When your children are small their birthdays revolve around
whether or not to have a party, what kind of party to have, what kind of cake,
and oh, yes, let’s not forget the waste-of-space party favors everyone thinks
they have to have.
As they grow into their tweens and teens, you spend their
birthday doing something special for/with them, letting them pick out their gift,
and NOT worrying about party favors. You also spend this day scratching your
head and wondering where the time went.
When your children are grown and have families of their own,
you spend their birthday like you do any other day, but include time to talk on
the phone or SKYPE to wish your ‘baby’ a happy birthday and asked if they
received the card and gift you mailed because the postal system isn’t what it
used to be. But you also spend the day asking yourself, “Am I really old enough
to have a child that age?” And you wonder not only where the time went, but if
you used it wisely. I know these things to be true because I do it every year—four
times. And this Saturday I’ll be doing it again when Olivia Corrine turns
twenty-seven.
As I think back to the day that little 6 pound bundle of
energy and spunk burst onto the scene that is my life, I can only say WOW. And
since that day she has continued to “wow” me over and over again—most of the time in amazing and wonderful ways. But you can be sure that no
matter what she does, Olivia has the ability to “wow” my heart.
So at the risk of sounding like your mom or grandma, (even though I am a mom and a grandma) please
listen and take this message to heart:
Your child’s birthday isn’t about fancy cakes, parties that leave
other parents wondering how they can top that for their child or parties that are
more for you than your child, expensive gifts, or even those darned ole party
favors. Your child’s birthday is a celebration of their life. And the best way
to celebrate that life is to be an intricate part of it each and every day and
to make their birthday special by reminding them of your unconditional love. A gift
or two won’t hurt, either :), but even a child recognizes that your unconditional love
is worth more than all the gifts in the world.
Happy Birthday, Olivia!
Love,
Momma D
Copyright 2015 Darla Noble. No part of this can be copied or used without permission of the author.
