Special Birthdays

Celebrating my birthday has always been important to me.  When I had kids, I wanted to make their birthdays as special as I could so maybe they would enjoy them like I used to.  In the beginning, I did tend to overdo!

Starting with Brad’s 1st birthday, we had a big party.  We even had people from work show up!  The entire family came to New Berlin to celebrate his big day.  I must’ve thought that we were having a party for 100 people because I was able to use the birthday plate and napkin supply for Brad’s 1st birthday, Nate’s 1st birthday AND Jess’s 1st birthday!!  I think I finally used all of them up by the time Jess was 12.

As the kids got older, we allowed them to have a kid’s birthday party at least once.  But every year, we always made it a point to have a party with the whole family to celebrate their big day.  I loved to create a special cake for each of them (after I asked them what kind they wanted).  The cake choices tended to vary from year to year.  It has only been recently that they are becoming more singular in their cake choices.

With the kids now being adults, it gets harder and harder to celebrate on their actual birthday. So the family party is usually planned for a weekend close to their day.  Even though the party isn’t happening on their actual day, I make it a point to do something for them on the morning of their day.  Brad leaves for work before I get up, so for him, I may leave out a donut with a candle on it and put up a birthday banner for him to see as he walks out the door.  For Jess, it may be a little token, a necklace or ring, gift wrapped on the table for her to see when she gets up.  For Nate, it gets a little harder, because he doesn’t live at home, but I try make sure to be the first one to wish him a Happy Birthday, even if I have to stay up till midnight the day before. I may even make him a kettle of his favorite Cajun Cheese soup.

For some people, birthdays are just another day that marks getting another year older.  For me – it’s my day!  It’s special to me and I want my kids to feel special on their day too.  After all – the world wouldn’t be the same without them in it – so I think it’s something to celebrate! 

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