When did kids' birthday parties get so darned out of control? We remember the good old days of putting on a party dress, going to your friend's house for presents, cake and maybe a game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, and out we went in less than two hours. But somehow, we're now parents, and we're the ones who have taken this stuff to next-level nuts!
Why are we out here trying to out-party everyone else? From custom-designed cakes and cookies to balloon arches that match the perfectly color-themed event, which makes us think of Shelby from Steel Magnolias and her blush and bashful … but we digress. One mom's invitation to her twins' fifth birthday party is going viral because it is so real and what we need right now.
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This party is not intended to impress.
Carys Roberts sent out the tongue-in-cheek invites with no idea they would go insanely viral. Natalie LeClaire's son, Evan, was invited to the party, and she posted the video to her TikTok account, @not.just.nat, where it has been viewed 5.2 million times.
Why, you ask? Because if we were ever honest, it's exactly how every mom feels planning the party but very few of us will ever admit it.
"This event is brought to you by Pinterest fails and the dollar store, so please set your expectations accordingly," the invitation reads.
Your party has a designated theme, color, and dress code, and Roberts' party is a free-for-all.
Her kids, just like your kids, couldn't decide on one thing, so she's doing what a lot of us wouldn't. She's letting them have a little bit of everything.
"As requested, the theme will be unicorns, but with rainbows and maybe bats. But there should be princesses and also Minnie, and we need
dancing lights, so dress accordingly," the invitation continues.
Be sure to bring it all to the Roberts' place.
Roberts expects other people's kids to be like hers, so she addresses fickleness, too.
"Please pack a bathing suit, sunscreen, puddle jumpers, etc., in case your sweet baby angels decide our original plan sucks and the pool would be a better time," the invite continues.
Wow. We feel that one in our bones and our souls.
You can push the kids out of the car or stay. It's up to you.
Roberts understands that party time means free time for parents and encourages them to leave their kids behind.
"If you would like to drop off and run, we support that entirely. If you would like to stay, we will provide adult juice and deny any offers to help, to be polite. But deep down, want to support you. You do you," the invitation concludes.
LeClaire said she is absolutely going to the party, and TikTokers want to go too.
The viral video has 795,000 likes and 3,200 comments from people who love the message.
"Do they realize how many people will now be emotionally attending this party?" someone asked?
"This is incredible. It's what we're all thinking when hosting kids parties " another person wrote.
And there were lots of great jokes, like this one: "Please make sure you get this friend a very good gift .. wrapped in a dollar general bag. The mom will understand. "
"about time DOLLAR STORE decorations and ADULT JUICE….IM IN! Just pure fun!" another follower joked.
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Roberts caught wind of her celebrity party planner status.
The clever mom posted her video on TikTok and explained that she is not a social media creator and tends to "over promise and under deliver."
"So, be prepared to be underwhelmed with this party," she warns.
As she sips from her wine glass and shows us her chipped manicure, just like LeClaire, we realize that she is our people, too.
"What the f— am I going to do with this party? In full transparency, it's going to be really good," she jokes.
In a quick follow-up video, LeClaire tells us that she and Roberts have never met but are besties already. She ran by the dollar store to start putting together her outfit and chose a perfect unicorn cap. LeClaire promised a follow-up from the party, and we can't wait to see it.
Psst! Hey Natalie. Can you get us on that guest list? We promise we'll dress to impress.
