in

England

First birthday ideas

Hi, I’m looking for something special to do for my LO’s first birthday in a month.

I always pictured having a little party for her- a day with everybody she knows there to celebrate her. Everybody in my family always had a small, special little gathering for their first birthday.

However, things haven’t turned out like that. I don’t have a village. There aren’t any children/babies at all in my husband’s family. My parents have passed away and any other remaining family has been really distant over the past year. They wouldn’t come to a little party- they haven’t even met my husband’s side of the family so would find it awkward and wouldn’t come anyway. My niece- the only person in my family who does talk to me regularly- has a baby the same age who would come but that’s the only baby we know. She’s having a big birthday party for her baby and I feel really sad that I can’t offer mine the same.

I haven’t made a single mum friend despite some attempts at baby groups. I’ve spent so much of the past year going through ppd and ppa that I’ve been pretty useless on that front. I was really hoping I’d have some mum friends/babies to invite but I don’t. I haven’t had any support, I don’t have any of my own friends and my domestic situation has been stressful to say the least.

I feel like I’ve completely failed my daughter. She should get that special celebration but my ineptitude has robbed her of that.

Does anybody have an idea of how I can make the day special for her?