Oh my lord, this advice column.
"Can we turn off all the lights and pretend not to be home during our child's 1st birthday party in a house full of friends and family so that our weird aunt doesn't come? Is that okay?"
No. Not unless your aunt is weird as in psychotic and you'd need to call the cops on her. But the advice person nails it:
"So you are sure of what her interest is: your aunt wants to visit your parents, whom she likely does not often get to see because they live six hours away. Also, maybe she heard the rumor floating around town that, in addition to perfect party hats, you were also going to have matching plate/napkin sets. When you throw yourself a party on such a glam scale, you're bound to get some hangers-on.
Even if your friends are close to you, they will definitely remark post-party that it was weird when you turned off the music and made everyone sit in the dark wearing party hats while a kindly older couple rang the doorbell and called "Hellooooo?" over and over again.
The worst that could happen is that your weird aunt shows up and burns down your house and steals your baby and change's your daughter's name to her name and raises her to be hyper extra weird. But that is the worst that could happen! What is much more likely to happen is that your aunt will bring a gift for the baby (a soft toy or a $50 savings bond) and repeat this gesture every birthday and major holiday either until she dies or your child turns 18. And don't get me started on being remembered in the will. Your baby could be walking away with a nice chunk of change for minimal effort here.
Have fun teaching your daughter to be a gracious hostess!"

Best Internet Variety Show (and Good Luck Getting Anything Done, Ever) in 2005! 


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