Instructions
1. Sit down with your teen and establish what would make an ideal celebration for both of you.
2. Discuss issues such as noise levels, curfew and appropriate behaviors with your teen before the celebration. Decide if you want to have a special theme for the party, such as a luau or a car inspired party. If you go with a theme, adapt all things that go with the party to that theme, such as invitations, music, food and drinks.
3. Devise a guest list based on your available space and your child's list of critical invitees.
4. Consider a creative location for the party, such as the beach, a roller-skating or ice-skating rink, a bowling alley or a local pizza place.
5. Send out invitations at least two weeks in advance.
6. Devise a menu and buy more food than you think you'll need, especially if teenage boys are coming to the party.
7. If you don't want to cook, order pizza - always a teenage crowd-pleaser.
8. Jazz up the drinks. Although teens will drink a lot of soda, you might want to serve punch or sparkling cider to add to the festive mood.
9. For background or dancing music, buy blank CDs and have your teen and his or her friends make mixes of favorite songs.
10. Consider something special like renting a strobe light and clearing the living room for dancing.
11. Order or make a special cake. This is a milestone birthday.
12. At the party, keep a low profile, but let your presence be known.
Tags: your teen, party such, with your, with your teen