Planning for 18th Birthday party, need suggestions please!

[rascalmom]

My oldest dd will turn 18 in a couple of months. Her b-day always falls during Spring Break and we have usually celebrated during a trip. (Last year we got to have breakfast at Cindy's!)

This year she would like to stay home & it really isn't a good time for a trip for our family for various reasons. Right now, I am thinking along the lines of a surprise party.

I need suggestions on pulling this off. She has a tight-knit group of friends that I know will help me, but I still need ideas. Oh, & should I try to do the party on her actual birthday (Wed) or go for a weekend.

Thanks - I was pretty good at little kid parties, but teens are an entirely different matter!

 

[mommytotwo]

What sort of interest does your daughter have?

I would have the party on her birthday. Just have her friends tell her ahead of time that they are going to take her out so she is out of the house or they can bring her to the party and you can surprise her.

Maybe ask some of her friends what they think your daughter might like.

 

[rascalmom]

That's the problem - she's not one to ask for what she wants. She's probably the only teen in America who hasn't asked for an I-Pod or any other expensive gadget - ever. She'll go spend an entire day at the mall while her friends buy lots of stuff - she'll come home with nothing.

She said she wanted to be at home - that's probably the most any of us would get out of her.

As far as what her interests are - she sings, dances & acts. She has a new boyfriend, but who can predict if he will still be in the picture by March! I know her friends can help me with the invite list - but from there I am stumped.

Really need some good ideas!!!! Please!

 

[mommytotwo]

Since she likes to sing and dance, would you have enough room in your home to put up a dance floor and a karaoke machine?

 

[barkley]

is there any community theatre productions running near by around her birthday? you could arrange for her to go with you or a friend and have her group waiting to surprise her. then they could all come back to your place for a late night get together/sleep over.

we had a parent arrange this during the last production i was in. we gave them a break on buying some tickets, reserved a small section of seats for the party and had the entire cast and audience sing happy birthday during curtain call.

 

[rascalmom]

is there any community theatre productions running near by around her birthday? you could arrange for her to go with you or a friend and have her group waiting to surprise her. then they could all come back to your place for a late night get together/sleep over.

we had a parent arrange this during the last production i was in. we gave them a break on buying some tickets, reserved a small section of seats for the party and had the entire cast and audience sing happy birthday during curtain call.

This is a GREAT idea - lots of her friends are into theatre too. I'm gonna see if there are any (affordable) shows going on during that time.

My house isn't really set up to do a dance floor here - I have lots of space, but it is broken up into too many rooms. Otherwise, that would be a great idea.

 

[rascalmom]

Driving Miss Daisy will be playing at a local community theatre.

Lol, she will be turning 18 - time for her to face the realities of the aged!