Excessive Parties

In Dads Matter I make a wrote that some parents springing for lavish parties for their teens. I amde the point that these parents setting their kids to expect bigger and bigger celebrations. I have wrote of one experience of a gilr who didn't consider her sweet 16 party to be of any significance.

In today's paper, August 30, 2009, there is an article by Ileana Morales that says many parents are cutting back due to the recession. But Ileana cited examples of parents cutting back. One family spent $14,000 for their daughters coming of age party, half of what they spent on their older daughter's party! Another family is spending $7,000 saving themselves $5,000. A party planner stated that families who would have spent $17,000 last year are now spending $12,000 and families who would have spent $35,000 are now spending $25,000.

I frankly don't understand this phenomena at all.