Q & A: The Best and Worst Parties I’ve Hosted or Attended

The Worst Party

What is the worst and parties you’ve attended or given as well as what made them so?

Wondering

Dear Wondering,

The worst I hosted was for my daughter’s 12^th birthday party. My planning focused on all the invitees: gift bags, a variety of games with prizes, birthday cake, candles, and the lot. The one thing I didn’t plan well was to make sure that my daughter was the center of attention. I expected her to be a cohost and cater to the guests. Not good. Huge mistake!

This was her special occasion, her party. Children want to feel as if their birthday party is all about them. They need to win some of the prizes. They need to be the center of attention. They need to feel special. So, this was a good lesson for me.

Message to daughter: Sorry, Shannon. You are special to me.

The Best Party

One of my dear friends hosted a wonderful dinner party for a group of ten exceptional people. We all knew and had affection for each other.

Inviting such a group was a recipe for success from the beginning, but what made the event memorable, was how my friend, the host, treated us. For example, he took the time to spend a few minutes talking one-on-one to me. He took my hand, led me to the couch, sat with me, and asked very sincerely -- with good eye contact -- how I was and what was going on in my life. It was very touching. I knew how much he cared. That was special.

Most sincerely,

Rebecca

More by Rebecca

How to Grill Herbal-Rubbed Chicken Breast Perfectly

String Pasta With Preserved Lemons and Asparagus

How to Plan and Enjoy Your Mother's Day Tea Party

Comments

Using Teachable Moments When Planning & Hosting Parties

Dear Rebecca, What do children and teens learn from their parent’s throwing parties ? Parent Dear Parent, Children of all ages learn everything from their parents. They learn all their manners , which is basically how we treat others and ourselves. They also learn etiquette, which is the protocol, how we behave, or how we are expected to behave in public. So, if a child’s parents throw raucous parties with alcohol and loud music, the child will believe that this is what is expected at parties. If the parents cater to their guests, treating them as special, the child will learn that he/she should treat their guests as special. Parents are their child’s best teachers to teach him/her about life and being a good person. Pro-Tip Involve your child in the planning and preparation of the party. Teach him/her how to focus on guests' needs. Most sincerely, Rebecca More by Rebecca Q & A: The Best and Worst Parties I’ve Hosted or At...

Food Review: Trader Joe’s Animal Crackers

Tub of Fun Found in Trader Joe's Animal Crackers If you are like me, every time I see a box of animal crackers, I relive my childhood years of drooling over a box decorated as if it is a red circus boxcar filled with exotic animals. My favorite cookie/cracker was the elephant. Therefore, when I noticed a tub --yes an entire tub-- of animal cookies on a Trader Joe’s shelf, I squealed like a little girl and promptly tossed one in my cart. As a fan of simple English style cookies, Trader Joe’s Organic Animal Crackers are a perfect fit for me. They are crunchy, light, great with hot beverages, and shaped like animals. What could be better? Right? The real surprise with these cookies is that these are not your typical guilty-pleasure snacks. Oh no. These puppies —or should I say camels -- are low in fat and sodium, vegan, organic and only 120 for 17 delicious cookies! There are even tigers in the tub. It just ge...

Public Swimming Pools Can be Deadly for Those With Autoimmune Diseases

Toxic Mix of Urine, Feces, Germs, and Parasites Await Swimmers Often profiled as funny, like in the movie " Grown Ups " with Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, urinating in the pool appears to be quite common in real life according to recent data . Urine is bad enough, but just the tiniest bit of fecal material in a pool could cause illness and infections for pregnant women, the elderly, and young children. Even worse, it could cause deadly results for those with compromised immune systems, like multiple sclerosis. With the summer swim season arriving any day, it may be best to take an awfully close look at what is in that pool water. This is especially for those of us who can be affected the most, which includes me. Considering that I have multiple sclerosis, those germs could offer me a stay in the nearby hospital. What is in the public pool water? Public pools offer a temporary reprieve from the summer heat. However, a HuffPost ...

Living Well Etc.

Search This Blog