Balloon Time

Whenever I plan my children’s birthday parties, the subject of balloons always comes up. I hate balloons, but it’s not about me, right? (Think of the children. Think of the children.) My kids demand helium-filled balloons. Yeah, yeah, I know, they’re guaranteed to produce an instant smile on any child’s face—like kittens and rainbows. You just give a kid a balloon, and all of a sudden everything in the world is right again.

But balloons are a waste of money. The plain solid-colored helium variety costs almost a dollar each (!) and you need to buy at least double the amount you think is required. Case in point: we invited twenty kids to my daughter’s fifth birthday party, held in our backyard. (We’ve always held our kids’ birthday parties in our backyard, and this is now becoming an issue, because apparently our backyard is NOT cool enough in comparison to the mall or the local arcade. But that’s another story.)

Sixteen kids responded that they were coming, two said they would not be able to make it, and two never RSVP’d. So we needed sixteen balloons, right? I instructed my husband to buy thirty-two balloons. You’d think that I got enough balloons to satisfy those little monsters, right? Wrong! Twenty-two kids showed up, because some of them brought their siblings (but hadn’t bothered to inform me in advance), and the two who hadn’t RSVP’d showed up anyway. My three-year-old son wanted to help “decorate” the back yard, and popped or lost at least six balloons. Nobody wanted the green balloons, which left us negotiating at the end of the party with four unhappy kids (you do the math). “Instant smile”—riiiight. It would have been easier (and more satisfying) to just hand each kid a dollar bill as they left the party: “Here’s your balloon, kid! Now go home.”   

With the experience of my daughter’s party still fresh in my mind (but my son’s birthday still months away), I headed to my local Party City to see if I could find a solution that was more affordable, yet would still met my kids’ requirements for a “balloon.” (My kids think that if a balloon doesn’t float up and have a string attached to it then it’s just not a balloon.) Walking quickly past the helium balloon counter that practically assaults you near the front entrance, I found the balloon aisle and was pleasantly surprised. There were plenty of options for a helium-balloon-hater like me. There were helium balloon kits, and they were reasonably priced. But then I saw the balloon animal kit.

I bought the kit. While my kids were in school, I opened up the package and began making giraffes, rabbits, parrots, elephants, snails and poodles. I felt a little foolish at first—especially since I’m the type of person who cringes whenever a balloon pops (or is even about to pop). But after mastering a giraffe, I was hooked. When my kids came home later that day, they were greeted by a balloon animal zoo in their playroom. And I was in heaven. I was treated like Super Mom for a few precious hours that afternoon (“Mom can do anything!”).

I wanted to practice my new hobby, so I found an online deal for bulk balloons. Then, after a while, the ten different animals I had learned from my original kit got to be old and boring, so I headed to the nearest Barnes & Noble to see what was happening out there in the crazy world of animal balloons. I found some interesting books to help me to the next level in my craft.

I also looked up some other Web sites, which were dedicated to all things balloon. They had a lot to offer a fanatic balloon-twisting mom. Apparently, if you just have a handful of balloons and a little gumption, you can have yourself a grand ole time.

I guess you can say that I am now officially pro-balloon. My kids are happy, I’m happy, and we are all looking forward to my son’s birthday party.

Ps. For my balloon secrets and advice, see my Party Balloons for Kids in Party Supplies Reviews.

Photo: Michael Bretherton