Birthday parties are always a lot of fun.
Growing up, I was always excited to invite my friends over for a big pool party to celebrate my birthday. I remember a collage of laughter, splashing, pizza and cake. Oh, and Pogs! Anyone remember those? You know … those little round disks with assorted pictures and hip phrasing that children traded and played games with. They were all the rage when I was a kid, and I was overjoyed when my mom put them into the loot bags for my friends and I.
I still remember the fun of handing out the invitations at school, and I was always overly conscious of the guest list. Sadly, I could not invite everyone and I needed to do it as discreetly as possible, so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings.
And, for the happy few that were able to attend, we would always have the kind of fun that you really only can as a child. Games like Pin the Tail on the Donkey or bobbing for apples were always a hit, and the year that I went all-out and got a piñata to bust open with my buddies, well, the kids were talking about that for weeks.
It was a real privilege to have had parties like that, and attended parties like that. I’m even more aware now, as an adult, that not everyone is afforded the same luxury. I look back with immense gratitude for all of the time, effort and money it must have taken for my parents to provide those special birthday celebrations.
Because birthday parties are special for kids. It’s a day when they get to be surrounded by their loved ones and to be the center of attention. Often, there are games, presents and balloons—all topped off with the singing of Happy Birthday while someone carries out a colourful birthday cake adorned with sprinkles—and candles to blow out.
Heck, even the ones that didn’t include extravagant decorations and a pile of gifts hold a special place in our hearts as we grow up. Because they provide an opportunity to see and feel just how much the people in our lives love us and want to celebrate our very existence.
This year, I finally get to throw my son a birthday party—his first real one—and I think I am more excited than he is about it. Probably because he still doesn’t really understand what birthday parties are yet. He has celebrated two birthdays, so far, and both of them have just involved our immediate family.
His first birthday was celebrated with his Grammy, who flew in for the big day. We took him up to Caribou Crossing, to see the animals, and he grinned ear to ear when he saw the goats pushing their heads through the gates and “demanding” that we feed them more treats. We giggled and cheered as he tried his first cupcake and got the blue icing all over his little face.
His second birthday was spent (just the three of us) taking the day for activities we knew would delight him, which included the teddy-bear-shaped pancakes for breakfast, the park, riding his new tricycle and having hot dogs for lunch. I don’t even think we did a real birthday cake last year; instead, we allowed him to dive into some leftover ice-cream cake from my birthday, which occurred the week before.
He has enjoyed his birthdays; however, this year I really want it to be extra special.
This year, we have invited some of his friends and have planned an afternoon of fun, games and pizza—just like the parties I remember having as a kid. And, it has been a real adventure searching out the decorations and party supplies to create the perfect three-year-old’s Paw Patrol–themed birthday party. He’s not the only toddler in love with this show, and you can tell by the number of items that keep getting sold out in town.
Of course, I know that this is more for me than him … and there is a high chance he will not remember his third birthday party at all. I’m doing my best not to go overboard, but I have to admit that it’s both nostalgic and a lot of fun to be able to plan something that is going to bring him a great deal of happiness on the day.
I am eager to see what he makes of the whole thing. I also wonder if this will be the start of something that he will look back on and want to recreate for his own children one day. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Now, I just have to pray he doesn’t catch another cold before the day comes around!
