Children's Birthdays

   Why do so many people have over-the-top birthday parties for young children?  A 2 year old has no idea what is going on and who is in attendance.  Americans spend hundreds of dollars and invite everyone they know to a birthday party of a toddler.  Does this make sense to you?  The children have no friends at that age, so who should be on the guest list?  Is it your friends? Only your friends who have children? Just family?  Do we need to spend hundreds of dollars to celebrate the birthday of a 2 year old?
    I understand people make a fuss over the first birthday.  This makes sense to me in some respects.  However, I do not ever see the need to be over the top for a young child's birthday celebration.  I feel it is either just for show or to get lots of gifts for your children.  The children are not going to remember, so it certainly has nothing to do with them.   Are we just buying into the materialistic, consumer society mentality?  What's wrong with a simple party with cake and ice cream and a few games for the children to play?  To accompany that with pizza or burger and hot dogs seems fine to me. Does it make the celebration any better to spend hundreds of dollars and do something over the top with everyone and their mother invited?
  Just some food for thought.  I would love to hear any input on this subject.  Maybe it is me that is off base.

Have a great day!!!
BE YOUR BEST SELF!!!!!