The Peculiar Economics of Over the Top Birthday Parties The trend of extravagant birthday bashes for young children has become a status symbol in some social circles, with parents feeling pressure to keep up appearances and show off their financial prowess.
A recent letter to Slate's Care and Feeding column highlights the complexities of this phenomenon, where parents are torn between providing an upscale experience for their child and the guilt tripping that comes with not meeting societal expectations.
The writer, "Birthday Blowup," describes his wife's insistence on throwing a lavish party for their 5 year old daughter, featuring a $500 cake, magician, clowns, face painters, bubble artist, and rented bounce houses.