It is August 1st. We are beginning another season of birthdays in our family. In many ways, we have set ourselves (as parents of 5 kiddos) up for success. Just a few examples of our "planning:"- We have a "tradition" of birthday parties every other year. On the "off" years, the kids get to have a special date with one friend. This way, it is more gentle to our budget as well as our sanity.
- We have tried to create "milestones" of the older birthday years. For example, age 10 comes the "Cell-Phone-Birthday." (This is not the newest internet-savy cell phone, by the way. It is the basic cell phone that can simply call and text. Besides those features, we really can't think of anything GOOD that a 10 year old can do with a cell phone.) Age 12 birthday is marked by the milestone that the kiddo gets to fly to visit a family member for a week. Age 13 birthday was a voyage to Haiti with Mom/Dad for service ministry. Age 15 is predicted to be the "buy-your-very-own-fixer-upper-car" birthday. The key to creating good milestone birthdays is to make it sustainable for kid #1 all the way to kid #last! So far, so good.
- We try to keep things simple. $10/sibling to get a gift for their birthday sibling. They can choose to combine their $10 or strike out solo.
- The birthday kiddo receives the breakfast of their choice in bed. By the way, in case you haven't already heard, I may have missed a year with Isaac...but, I'm sure with time and therapy, he'll recover just fine!
- Family dinner is usually at home with the Birthday Kiddo's favorite foods. However, continuing with a theme to keep it simple, we have been known to hit the favorite fast food restaurants and DQ for ice cream cakes.
- There is also just one gift given from Brian and I.
I'm sure there are other things that we do that are unique to our family. However, whether these are good "traditions" and "tools" for Birthday Party success or not, we have stumbled upon them and they are working for the most part...except for the annual unrealistic expectations.
Here's the deal. My kids have dreams...and those dreams can translate into BIG dollar gift ideas. And, while I will readily admit that some of the milestone birthdays are big dollar gifts, NOT every year is a BIG dollar gift year. It is simply NOT a reality. But, doesn't every kid have this dream of getting that perfect gift? Let me be honest, I still anxiously anticipate my birthday every year awaiting my dream gift! There is just something about a birthday that is supposed to be magical. And, part of that magic lies in receiving just the right gift.
Now, I want to go on record to declare that I think getting "stuff" shouldn't be at the heart of any holiday...birthday, Christmas, Easter, Halloween or May Day. BUT, there is something that rings true to me about receiving a good gift...and it doesn't have to be about the dollar amount. A good gift shows that someone knows me so well that they were able to find something that would make me smile and that they remembered ME and MY big day.
And, so this is where the unrealistic expectations come to vex me. Having received so many GOOD gifts for my birthdays from my parents, I remember the excitement and the thrill of being celebrated. I want to give that same feeling and experience to my children. Their unrealistic expectations for gifts leaves me feeling defeated and frustrated.
I wish that I had the magic answer to how to bridge the distance between the unrealistic and what will actually happen. It really is my plan to make each kid's big day both wonderful and magical...while fitting into our budget. So, for now, I continue to surf Amazon trying to think of that "perfect" gift while really focusing on how to create the "perfect day." This year, I want our birthday child to experience the blessing of knowing that they are loved...and celebrated beyond just A gift. Now...how to translate that feeling into reality...and include airsoft....challenge accepted!
