I love birthday parties! I love the planning, I love the balloons, the colors, the picking of a theme!
Why do I love them? My mom was a working, single parent most of my childhood- we were always on a tight budget and we lived in a small apartment. I went to a private Catholic school all through grade school and my friends at the school were always far more well to do than my family. My mom did volunteering to get a break on my tuition and scrimped and saved to send me to the school she thought was the best.
But despite the fact that we had economic challenges, my mom planned for birthday parties months in advance. They were considered important! Not only that- but she was so wildly creative that my birthdays were always known as the best parties amongst all my friends. We never did fancy rentals or expensive goody bags- but my mom made my parties shine through the love and attention she paid to so many small details. She would come up with games that matched the themes along with inexpensive craft projects that the other kids would get really excited about. I guess the bottom line was that no matter what our party budget was – I always felt so loved, and so CELEBRATED!
So many specific memories bubble to the surface of my minds eye when I think back over all my birthdays past. My birthday is the first week of December- and one year we had a Christmas tree that went up the day before my birthday. When I awoke on my birthday it had been turned into a “Birthday Tree” with streamers and balloons! I remember a “Fancy” Tea party theme were all my friends were invited to wear “grown up” clothes to the party and to drink sparkling apple juice out of plastic champagne glasses. Nothing has ever felt as chic as that felt to us at the time:)
In many ways this blog sprang up from the impact those birthdays had on me. My mom was a true “homemaker” and she had a very special crafty creativity that I envy to this day. She died when I was 16, and at that age I hadn’t thought to ask her yet for her little secrets to making our home feel special. In many ways I took it all for granted then- that she would always be around to ask later.
And now- many years later I find myself with a family of my own. And I wanted to have a place where I could record the crafts or recipes, or parties I might plan. So that if someday my own daughter should find herself without me before I pass down to her what I’ve tried to learn these past few years- she will have a place to go. She will have not just photos of a birthday party, but a small archive of the recipes I thought were good, or the craft we may have made together.
My favorite birthday memory isn’t a specific one- it’s the lesson that my mom taught me each year when she so lovingly prepared a party for me. The lesson was- life is precious. It’s meant to be celebrated whenever there is the slightest reason- and even when their isn’t one. And each year of living and growing and learning is a milestone- and it’s wholly worthy of recognition, celebration and joy 🙂
Do you have a favorite birthday memory?
I want to thank Mama DJane for inspiring this post by asking for readers birthday memories. Do you have a birthday memory? If so you can enter a giveaway she is having where the winner gets free catering from Sweet Tomatoes. If your like me- the act of thinking about birthday parties will put you in a lovely mood of reminiscing 🙂
About Shannon SchmidShannon traded in her sensible NYC TV producer shoes (they were best for taking the subway), for a pair of Texas Cowboy boots when she married her best friend! He's at fault for making this Yankee a Texan! Shannon writes about all things that make a house a home. Her chief blogging inspiration is being the proud & slightly neurotic mom of a preschool age daughter.
You can find Shannon on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and her new favorite place to hang out, Google+.
I LOVE birthdays! They were a really big deal at our house. Not necessarily parties (although we did have birthday parties), but I remember all of the special things my mom did to celebrate ME on my birthday. We were able to pick out breakfast and dinner that day, and for lunch had a special lunch date with just me and mom and dad. At each meal we ate off a plate that said “you are special”, and at dinner each family member would talk about one thing they loved about that person (a funny memory, something that they like about their personality, etc). We still celebrate birthdays if we’re all close enough to celebrate together and it’s SO much fun as adults now.
.-= Linds´s last blog ..Weekend in Review =-.
@Linds, Linds- I love those! My daughter is turning two in the next few weeks so we are just starting to assemble what family birthday traditions we will have! I am definitely going to take some inspiration from your examples! Love the I am special plate too!
Your mom was a great lady. I think I remember the Christmas/birthday tree, but maybe I’m remembering something else.
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Pictures! =-.
@Renee, Awww thanks Renee! I think she was too- I miss her!
