It's my daughters' 5th birthday Sunday and I'm here on behalf of all parents who are fed up/worn out/partied-to-death to say "I GIVE UP." My husband and I will not hold another extravagant affair at the Children's Museum. We will not be celebrating at Camp Snoopy. We will not be hiring a juggler/face painter/animal baloon artist. We will not be renting an inflatable bouncy castle. We will not be purchasing a fancy cake with an operational mini-ferris wheel on it or a plastic Dora spouting "Feliz Compleanos."
Two months before the event there we were: collecting brochures from museums and swimming pools and aquariums...doing the math...brainstorming about the proper mix of kids from the preschool and kids from the kindergarten...trying to recall parents' names...
NO! MORE!
This year we are packing up the kids, some Zoopal paper plates, and a couple of changes of clothes and driving to the Wisconsin Dells. My in-laws will drive up from Indiana to meet us there. Grandma will bake a cake. The four of us adults will sing "Happy Birthday to Yooooooo" and the kids will play in the indoor pool. At some point the girls will open up a few gifts from their family members, far and wide.
That's it.
This year's celebration will likely be a big hit with the girls. This may be the last year they actually look forward to spending time with just family instead of with their peers. I know I am certainly looking forward to it. Next year? I dunno. I can't promise that this resolve of getting out the birthday one-upmanship race will hold. We may end up renting several limos and taking 20 of their closest friends to see Kim Possible on Ice or something.
But not this year.
Happy birthday, my little darlings. Mommy loves you very, very much!
Posted by perry032 at March 9, 2005 08:45 PM | TrackBackGood for you! From one parent/doctoral student to another, I can't say that I'm relishing the purchase of a Blues' Clues cake this summer--but at least at some point I'll probably be thankful for summer birthdays! Maybe we'll be able to avoid a few requisite parties. On the other hand, what with the nice weather and no school in session, maybe the stakes will be higher?
Enjoy the Dells!
Posted by: Winter in the Cities at March 10, 2005 11:54 PMSummer birthdays...ahhhh! Like you said, though, who knows what the evil make-parents-feel-guilty cabal will cook up for parents like you!
Posted by: Yvette at March 11, 2005 08:32 AMI really enjoyed reading the creative way that you and Larry threw in the towel this year!!
It's great that all of you are creating such great family memories!!! Keep up the good work!!
Kiss my sweet 5 year old grand daughters, for me!!
Posted by: Granny Andrea at March 17, 2005 12:28 AMThings have surely changed it would seem - one year you are taking an undergraduate student from the hicks (Toledo) to celebrate her 21st Birthday with a pure dose of Prince, and then....no more birthday hoopla! Now, with my nearly free MBA (thanks to your feedback) I have 3 children, and I have gone from a ballet birthday extravaganza for my daughter, to nearly forgetting the essentials for my son's first birthday.
I have baked Blues Clues cakes, had 3 layer creations, and just rolled on the floor with cake and ice cream with my little people. This may be way too much information if my late night strolling for familiar Purdue faces is wrong...but with the wonderful writing I have enjoyed, there has to be a Haraka connection in the air. That, or I truly have lost my mind planning the Incredibles party - well, maybe.
I hope this is the Yvette I remember so well!
- Aimee
Stay in touch.
Posted by: Aimee Cole Laramore at March 17, 2005 09:47 PM