Hey, I'm Kat, and I'm exactly 19 years older than your son - to the day!
Hooray for July 7 birthdays!! 2 boys. Brandon is 2 and a half and Zachary
is 3 and a half.
First birthdays don't seem to matter to the kids. And as said above
somewhere, the first birthday is more for you than for your child. Your son
won't remember anything and yes, it will be more fun for him in the years to
come as you both look at pictures and laugh, while you can remember and tell
him stories.
For my son's first birthday, although my ex has nothing to do with him
anyways, we had a big party with family. He was sick for his first birthday
and on only liquids. (Lots of water and watered down juice) and could not
have cake or ice cream or pizza. I could not afford much for his birthday,
both birthdays are right after Christmas (December 29 and January 31) so
since Christmas made me broke, and I wasn't able to go all out, a few
smaller gifts were fine. Both the boys love trucks, so that was a definite
as a birthday present, as well as clothes that were much needed. With lots
of people at a birthday party or not, pictures are a definite, and so is
fun.
You don't need a huge party with 1000's in attendance. If it is you and
your son only, then you can still definitely have an awesome day and so can
your son. If you can round up a few of your friends with or without
children of their own, what family you do have or even the neighbourhood
kids, I don't see what would be wrong with that, and even if you can't, this
is a day for your son (and yourself) and there are many ways you can
celebrate.
Pack a lunch and go for a picnic in the park with him. It's pretty
inexpensive to make some sandwiches, cut up some fruit or veggies and throw
in a few cookies, or whatever you decide, and then you don't have to clean
up as much after you eat. Spend the day doing a bit more than what you
already do. Spend some time fingerpainting a picture frame, then when cake
time comes, take a picture as he puts his whole hand in the cake when it's t
ime to blow out the candle. Let him have some fun digging into his cake and
smearing it around every inch within arm's length and every possible part of
his body. Take a picture of that and put it in a frame you made together.

I really don't know. We spent the day just having some fun. There's no
real need to go all out with decorations, gifts, people, snacks and so on.
You'll have enough of that when he hits school and wants to take every
single classmate to the "coolest" birthday place. Take it easy for his
birthday, spend some time to get yourself in order as well. After all, 1
year ago on his birthday, you didn't have a baby in your arms and might very
well have been spending the time in a hospital eating gross food and, for
the first little while, not having all that much fun 'waiting' for your baby
to actually be here!

I don't know what to suggest, really, other than what already came to my
mind. You can definitely take it or leave it, but maybe something catches
your eye and is something you and your son can enjoy!


"me" wrote in message
...
Hey guys, my name is Marcia and I need help! First off I'm a 22 year
old single parent from the bronx, and my only child is turning 1 on
July 7th and I have absolutely no idea what to do!!! My son's dad is
not in the picture and I barely have family so thats a no go but I
really didn't (nor can I afford) a big party anyhow. I was gonna buy
some gifts like toys and stuff maybe about 3 or 4 ,about 10 balloons
and a cake with a disposable camera and celebrate at home with him.
But I dunno a part of me is saying I'm a horrible parent for not
planning anything big for him, is this good enough? LoL, I'm really
interested in you guys ideas maybe what you guys did with your
children on their first birthday I'm sorry to intrude in like this
but I need help I can stick around and give some of my advice as
well if needed Thanks for reading!

Marcia