Birthday Parties, Hats, and Memories

My niece will have her eighth birthday party tomorrow.  Their will be goody bags, brightly-colored packages, and cake...but no birthday hats. The lack of birthday hats has had me thinking a lot about my own birthday parties as a child.

Whatever happened to the birthday hats? Why do children today think they are too cool for birthday hats?

I reflect back to my own birthday parties. As a small child, everyone wore party hats. It was exciting to show up to a party, and wonder what type of hat you would be honored to wear. The above picture was taken at my 4th birthday party. I am seated at the head of the table in the pink hat. Look around the table. All you see are party hats. Now there is no mistaking...you know that was a birthday party!     

As we grew older, we did ditch the hats, but that was much later in life. As I think of my birthday parties from 3rd grade on, I remember swimming parties at my house, and skating parties at Hot Wheels. Now of course, once you are in 3rd grade...you ARE too cool for hats, but for those first eight years, it was hats all the way. No one complained about the itchy, rubber strap that you had to slide under you're chin, or behind you're ears. You wore the hats because it was you're duty as an honored party guest. It showed respect to the "birthday girl, or boy."

 I say bring back the party hats. The world would be a brighter, happier place!