Mom's 80th birthday is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Prepare family and friends for a joyful and nostalgic celebration without taxing Mom's strength. In a world in which families extend to six degrees of separation and beyond, a milestone birthday party can be a family mini-reunion.
Significance
The 80th birthday is significant for anyone. But when it is Mom's birthday, you have a chance to make her feel special for all the years of attention and love. She may have Dad, siblings, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and more to surround her. Mom's friends are important to her and can play important roles in the 80th birthday party theme. Regardless of who is present, the day is an undeniable cause for celebration.
Brainstorming
As the family decides make Mom's 80th birthday the event it deserves to be, think about Mom. Ask yourselves, what is important to your mother? Through the years, has she enjoyed hobbies? Perhaps Mom love puzzles or scrapbooking. Is Mom a born actress, with a flair for the dramatic? Recall childhood memories. Begin with a few brainstorming sessions. If sons and daughters live at distances, schedule phone conferences. Ask her siblings for memories. Get everyone involved.
Memories
Decide on a theme. Since 80 years covers such a significant period, consider a This is Your Life theme. Provide enough time to prepare. Select key people from the past, including siblings, friends, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. If Dad is still with you, give him his due. Script in advance, and present people chronologically, beginning with the early years. Allow 2 or 3 minutes per person.
Seat Mom in a comfortable chair. Select a son or daughter to perform the presentations. Each person will speak from behind a curtain or a door, saying a few lines about his first or significant interactions with your mother. Mom will try to guess who is speaking. If possible, find long-lost friends. Do not select controversial people. As each person finishes, he will join Mom. Finish with a toast to Mom's 80th birthday and a life being lived well. Record the event to save for a DVD. After the presentations, gather for an informal dinner. Consider Mom's age and schedule her party for no more than a couple of hours.
Keepsakes
Mom's 80th birthday theme can be Memory Lane. The family may wish to give Mom a special party featuring a gift of an afghan-sized quilt of memories. For a 48-inch-square quilt, you need 144 squares. Begin three to five months in advance. Gather quilting squares from all of Mom's family and friends. Squares should be 4-by-4-inch pieces from clothing or bedding with special memories. Choose material from baby blankets, wedding attire or vacations. A silk screener can place photographs on fabric squares. Know in advance how many squares each person can provide. Set a deadline for two months before the celebration for contributors to provide squares in order to give time for quilting. If quilting yourselves, meet at least two time a week for two months.
Instruct contributors to provide a brief story about the square. If the family has quilting skills, make the quilt yourselves. Otherwise, have a professional make the quilt.
Each person who donates a square tells the story behind the square. Present the quilt after everyone has shared. Serve a buffet dinner. Designate someone to serve Mom first.
Considerations
Since Mom is 80 years old, consider some logistical factors. Schedule Mom's party for mid-day. She and some guests will have more energy than later in the day. Prepare for possible medical issues. Keep the guest list short enough to avoid overwhelming Mom, especially if she is in delicate health.
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