Daughters Lockdown 18th Birthday

Sandtree

Spendless said:

You're now going to be affeted by last night's news. How large is your household Sue? If it now has to be just you what about hiring a hottub?  

I can see an 18 year old wanting to share a hot tub with their boyfriend/girlfriend but with their mum & dad?

We were invited to a Zoom (actually Teams but lets go with the known brand) b'party with everyone getting an indian takeaway and beers in so that we on some level shared a meal together... wasn't exactly the same, the usual suspect rather than complaining about the food choice just broke the rules and bought KFC instead, but it was a reasonable proxy in the circumstances.

If friends/family don't live too far away and you aren't a massive household then doing something like a concurrent picnic (if weather holds)  with either your daughter touring the other blankets/groups or them taking it in turns to visit you... obviously need to read the details of the new rules to ensure its not a problem.

rach_k

Get her drunk, then next day tell her wild stories of what she got up to.  She won't remember anyway

Or was that just the way my family did 18th birthdays?!

pickledonionspaceraider

Reschedule.  
and reorganise for next year

ZaSa1418

My Daughter's 18th was earlier in the year, 3 weeks or so after lockdown. We already had her presents and got her a cake etc but no big family meal out (she didn't want a party as was going to go out with her mates at a seperate time) We will have a big family meal out on her 19th as her 18th celebrations didn't happen. 
She still enjoyed herself getting presents and choosing a takeaway. 

Primrose

Today,s new rule of a maximum gathering  of no more than six, inside or outside may well scupper any plans you may be hatching. Nobody  knows how long it will remain in force but the NHS needs to be protected from another mass hospitalisation programme with the winter flu season approaching so it could remain in force for months! 
As much as you want to hold a big event for your daughter the reality is that she,s about to become an ADULT and the best gift you  can give her is to help her grow up and accept the harsh realities of life which all adults have to come to terms with.
Let's face it, thousands have already died from this pandemic.  Encouraging her to feel she has "an entitlement" to  grand celebrations in these times is to encourage her  not to face reality.
   It,s a shame, but worse disasters happen at sea.  Just arrange a nice family gathering with a maximum of six people.  She,s still has the rest of her life waiting with plenty of time for other parties and celebrations. 

suejb2

Primrose said:

Today,s new rule of a maximum gathering  of no more than six, inside or outside may well scupper any plans you may be hatching. Nobody  knows how long it will remain in force but the NHS needs to be protected from another mass hospitalisation programme with the winter flu season approaching so it could remain in force for months! 
As much as you want to hold a big event for your daughter the reality is that she,s about to become an ADULT and the best gift you  can give her is to help her grow up and accept the harsh realities of life which all adults have to come to terms with.
Let's face it, thousands have already died from this pandemic.  Encouraging her to feel she has "an entitlement" to  grand celebrations in these times is to encourage her  not to face reality.
   It,s a shame, but worse disasters happen at sea.  Just arrange a nice family gathering with a maximum of six people.  She,s still has the rest of her life waiting with plenty of time for other parties and celebrations. 

Wow Debbie Downer ! 

Did you actually read my post?
 The big event is cancelled! I asked for ways to celebrate a significant birthday in these conditions. There isn’t even a whiff of entitlement from my daughter. 

 You get two cliches from me for your attitude 

it’s nice to be important but it’s important to be nice!
Can’t say anything nice don’t say anything!

Good day to you Primrose 

suejb2

Misslayed said:

It's my aunt's 80th birthday in a couple of weeks, my cousin has organised friends and family to make short videos and she's going to 'knit' them together - I've no idea how, but technologically minded young people can probably do it. 

This this this. 

Unfortunately she is the technologically minded young one. I on the other hand!  Thinking of making a top secret Facebook page, friends but mainly family can record a message. Friends will probably use Snapgram or Instachat (deliberately swapped)

Spendless

Sandtree said:

Spendless said:

You're now going to be affeted by last night's news. How large is your household Sue? If it now has to be just you what about hiring a hottub?  

I can see an 18 year old wanting to share a hot tub with their boyfriend/girlfriend but with their mum & dad?

She might have a couple of sisters though!
I shared one with my 17yo daughter and my husband's aunt only this week. Just something different to do.

EndlessStruggle

Is really hard to know where to go with this without knowing more about your daughter, especially on a milestone bday. 
Have you asked her/has she said what she wants to do or are you taking the lead on organising?
Could you give us a brief overview of interests, family size etc? 
Are you wanting a whole day of plans or just a portion? 
All of what we have done might not be what your daughter would want but I am sure between us we can bounce some ideas about for something special for her day. 

Sandtree

Spendless said:

Sandtree said:

Spendless said:

You're now going to be affeted by last night's news. How large is your household Sue? If it now has to be just you what about hiring a hottub?  

I can see an 18 year old wanting to share a hot tub with their boyfriend/girlfriend but with their mum & dad?

She might have a couple of sisters though!
I shared one with my 17yo daughter and my husband's aunt only this week. Just something different to do.

But I am guessing you arent an 18 year old girl thats grown up in the millennium... what we find enjoyable as 30 something (ok, 40ish) adult isn't the same as a teenager.  We are also all individuals, I know when I was 18 I'd not have been excited by the idea of a shared hot tub with family... maybe slightly different if we were talking the depth of winter with snow around etc. That isnt to say I wouldnt have gotten into one but it'd have been to keep others happy.

Lose the family, add in the girlfriend and some privacy and I'd have been the first one in there.