While I was typing this blog's description for the seventh time yesterday trying to deal with Blogger's changing of the template, I realized that I haven't talked about life in the suburbs for a while. What's more quintessentially the role of a suburban mom than having a birthday party?These are the birthday parties Kestrel has been to this year:
Science Magic (with entertainer and experiments)
Bowling (at an exclusive club)
Beads Galore (jewelry making at an Italian restaurant)
Adventure Zone (indoor play area with pizza)
Great Adventure Race (four hours all over the mountains ending at a Mexican restaurant)
So when Kestrel's birthday was coming up and she wanted to invite the whole class, I approached it with a bit of trepidation. It didn't help that she's been talking about it for six months. First we decided on something manageable - a beach party. Then I persuaded her that ten kids would be a lot more fun. But there are only two tables at the beach - if they're full we'd be serving food with kids kicking sand all over it. And more worryingly, it had rained for eight days straight - ten kids in our tiny apartment was, frankly, unimaginable.
But we had luck. It didn't rain in spite of the forecast. No one else was crazy enough to have a beach party, so we had the tables to ourselves. Kestrel and I picked up the kids and more adults at the ferry and then off to the beach where Granite was guarding the table and being eaten alive by little black gnats. Only two of the accompanying adults didn't come to the party. We had helpers or parents, or helpers and parents for almost every kid. The crowds stood around taking pictures and videos while the kids decorated wooden paddle boats with felt sails (our answer to a clown and pony show) and while they ate and fooled around. It was weird and awkward not knowing who was who and feeling like I needed to entertain them as well as the kids.
But the kids had fun. They ran around and played ball tag on the play equipment. Then they made boats and went swimming since the boats didn't sail too well. We had to drag them out for the Subway sandwiches, fruit and cake. Well, except for one kid who wouldn't stop digging in the sand for anything. And another kid who came an hour late, who hadn't RSVP'ed, who wouldn't speak to anyone for the first hour she was there, and who stayed an hour after the party was supposed to be over. Actually having the entire school class at our house in Turkey was a lot easier than this Hong Kong party. The kids in Turkey got along so much better and were much better at social interaction - unless Kestrel just invited some odd kids this year.
It turned out to be a pretty successful party. Glitter got all over the known world. One boy squirted mango juice all over another while they were at the table, but I didn't yell and it didn't get on anything but the other kid. And it didn't rain until Kestrel and I were walking home after that funny little girl and her mom finally left. After fifteen kids' birthday parties, you'd think it'd get easier and more fun. I wonder how many more I have to go?
This picture is from the next day when the birthday girl got to learn to ride her first two-wheeler. That was the best part of the birthday, I thought.
3 comments:
Who said that kids' birthday parties were supposed to be fun for parents? j/k
It won't be long until Kestrel will do more of the work as well as the planning.
I can remember a girl who volunteered me to make potato salad for an eighth grade picnic instead of being clever like her classmates and volunteering chips, soda, or even cookies.
Years ago parents usually dropped their kids off at parties and used the time to relax by themselves. It's more complicated, though, when the guests have to be transported by ferry or car. I do have, however, a photograph from one of my parties that includes my aunts and other adults. I wonder how my mom felt about that.
One of my young Latino colleagues attends the parties that his children are invited to along with all of the other parents. Maybe it's more expected in some cultures that parents be entertained, too.
This reminded me so much of my niece and the seemingly endless line of birthday parties she went to in the last six months. The planning of her own party was the same as you described, will it be a tea party? princess party? gymnastics party? What type of food? etc.
Is that the cake you made in the photo? Looks like chocolate, yummy. How did you manage the oven?
I'm inspired by your story. I, too, am cracking my head over my son's upcoming birthday party. In America, we simply went to the park and had a picnic with all our friends. I'd bring a couple balls and kites and off the kids go. Food was whatever I could grab from the grocery store the day before... and may be I managed some balloons for added festivity. Now, after having been to at least five other kid's birthday parties where sushi was served, where specially hired clowns were the core entertainment of the party... I find myself asking ridiculous questions like: will they think our party is good enough?
Now, I'm inclined to think that if anyone didn't like this party, then it will be a perfect reason why they don't show up next year.
Come September, I'm celebrating my son's life and what it means to us. Not going to worry about what it looks like to others.
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