Birthdays, Pizza, and Something Sorta Stress-free
It's The Kiddo's fifth birthday today. Yep the big 5. I can't believe it. Especially when I have a 3 month old babbling right here beside me as a write this that looks a whole helluva lot like her brother. Where did the time go?
Remember our parents saying, "Enjoy it while it lasts. Time flies?" I remember. And I remember laughing at them at the same time. Time didn't fly at all when I was stuck in the back seat of the Jeep Wagoneer when we were heading to the campground 5 hours away from home and it was 90 degrees of humidity and sweat. I wanted to be swimming. Riding my bike. Doing anything but sitting in the car. Minutes crept by slower than anything I could imagine. Until....
I became a parent. There is some evil trick in this parenthood thing where you lose time. I never have time anymore to just sit. Or to concentrate on what one would call housework. Or any work. And I am fondly thinking back to pre-children. When I'd come home from work, lie on the couch and watch endless television. Or cat nap. Hell, I think I even threw in a few last-minute trips to another state just for the hell of it. And there wasn't a consequence involved. Other than maybe a hangover and a smile. But, it didn't matter. It was just me. Or me and the hubby. And a whole lot of time.
Now when I look back at my childhood--or my son's current day-- and I'm snickering. He doesn't (nor did I) know how good he has it. Not a care in the world. Oh wait--he does! The typical now-5-year-old cars of what superhero to have on his birthday cake (this year he surprised me and decided for Optimus Prime the Transformer). Or that we have BOTH red cups and red paper plates because (surprise, surprise) red is his favorite color.
We also had the whole decoration discussion. Sure only his aunt, uncle, and cousins are coming over--but we had to put something on the walls! Because Mom, it's a birthday party (of course)--how could we not? So we have the Birthday Banner (generic). And then the balloon discussion--to which I caved to only purchase one of the $6 helium filled fancy ones while purchasing the cake.
Now all of this--you and I both know--I'd do for the kid. I mean he's my son. What wouldn't I do? But not typically in one trip to the local supermarket while the baby slept. But I told myself--I forced myself--not to stress about this birthday. For God sake, he's five. Five years old--and when he is twenty he won't even remember this day's details. Just the fact that he must have had some birthday. There were pictures to prove it. And you know what, he's gonna be smiling in them (he's been smiling all afternoon).
Just like I remember birthdays of past. The childhood memories of wanting SO BAD to open presents. To have that flame-a-glow cake placed in front of me so I could grow another year older to adulthood. To have time fly by so fast that I forgot my mom zipping to the local pizza shop and order my cheap, easy, and stress-free birthday party dinner.
Remember our parents saying, "Enjoy it while it lasts. Time flies?" I remember. And I remember laughing at them at the same time. Time didn't fly at all when I was stuck in the back seat of the Jeep Wagoneer when we were heading to the campground 5 hours away from home and it was 90 degrees of humidity and sweat. I wanted to be swimming. Riding my bike. Doing anything but sitting in the car. Minutes crept by slower than anything I could imagine. Until....
I became a parent. There is some evil trick in this parenthood thing where you lose time. I never have time anymore to just sit. Or to concentrate on what one would call housework. Or any work. And I am fondly thinking back to pre-children. When I'd come home from work, lie on the couch and watch endless television. Or cat nap. Hell, I think I even threw in a few last-minute trips to another state just for the hell of it. And there wasn't a consequence involved. Other than maybe a hangover and a smile. But, it didn't matter. It was just me. Or me and the hubby. And a whole lot of time.
Now when I look back at my childhood--or my son's current day-- and I'm snickering. He doesn't (nor did I) know how good he has it. Not a care in the world. Oh wait--he does! The typical now-5-year-old cars of what superhero to have on his birthday cake (this year he surprised me and decided for Optimus Prime the Transformer). Or that we have BOTH red cups and red paper plates because (surprise, surprise) red is his favorite color.
We also had the whole decoration discussion. Sure only his aunt, uncle, and cousins are coming over--but we had to put something on the walls! Because Mom, it's a birthday party (of course)--how could we not? So we have the Birthday Banner (generic). And then the balloon discussion--to which I caved to only purchase one of the $6 helium filled fancy ones while purchasing the cake.
Now all of this--you and I both know--I'd do for the kid. I mean he's my son. What wouldn't I do? But not typically in one trip to the local supermarket while the baby slept. But I told myself--I forced myself--not to stress about this birthday. For God sake, he's five. Five years old--and when he is twenty he won't even remember this day's details. Just the fact that he must have had some birthday. There were pictures to prove it. And you know what, he's gonna be smiling in them (he's been smiling all afternoon).
Just like I remember birthdays of past. The childhood memories of wanting SO BAD to open presents. To have that flame-a-glow cake placed in front of me so I could grow another year older to adulthood. To have time fly by so fast that I forgot my mom zipping to the local pizza shop and order my cheap, easy, and stress-free birthday party dinner.
