Moms, dads, and birthdays

I think that children's birthdays always have more visceral meaning for mothers in the sense of the shared birthing experience with the child. Not that the child has any memory of it, but it is made special for a child by celebration. For mothers, it is the culmination of the pregnancy marathon.

Thank you, Marilee, for all that you've done for our Reesa. You're a great mother for her.

For me as a father, I am very focused on the now. In this case, on the three year old who just entered our house with her evolving developmental and social needs, and in noting who she is in our world. Generous, walking around and giving food to others. I saw her do this tonight, and at a class picnic last Friday, when she walked a grape to each of the bakers dozen other people at the picnic. Silly and a little mischievous. Decisive and clear in what she does and does not want. A great patron of the spoken word--she's almost always ready to sit down and be read to. A caring and gentle doll mother. A younger sister who sometimes looks up to her big sister, and often screams foul at her. Small in stature, large in voice. And a daughter who will still usually give me the rock star treatment when we meet again at the end of one of daddy's work days.

Happy birthday Reesa.

"I'm four!"

Imagine that you just turned four. You are at a party in honor of your birthday, one that you have been looking forward to for many weeks. (In fact, this would be a four week countdown calendar to the actual birthday, plus six more days to the party. But hey, who's counting?)


Many of your favorite people are in attendance, and you are served food that you like...


and are given nice gifts. Everything is right with the world...


Both the actual birthday (a week ago) and the party (yesterday) were very good days. Genevieve thanks everyone for her gifts--she is busy finding the time to enjoy them.

And there were balloons. Don't miss the balloon video posted on the side. One of the dads takes a real whuppin' from the kids.

Also, there was pin-the-nose-on-Santa, birthday poster decorating, cut-out igloos with stickers, party favor bags with no candy but lots of fun stuff, story time, and tents. Quiche for everyone, shrimp for the adults. Loads of fun for everyone.

Party rules

Having a young child's birthday party at some fun public place other than home is a fairly popular idea... more things to do, avoid trashing your home, and there's just something about being in a public place that seems to be clearcut for children in regards to the rules of expected behavior.

Anyway, this party of a friend of Genevieve's was at a favorite playground, so the children thought it was fabulous. The party invitation said that gifts weren't necessary or some such thing. I look at all of the stuff our children have and I can understand a desire to not have even more of it. So, I didn't have the kids bring a gift beyond a card. Most everyone else brought gifts. *sigh* I wish that I could figure out what the rules are.

Halloween is tomorrow night. My wife and I are at our most unprepared state for all of the Halloween's that we've been together. Haven't taken stock of toys for handout, and no decorations or lights are up. At least the children will have costumes. Reesa will be a jack-o-lantern (daytime, at school) and a bunny (evening), and Genevieve will be a Pooh bear (and might change into Tigger if she can't keep the bear costume clean).