lisag8070

That sounds like a fantastic day...how was the helicoper ride? I've never been in one and I'm curious as to how it compare to flying in an aeroplane..

I hope my DD would love to do something like that and not all this "got to have the biggest birthday bash ever"

Jerseygirl

It was extremely noisy...but very memorable.

As my old mum would say 'throwing money around like a man with no arms' is not the Brit way.

dbj1000

The first time either of my daughters mentions the word "popularity" in the context of school, they'll find out exactly what I think of this obnoxious American obsession.

I very much doubt they'll ask for a "sweet 16 party".

Sally Redux

How old are they now?

another bloody yank

It meant I could get a job. Legally anyway. I started working at 14 when I told my parents I wanted a Cannondale bike, they told me to get a job and buy it. I put an add in the paper whoring myself for "odd jobs and labor" and that's just what I got. I busted my ass all summer, but I finally got the Cannondale. After that, I worked illegally washing dishes at the Firefighter's Union hall until I got my first "real" job bagging groceries two weeks before my 16th birthday.

lisag8070

My dad always said "what you want and what you get are to seperate things"

usually when I asked him if I could have the new 'trendy' shoes for school....

Xebedee

Of course, we had it tough!

Bob

It's a lot of fun....noisy, but a great chance to take some fun photo's.

My mother "won" a ride around Oxford in one, her insurance bloke, top guy, very high up basically fixed it so she would win the company prize when he found out my brother had been killed as something to take her mind off things. We both loved it.

tamms_1965

My daughter is 18 now and in college, but I had to endure the sweet 16 (and other parties which still continue to go on)

chicagojlo

We were at a Marriott where some couple was having their wedding reception, only problem was all the guests were in the bar watching the football!

hatfield1

I think its all bullsh*t. When my girl turns 16 she can have a party at home. If she doesn’t like it …….tuff.

Xebedee

Wait for it! 30 years from now all the offspring of Amer/English marriages will be in intensive therapy because they didn't get spoiled like some of the brats you hear about who get given everything because Mom & Dad were more interested in their careers than raising their kids with correct values.

*takes breath*

NOT!

hatfield1

I don’t think it will take long for our kids to realize we are some poor sods. Luck for us we live close to Tijuana so we can buy them cheap knock off stuff and they can feel fancy.

tamms_1965

Sweet 16 doesn't mean you have to rent a venue out or spend a lot of money. In my daughter's and her friends cases, they usually had a party at someone's house that had a pool, party room, or just a basement. My daughter's best friend gave her a surprise 16th at my house a day early (she was returning from being an exchange student in Germany & all her friends were at the house when we came back from the airport). I provided the food and supervision and the friend did all the planning and work.

Recently, my daughter hosted a going away dinner at my house for all of her friends going off to different universities. I did the cooking, she and a friend did the planning/decorations, and they had a nice low-key evening on the screened-in porch. It was very inexpensive and civilized. DH and I really enjoyed seeing all the girls in their summer dresses and sandals chatting and taking pictures, etc.

My kids learned early not expect extravagance (even when I had money to blow).

hatfield1

Yup that’s kind of what I was thinking. I might even buy a cake….. A small inexpensive one…