Your probably remembering it! I’m pretty sure you were there:)
Birthdays are so awesome, I always tell people the entire month of Oct is for me and I don’t mind sharing with other Scorpios but I don’t like sharing with non-bday events (like that nasty Halloween heheh jk).
our moms did great with creativity and I think we will definitely definitely impart that love and creativity to our kiddies.
Birthdays were a huge ordeal in our family. From the decorations, the entire neighborhood being invited, my mom made them very special. I do that with Sydney and my almost step girls too.
Your memories of your mom are so precious. What a wonderful thing to hold in your heart. I know you will share that with your little Molly. Two already???? Wow!
.-= Angelia Sims´s last blog ..The Cross Dressing Elvis makes a Move =-.
Coming from the mom loop. I don’t know about my own specific birthdays but I love planning celebrations for my daughters. My oldest daughter’s birthday is Christmas Eve so I’ve always had to plan creatively to make sure she didn’t feel like her birthday was overshadowed by Christmas. For me those days are so special, a reminder of the gifts I’ve received by having them.
.-= Dawn´s last blog ..Stormy Days =-.
One of my least favorite things about being a “grown-up” is not having birthday parties. No one wants to throw one for me and I’m gtoo stubborn to do it myself.
My favorite memories are having birthday pool parties at my grandparent’s house. I would have tons of people there and my pappap would man the grill…God, it was the best.
My birthday’s in a week. Now I’m depressed, lol.
.-= Erin Honestly´s last blog ..The Christina Chronicles- The Worst Memorial Day Weekend- Part 1- The PB&J =-.
My birthday is next week.. I turn 39. More importantly, I have two sons who have birthdays next week as well. One on the 3rd (turning 7) and one on the 4th (turning 5). Because their special days are so close together, I am really trying hard to figure out what to do to make it memorable!
I don’t want to do a joint birthday AGAIN this year (but I also don’t want to bust the budget). I think I will have to scour the internet to come up with ideas.
Lovely post! Thank you for writing.
Jennifer
Growing up, I didn’t have parties every year…maybe every other year. I remember having slumber parties when I was a tween. I remember having lots of friends over for daytime parties when I was little. When I turned 15, my parents let me invite my best friend and to boys who were friends. We all dress up and had a fancy dinner. We all felt so grown up that night.
My kids have had the expensive rented pool, play place or McDonald’s parties. Nowadays, times are tougher, so we try to make the day special by letting them plan all the food served all day. They invite a friend or two over to “hang out” or watch movies.
I don’t remember having many parties growing up, but I do remember being made to feel special on my birthday, and for the few weeks leading up to my birthday. I do the same with my children. The day of their birthday is theirs to spend anyway they want it. From what they want to eat, where they want to go, if they want a party or just go to Disney.
From Mom Loop Community, I had a sad/happy memories about Birthday , I was 24 years old I got great give from my BF is I married but he is my ex-husband , then I was 34 I remarried also my birthday so some good some bad for Birthday memories,
Thank you for sharing nice memories,
Nan
.-= nan´s last blog ..Do you like Fridays Time to follow friends!!! =-.
Shannon what a beautiful post. It made me think about my childhood birthday parties, and agree that it isn’t one particular party that really had the impact, but the way they were so lovingly and creatively planned that definitely influenced the way I entertain and live my life as an adult. Your mom’s legacy definitely lives on. A lot of my childhood parties blur together, but one thing that really stands out was a ballerina birthday I had when I was in Kindergarten. All the girls wore their ballet clothes and the boys came in an assortment of costumes (batman and cowboy stand out in my memory). My parents put on a Ella Jenkins LP and handed out instruments and we had a parade around the back yard.
.-= Jenn Erickson/Rook No. 17´s last blog ..Tea Time Baby Shower Recipes- Crafts- and DIYs =-.
Your mom sounds like she really knew how to plan a party. I don’t remember a lot about birthday parties growing up. Money was tight at my house too. We always had a birthday dinner of our favorite foods.
I always celebrate birthday parties with a simple but in a memorable way wherein my family and friends will enjoy not only the foods but also the activities to do in the event.