Comments on: Elmo’s World. Still.

By: Cole

Cole — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:37:44 +0000

This is how I feel when my “typical” 5 year old announced she wants a Barney party for her 5th birthday. To be fair that was then followed in the months afterwards with a stream of other characters and we finally settled on a Unicorn for the cake. What would Sophie think about an Elmo cake for the family- could you just flat out say that while she likes Elmo- her friends have told you they don’t and in a way we throw that party to entertain our friends but we could have an elmo cake at home on the actual big day? I get what you’re saying I think. It’s one thing for me to find it kitchy to have an elmo birthday cake for myself- (which I did in the last 8 years) it’s another thing entirely when you are trying to teach her socially to relate to others and you don’t want to enforce stereotypes. You don’t want to crush their spirit but you want to guide them. I’m pretty sure Dora will be our issue when Abby is Sophie’s age.
Hey- also- I don’t know how often you are on FB- but I had showed your blog to my husband Charlie and he was intrigued especially in reading your bio. He went to CMC and I think really was touched reading your writing and having that in common along with the younger daughter with Ds in common. At any rate- he was going to send you a note on there but wasn’t sure that if you are on FB much. Just wanted you to know he’s with me. xoox

By: Emily Soli

Emily Soli — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:41:39 +0000

Umm..I’m pretty sure this is how my parents felt when I made them get me a Homestar Runner cake for my 14th birthday party. People deal with others’ oddities. It’s harder for kids because kids are mean…but teenagers are mean too and the people at my party that were into the homestarrunner cake are still the people I call when I’m feeling down. That being said, I have full faith in your ability to change her mind back to the purple party.

By: Maggie Goss

Maggie Goss — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:51:39 +0000

My soon to be 10 yr. old daughter loves Cookie Monster. She sleeps with a CM plush, and has worn her CM t-shirt to school. She also loves Hello Kitty and is slightly obsessed with gummy bears. My 13 year old son on the otherhand loves anything bacon! If either of them decided to have CM or bacon themed birthday parties I’d probably be a little disappointed and worried their peers would think it odd. (Still, I’d prefer a CM party over Justin Bieber any day!) In the end though – if “CM” and “bacon” reflects who they are at this moment in time then I’d roll with it – 10 years from now all I’ll remember is we had a great time making their childhood birthdays special. As for what the guests think? I don’t think the theme really registers with them – they are more interested in having fun, eating cake and being kids. If a kid is so bold to make a rude remark – remind him/her that it isn’t their party. Maybe Elmo could join the party in purple PJs? Or Red Elmo could jump in a vat of blue goo and turn all purple? I just know you’ll figure this one out!

By: Kim Kunasek

Kim Kunasek — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:20:27 +0000

My friend Jennifer got the most amazing sparkly purple vinyl fabric at SAS the other day — it would be an amazing table cloth/runner, anything.

By: Melissa Johnson

Melissa Johnson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:59:57 +0000

Don’t have an answer to the Elmo “issue”, but I do have a great purple drink I found on Pinterest! (If the link doesn’t work, search ‘purple rain’.) Good luck!

http://pinterest.com/pin/122652789821541749/

By: Kari

Kari — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:37:55 +0000

Not to crush your Elmo-less dreams but I know a 13 year old boy who is still into Cookie Monster, and a 40-something into Tinkerbell still. Hey! Maybe ELMO will be Sophie’s tattoo that we were talking about. I think I’ve seen it.