Brave or Stupid? Throwing a 14-Year-Old’s Birthday Party

Over the weekend, we did something both brave and (possibly) stupid: We threw Henry’s almost-14th birthday party.

Not just any party. Oh no. This party had phases, (I'm seriously the type of person that doesn't understand simple).

1. Phase 1: Football in the backyard – because apparently, you can’t have 10 teenage boys in the same space without somebody yelling “Go long!”

   
   

2. Phase 2: Load everyone up like circus animals – I had 10 boys (9 fourteen-year-olds + my 8-year-old) packed into our giant Ford Transit, while my husband drove the two girls (our 11-year-old and her bestie) and the three babies in his truck. Honestly? The van ride itself was part of the fun. I knew it would be, I was in band, and half the excitement of a trip was the actual bus ride. (Uno games, loud jokes, someone falling asleep on someone else’s shoulder, it’s all part of the magic.)

3. Phase 3: CiCi’s – because the gaming place we were heading to has $15 flatbread pizzas that feed maybe half a person. And I was not about to mortgage the house to feed 10 teenage boys. CiCi’s “all you can eat” was the only logical answer

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4. Phase 4: Fowling Warehouse – sugared up, carb-loaded, and ready to conquer the world by throwing a football at bowling pins.

   
   

By the end of the night, we brought a couple extra kids home with us. One stayed to do a Spanish project with Henry (because nothing says “party’s over” like conjugating verbs), and his brother hung out with my 8-year-old.

And then… the side plot.

My 11-year-old daughter.

She was hanging around, playing games, giggling, and—dare I say it—flirting. Even my husband, who is usually oblivious to this sort of thing, leaned over and said, “Yeah, she’s definitely flirting.”

When we asked her about it later, she either legitimately didn’t know what flirting was or pretended really well. (Honestly, I’m not sure which answer I prefer.)

So yeah. Henry got his epic 14th birthday party, I didn’t go broke buying pizzas the size of envelopes, the kids had a blast in the van, and apparently my daughter discovered the art of flirting—all in one weekend.

Brave? Stupid? Maybe both. But you know what? Totally worth it.

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Think of this as your reset button. Step away from the laundry, the schedules, the noise, and let me give you a day that’s about you. By the time you leave, you’ll have portraits that capture the version of yourself you want to remember forever.

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Kristian is a mom of six, Program Manager by day, active Professional Photographer by trade, and a big believer in finding beauty in the everyday chaos.

Life in our house is loud, messy and full of literally everything. Love, noise, laundry, laughter, and definitely could use a bit more grace. I'm happily married to my best friend, grounded in my Catholic faith, and fueled by five to six hours of sleep per night and adrenaline.

I try to find joy in the everyday — even when it's wild, because without the little bit of joy, this life would be unbearable. This space is for the moms in the middle of it all: the ones juggling family, faith, work, and wonder. The ones that need someone else's messy life to make their own seem better or somewhat normal. You're not alone, and you're doing better than you think.

Welcome to Six Sweet Smiles — where we celebrate the mess, the miracles, and everything in between.