Jan
26
This week starts the time of year I both look forward to and dread. Birthday Season. Just seeing it there makes me feel queasy.
Birthday Season usually starts about 4-5 weeks before School Girl’s birthday, and ends sometime around our “family day” 6 weeks later. I love it because we normally make a big deal about School Girl’s birthday. In the past it’s usually involved a party for her friends, a dinner of her choice and cake if her party’s not on her actual birthday, a ton of birthday phone calls, and presents. Oh, and a trip to the Most Expensive Teddy Bear Store in the Whole Damn World.
See the first thing on that list? That’s why I get queasy. For the past 2 years we’ve had birthday parties, here at home for a limited number of guests, with varying degrees of success. Last year was the toughest, as School Girl’s BFF couldn’t be there. She still had fun, as did the kids that were here. Of course, the first year had the Pinata From Hell. The one that should have come with a machete for easy opening. None of us, including the two adults at the party, could open the damn thing; I had to get out a kitchen knife and cut it open, making for some good times.
Most of School Girl’s family calls her for her birthday, either on the day or the day after. My parents and my sister (well, last year her daughters and School Girl did most of the talking), K’s brother’s wife, and C. M has called…I want to say twice, possibly? I don’t think it’s been any more times than that. Not on her birthday. I know it’s a difficult time for M. I do. But I think School Girl misses her on that day. Just to talk to her for a few minutes on any day is a big deal, and we try to encourage that. She’s never said that she’s upset when M doesn’t call, but sometimes I wonder.
This year C has said that she’d like to do something with School Girl. I’ve brought it up once or twice, and it’s not gotten a good reception. Part of it has to do with her party – she wants to have it on the Saturday after her birthday, so that she can have a longer party. I thought it would be good to visit C on that Saturday, and she’s fighting that. There is one other solution, but I need to talk to School Girl before I bring it up with everyone else involved.
Birthday season isnt easy for kids when adoption isnt involved! i hate to think how crazy it gets for you with all the added other people included! o_O
I hope the time goes smoothly for you!
Thanks! I freak out like this every year, and it seems to get more daunting all the time.