Have Kids Birthday Parties Gotten Out of Hand?

Back in the olden days, kids' birthday parties were relatively simple affairs.

Inexpensive invitations, usually from the drugstore or KMart, were sent by mail or were hand-delivered. Mom made a cake, sometimes decorating with gumdrops or royal icing if she was feeling creative. The setting was the back yard or, if the weather was bad, in the house. Crepe-paper streamers and balloons were the decorations. Entertainment was party games, maybe a movie in the VCR, unless the grandparents were feeling indulgent and hired a clown.

Judging by today's standards, we adults got the short end of the birthday party stick.

Themes and color schemes are just the beginning. Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey is passe. Want to impress your kid and the neighbors? Rent a bounce house. And don't forget the favors. You have to at least match what your kid got at their friends' parties, otherwise you'll look cheap (or so parents fear).

Busy parents are often holding the parties away from home, at places like Chuck E. Cheese, to avoid having to deal with cleaning up before and after the party. Moms who don't have the Martha Stewart touch are buying the cakes.

TLC has a new show called "Outrageous Kid Parties" depicting extravagence that, just like MTV's "My Super Sweet 16," will be pushing many people's "WTF?!" buttons.

There's a reason some thought a satirical advertising agency video on YouTube, depicting the marketing of a child's birthday party, was for real. Because it's not that far from reality for some parents.

How do you handle your kids' birthdays? Do you love throwing the parties? Do you feel pressure from your kids, or maybe other adults, to go all-out? What's the most over-the-top thing you've seen at a child's birthday party? What are your favorite memories from your own, and your kids', birthday parties?

Or do you think lavish birthday parties are just fine, they're only kids once, and anyone with concerns is just a stick-in-the-mud?

Post your opinions and questions in the comments.

Joining us on Moms Talk is our wonderful Moms Council:

 is our parenting columnist. Julie, a longtime reporter and communications professional, is a first-time mom of a son born in November.

 works in healthcare. She and husband Timothy have a daughter, Amara. Monina is also a member of the Disney Moms Panel, one of 15 moms selected nationwide, advising people online about planning Disney vacations.

 is a mom of three children ages 5 and under with her husband, Bill. She also works part-time.

 is a native of New Jersey. She is a marketing professional who has worked in advertising, market research, vending and equipment companies. She and her husband live in Avon with their two children.

So, as Linda Richman used to say on "Coffee Talk" ... Talk amongst yourselves.