There was a time I wasn’t sure that not organizing a big, loud and super-duper birthday party for my firstborn is a proper choice. As the celebration took place just a few days ago, I thought it could be a good moment to share our choices and ‘party’ concept with you because I think my idea is always more common among parents nowadays.

There is a lot of pressure from the other side of the river, where the parents stand for an idea of a fancy event with numerous invited, running and screaming children, enormous cake, paid entertainers and… if you just think deep enough about it, there is nothing more than an expensive playdate with a cake all over to your house, garden or a location rented out elsewhere. And believe me, it’s not about saving money on my kids or so. And we also celebrate, and how !? It’s about consumerism vs. life experiences. Are we bad parents? We just celebrate differently. And my kids are tremendously thrilled about it!

There is much more we can offer our children to make this day enjoyable and unforgettable. And much more interesting and mind-opening than running after balloons and eating sweets. Especially if you have a kid with special needs, a birthday party might be extremely challenging. Just don’t feel pressure if all around you and your family tell you that the big whopping, dynamite party is not the best idea ever.

You have to analyze if this whole celebrating and preparing and squeezing yourself and your family time and energy whether is it worth it.

I find a birthday family gathering absolutely important and there is nothing wrong with the celebration of your kid’s birthday. We celebrate like crazy including blowing out the candles on the birthday cake. I just refuse to dedicate me and all of my family’s resources in organizing cool and cozy Pinterest-like jamboree and freaking expensive elephant-in-the-patio party.

So we travel. I really think that this kind of feast is much more valuable especially from the emotive, educational and bonding point of view. I refuse to see my kid struggle with noise, crowd, and uncontrolled little people and their parents’ banquette. And if I have an opportunity to choose the struggle I will certainly go for much productive kind of trouble.

The other point that family trips gaining in this chart is the brilliant idea of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Going through something new, visiting new places, seeing new things and people, tasting different cuisines and discovering other ways of living.

There is an extraordinary way of spending a special day with your closest family and all together focus on celebrating the child and create life-lasting memories. I can tell from our own experience that investing in experiences like parents-with-kids travels brings people closer. It makes pop-up new family traditions that are more precious than a clown with a bunch of felt flowers in the sleeve.

It doesn’t matter if you spend a day in a local zoo, a night away in some kids friendly place, make a car trip to a worth visiting city or take a chance to fly and explore other countries and different continents. The options are limitless.

Don’t get me wrong, every single family decides how they prefer to spend their festive quality time and I’m not here neither to mislead you nor to scold you for throwing birthday parties to your kids. Not everything that works for our family, works for everyone. But I’m of the idea that travels enrich our minds immensely, boost creativity and show us there is a world out there waiting to be discovered. And we as a family can start exploring it together. Because there is always a piece of cake to buy somewhere that you could light a candle on top of it and blow it out singing “Happy Birthday to You!”. And travel as much as you can!