Lavish parties for children are one of the many reasons so many kids are spoiled brats. They get everything they want without restraint while mom and dad go broke trying to give them everything to make up for having to work to pay for all the lavish crap little Tommy and Janey want.

There is no need to spend exorbitant funds on food and party favors. Give the kids DIY activities and snacks, and some cheesy goodie bags and they'll have more fun than any lavish carnival or circus style party in the long run.

For the record, that's a rule in good and lean times in our house, especially when we have two birthdays and Christmas that come within six weeks of each other. We can't spend lavishly when the holidays are also so close.

Also, kids need to hear the word "no" every once in a while to really appreciate the power of "yes". If they always get, they will take everything for granted. And, we don't need to be raising anymore GWBs, if you know what I mean...