I'll second, third? Lisa and Sov. Six years old is too young to teach a charity lesson at birthday time IMO. Their birthdays are about silly fun with their friends. Lisa's statement in regards to gifts (optional but please be sure to bring yourself blah blah) is as far as I would go. As the mother of a small child who has too much, I use these experiences to teach the gift of giving. The joy of finding a special toy (and a matchbox might be all that is for some but it's still special to a six year old) is a lesson I don't get to give very often so I really take advantage of it (our son is 4 and not yet in school). At 8 or 9 plus it's a fun idea to discuss giving a party for charity, but only as an idea for the child...you know when they're ready for this or if they ever are :) I bitterly remember the birthday where my father taught me about charity. I opened all the gifts and then they were given to the "less fortunate" (I had no idea who those people were because we didn't learn that lesson). It was really more about control (now that I look back on it) verses a lesson in charity, but to a small child...do they really know the difference? I think we often forget the "joy of giving" and focus on the receiving too much :) So I get where you're coming from, but for a child of six...it's a party :) Let them enjoy it as a six year old should. Goody bags aren't a tradition in our area of the country. But I think the cookie and balloon sounds great. Great for table decor and enjoyable for the kids to take home. Or you could go with a matchbox given the theme of the party (those cheap ones). I don't mind cheap crap...it makes DS smile. The fact that he does not know the difference between a one dollar car and a twenty dollar one actually pleases me. And I don't mind the matchbox's anyhoo...at least they're metal :) My DS is afraid of birthday cake (or was until this year when he's braved the frosting) so I guess we're not overly birthday focused, but he has enjoyed the parties he's gone to as long as we avoid the cake. I don't remember getting any party bags...wait maybe one, but perhaps that is just our circle of friends. I don't think a lecture on how to throw a party is necessary :) Family, friends, it does not matter. Kids should have special birthdays be it with their school friends or family or both. Special does not have to mean much. We had our favorite couple over with their two kids for DS's 4th. Then we repeated a simple dinner with grandma the next week (we were moving to her state). He enjoyed both parties immensely and both were quite simple. DS would love to attend by the way....do you allow 4 year olds? I promise to limit the plastic LOL

I have an 8 year old Boxer, Millie, that had her first seizure just over a year ago. It was long and violent and tortuous to watch lasting well over 3 minutes. I immediately took her to the vet and he started her on Phenobarbital and Valium. She had several more smaller ones until the levels were where they needed to be. In the year since she's had dozens, some worse than others, and we've added Potassium Bromide to the mix. She continues to have small focal seizures lasting a few seconds almost daily. She was hospitalized last month with Pancreatitis. While there she had one larger and one smaller seizure. Since she's come home she seems to be deteriorating. She sleeps most of the days away. She has difficulty walking, stumbles or falls when she stands still for more than a few seconds, bumps into things and has fallen down the stairs. She seems to be losing control or strength in her hind legs. Last night she fell asleep at my feet and then couldn't stand or walk for a couple of minutes when she woke. This morning, on the other hand, she came as close to running as she has in a while to go outside and potty and play for a moment. It was brief. She's eating well, looks and sounds a good as ever which makes it that much harder to wonder "How much is enough for her?" I guess that's what I'm looking for, advice on "enough". She is our absolute favorite person in the world and is loved beyond measure. As terrified as I am about her leaving us, I am more afraid that she's suffering as she is. I've never had to even consider this for a pet so I'm lost to the rationale of it. How do you know when they've had enough?

Softball, your suggestion gave me a laugh. Years ago a friend's daughter was getting married. They were young and starting from scratch. At the wedding shower I gave her a laundry basket with washing powder, bleach, dryer sheets, dish soap, dish clothes, tea towels, AND a "two-egg size" black cast iron frying pan. The pan even had a picture in it of bacon and two eggs. She not only loved it, but several of the guests said they wished they had thought of that. I wish I had thought of a plunger. the practical-minded Sue

That's the age, right? Not that many girls? I'm deep into a morass of 8 girls from 12-22 (plus half a dozen more who are a bit younger). At least six are getting jewelry rolls with some inexpensive jewelry in them. Some are quite religious, so I checked with the moms first, and made sure about pierced ears. The one they loved, but was a lot of work wrapping, was fold out dressing cases, like the old train cases, but shaped more like a tackle box with the trays that lift up to display. Inside, each got a pad of paper, pen, thumb drive, mini-speaker, screen cleaning cloth, earbud winder thing, keychain and purse hanger mirror. The case can hold makeup (in the future), or jewelry, or just bits and pieces. They all got different colors/patterns, some of which are wild like pink and black zebra stripes. Other ideas for the 13-14 group: A build your own terrarium kit (comes with the plants). A knitting bowl (holds a ball of yarn and has holes to put your needles through to keep your work straight). A jewelry tree. A new baseball glove (for the so inclined). A beautiful music box with a space for a few trinkets -- but one that plays a more modern and less expected song than Lara's Theme. :) Have you asked the mom what she's into? One of the girls is really into anime, and loves dressing up in anime style. I got her a whole outfit -- skirt with braces, sweetheart blouse, tights with "stockings" (dark to over the knee, then nude) with cat faces on the tops, pink anime wig and felt hat with ears. It's sort of on the line between costume and clothing, and she's going to love it. (Okayed by the mom.)