WHO doesn’t like parties? I was invited to a joint birthday bash of two pretty girls over the weekend. Sisters Kara and Amethyst, turned 5 and 4 years old, respectively. Their super adorable and sweet “My Little Pony” themed bash screamed all things girlie with its hues of pink and purple. What made it extra-special was the labor of love their mommy put in to make it all happen with flair and style.
This was a DIY (do it yourself) party painstakingly prepared by my zumba sister, Aireen Lee Lagrito, in their family’s backyard. There’s just something more poignant about homemade parties. After all, as mother myself, I understand how each child’s birthday is also a commemoration of successful years of “mothering.”
As each birthday of our child rolls in, we remember the many sleepless nights with our crying infant, changing countless wet diapers, and swaying them to sleep. And of course, it is our grandest victory as women, popping out our mini-humans and teaching them how to navigate the big wide world!
It was our zumba family’s pleasure to join Mommy Aireen in celebrating her two girls’ natal day. It is indeed more fun to party in the company of family and good friends. We all appreciate that Mommy Ai was the one who styled the venue, facilitated the games, bought the prizes, prepared the loot bags, and oversaw the cooking of all the main dishes. On top of that, she also made the leche flan, macaroons, and blueberry cheesecake on the simple dessert table. I was pretty amazed that my friend was able to juggle it all and still looked amazingly fresh on the day of the party. Everything was her labor of love!
A birthday celebration is always something to look forward to because this celebrates the beauty of a person’s life no matter the age. Of course, as adults, a birthday also means turning one year older (huhu), which is probably not the most anticipated thing.
Nevertheless, one year older means a notch wiser (hopefully). Aging may not be the most exciting when you’ve fallen off the calendar, but hey, there are still lottery numbers to count. And most importantly, a birthday is a reminder that we have to be thankful for this greatest gift called life. Being able to wake up to a brand new day is a blessing. Aging, after all, is a privilege denied to many.
In the other end of the spectrum—for kids, a birthday is a long awaited day, and at times, it is deemed even more important than any other holiday. Children count down months, weeks, days, and hours until this special day comes. Growing old in number is something that kids joyfully anticipate and are proud to attain. They even repetitively ask mom and dad if today is “D-day” in a good old fashion can’t hardly wait tone. The twinkling eyes, the bright smiles, and the excited chatter just can’t be ignored.
And this was exactly what prompted Aireen to put all of her best effort for her two older girls. She has three kids, the youngest is a boy. She said: “This childhood excitement is contagious so as a parent, I wanted to be able to give my girls a memorable party without breaking the bank! And I am lucky my husband, Plong, is very supportive. He started helping me decorate 3 days before the event. It was very hectic, but it was worth all the trouble to see the smiles on my girls’ faces.”
It is definitely a great feeling for any birthday celebrant to see all their family and friends, who arrive to see them on their special day, bringing gaily wrapped packages, while wishing them tons of birthday blessings and happy vibes. These actions and words might feel overdone for adults who have heard it one too many times, but for kids this is a form of reassurance that they are cared for by many people.
And indeed, this “My Little Pony” themed birthday bash is one terrific memory that the girls will treasure forever. It’s a day that signifies an important milestone, and it is also a symbol for a bright future filled with new opportunities and infinite possibilities. As essential as it is to teach our child to be caring towards others, it is okay once a year to let them think purely of themselves and feel like they are the center of the universe. Children who grow up with tons of love and happy memories feel more secure. They, in turn, grow up to be more self-confident and happier adults with a positive attitude and outlook in life.