We didn't invite any kids to our 5-year-old's birthday. It was the best decision we ever made.

We didn't invite any kids to our 5-year-old's birthday. It was the best decision we ever made.

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When our child's fifth birthday came around, we found ourselves utterly exhausted not just from the day-to-day work of parenting, but from the pressure that seems to accompany birthday parties these days. Pinterest-perfect themes. Goodie bags with custom stickers. Bounce house rentals booked three months out. It had started to feel less like a celebration of our child's life and more like a tiny wedding, complete with logistics, financial stress, and a whole lot of performative joy.

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