INTERPRETATION

The way that birthday parties have changed over the years follows the way society has evolved. The values that were present in the fifties and sixties are not necessarily the same ones present today. My only direct experience with suburban birthday parties has been restricted to the eighties. My conclusions about parties earlier on in the fifties and sixties have developed as a result of research into both the topic and the time period, instead. I feel that the main interpretations to come from this project center on the changing relationship between children and their parents.
These days it is necessary to have a two income family to maintain the desired standard of living. Therefore in the nineties there are many more working mothers than there were in the fifties. Parents now seem to have many more pressures affecting them. They have increased pressures at work, and more obligations to their children's activities. It is a constant rush from here to there, and back again. Every family members day ends at a different time, and the family does not all eat dinner at the same time. In the fifties the family usually all sat down at the table and ate together. My project on Dinnertime in Greenbelt studies the changes that have taken place in this social activity. Then in the evening, the family often did some activity together. Now every one has their own things to do, and there is just a lot less tome spent together. This lack of quality time between children and their parents is evident in the changes birthday parties have undergone in the past forty years. All the decorations, party favors and food are bought ready-made, rather than made at home. It is even possible to get an entire pre-designed party over the internet, for example USA Party.
Parents also know less about the families of the children that are friends with their own children. This is also due to the rush of current day life. There is just not enough time to stop and find these things out. I believe that in order for children and parents to have good relationships again; there needs to be a large increase in the amount of quality time spent together.

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