I am currently 18 years old and have spent the last almost 4 years of my life working as a children's birthday party hostess at two different family establishments in my city. After all that experience, one might even say that I'm pretty much a pro. While I absolutely adore what I do, there are a few things I wish I could say to every family that walks in the door.

Dear Family,
Welcome! Let me start off by saying that hi, my name is Lizz, and I'll be your party hostess today. If you forget what my name is, it's written conveniently in bold, white letters on the left side of my jacket here. Can't miss it. Please do not refer to me as "that worker girl." If you need anything throughout the course of your party, please just let me know instead of complaining to my superiors. It is a lot easier for me to grab you those extra napkins than it is for you to track down my manager's number, call them at home, and ask where to find them. Thank you!

I am here to help make your experience today run a lot smoother, not be in your way. If I am not standing in the party room hovering over you, please do not make a fuss. I will be waiting less than 5 feet out the door so please do not panic and cause a ruckus. On the other side of that, please let me know if I am in your way. I will happily step back a bit.

As much as I've heard the fact that it is school policy to invite your kindergartener's entire class, please do not bring more than the amount of guests you told us to prepare for. If I set up your table for 12 children because that is what it said on your reservation card, please do the best you can to not show up with 30. (Yes, that has happened before. Quite often.)

At the end of the party, do not worry too much about clean up. It is my job, after all. Just take what you need to and leave. But I ask politely that if you spill a tray of fruit on the floor during the course of your party, please let me know so the juice doesn't dry and make my the floor sticky. If I am uninformed of this, I will then be stuck mopping the sticky fruit floor in the short 30 minutes I have between parties.

On that note, please be timely when departing. Your party ends at 2:30 and another one comes in at 3. In this time I have to throw away the trash from your party, sweep the floors, wipe the tables, blow up balloons, and set up for the next family. Please do not start opening presents at 2:25 and ask for one more carousel ride after that. It will not work. The next birthday kid will show up with her parents and get angry that I am still cleaning up their party space at 2:55 and they can't come in to set up their Elsa and Anna room decorations.

Please remember to pay for your party before you leave. Please do not make me remind you to pay 10 thousand times throughout your hour and a half. It is awkward and makes me feel like you're not listening to me. Please do not make me chase you down in the parking lot to pay. That is also very awkward.

Ask questions if you need to! Do not be afraid to approach me or any other worker if a rule doesn't make sense. There are a lot of them, after all.

Finally, while it is not 100% necessary, if you are able to and I provided good service, please tip your hostess. It makes us feel like we're doing a good job and we made your day easier.

Thank you for choosing us for your child's birthday needs. We sincerely hope you come back next year.