correct to outspend their neighbors and spoil their kids rotten. Then, in a few years the parents will wonder why they can't control their children.

And all because they fall under the spell of keeping up with the Cruise's or in more middle of the road neighborhoods, "the Jones's".

In my experience, I baked the cakes, decorated the cakes, the children played pin the tail on the donkey, played musical chairs, etc. and had a great time,
because it was about their birthday and Mom made it special for that special day.

It wasn't a competition with other Moms. It wasn't about how much money each of us spent, it was about celebrating our children's birthday, just them having fun with their friends and at an age that they knew it was their birthday.

Sometime simpler is better. It's a good lesson for kids, that you can be happy because you have friends to share and celebrate with. You don't need a parade, you just need each other.

Pris

Joe said...

Its the runaway recession.

Pat Jenkins said...

don't worry z i am in the process of doing away with this indulgence!!.. (except of course when it comes to my daughters).... yours truly barack obama

sue said...

When I was in high school one of my friends whose dad was about the wealthiest person in our small town had a party at the country club. My dad wouldn't let me go. He said What will you do when you are older.

heidianne jackson said...

when i was younger (and to this day if i'm visiting the folks) my mother let us pick the dinner the family would eat on our birthday and what type of cake we would have. we only had an actual party that involved more than whatever extended family happened to be around on our 10th and 16th birthdays. i repeated this with my children.

my oldest is now pregnant (due on 01 sep 09) and she has stated she plans to be as mean with her children as i was with her and her siblings. i couldn't be more proud.

Z said...

sue, exactly my point.

Heidianne...you should be! you meanie!

Deborah on the Bayside said...

Brilliant Sue!

I once saw a $20 "crinkle sack" in a pet store for kitty to play in -- nearly left my eyeballs on the floor! Went home and put down a plain brown grocery bag that kitty entertained himself in for hours. Somehow, that memory returns with gusto when I read this story.

Then there's the ancient Roman feast that served 1,000 hummingbird tongues....

I'm trying to decide: is it the famous Hollywood heart's own little stimulus plan ... or a reflection of the self-absorbed?

Z said...

Deborah, good one!
I'm reminded of a relative's Christmas party this year...I asked her for details beforehand because she wanted everything to be a surprise. All she said was "I'm contributing to Beverly Hills' economy!"
And BOY, DID they. But, these were adults having a lavish gorgeous delicious evening of Christmas splendors.......

It's just SO wrong for children (or cats, in your case!) not to use their imaginations...to kept swept up in 'one upmanship' at such early ages. At 14, the parents will be wondering WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR KID?

ya, well..........everybody ought to have sue's dad! Ours, too, I'm betting from most of you?

Always On Watch said...

I have a client who takes her daughter to the Cayman Islands for getting a good score on a math test. I emphasize that I'm not talking about an average for the year but rather a particular math test, although I don't know which one.

This treat has been going on since the girl was in 2nd grade. She is now in 6th grade and one of the most spoiled, disrespectful brats I've ever encountered. And, no, she isn't an only child; there are two other girls in the family, and they never get the same treat.

Anonymous said...

They are free to spend the money they make any way they feel like. But we are free to criticize their squandering.

Good heavens that much for a birthday, some people have more money than brains.