Ok, I am just going to breeze right over the fact that I haven’t blogged since December! I’ll get right to the point as if I’ve been here all along! My first “little” baby is about to turn one in a couple of weeks and that has had my mind spinning about what special traditions I want our family to have as we celebrate every year of our childrens’ lives. I’m sure as the years fly by some traditions will essentially evolve on their own as each of our kids (yes, I hope to have more, Lord willing) chooses their favorite cake for me to make year after year or a special family dinner is served in honor of that child. But, I am trying to think beyond the more obvious ways we can celebrate a birthday in hopes of establishing something a little more unique.
I know that many of you have posted, at least at some point about various traditions and have probably touched upon this, so I’m beckoning your help! I have contemplated writing letters to Will as he approaches each birthday and then saving them for a special birthday to come. But although I really like this idea, I worry that it may be a daunting task to stay on top of as more children enter the picture and the years pass begin to pass.
SO…what special and unique traditions do you remember from growing up and what kinds of things do you do know with your kids? Who knows, this may be compiled already on an existing blog out there. If so….lead me there!
briana said,
April 20, 2007 at 3:16 pm
1. Glad to read a new post!
2. I love that you want to write letters to Will; how so sweet and such a motherly thing to do. But, I do think you’re being practical, too, thinking ahead at how difficult it might be to maintain such a tradition. Doing such a thing w/ grace in mind might mean that you do the letters as you can. maybe there’s a year or two that gets skipped, but that wouldn’t take away from the overall impact it might make on him someday that you wrote the ones you did…know what I’m saying? I LOVE that idea and may steal it.
I started in Judah’s baby book in particular to write verses down that I wanted him to particularly gravitate towards and hide in his heart. LA and I also have been gathering news stories, inspirational stories of folks who overcome to one day give to him…not to inspire him in a humanistic/secular kind of way, but in a way that points him toward having courage and strength in God to maximize on the lot God’s given Him rather than seeing it as a limitation.
Anyway…got a bit off track there.
I have the P.Chef “celebrations” plate that I’d like to begin using when it would actually make an impact on them…I need to get another one, though, for the twins bday.
I grew up having the day off for chores (if you’re planning to have your kids do chores), having the dinner I chose along w/ the cake of my choosing.
I can’t think of any other fun bday traditions, but I’m hoping others will post so that I can get ideas, too.
Danielle said,
April 20, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I can’t think of any “baby” traditions either, but like Briana, we got to choose our cake and menu for dinner on our birthday. Another tradition was my mom would wake us up singing “Happy Birthday” with a tray of breakfast treats for breakfast in bed. Obviously, something to do only when your kids are older.
So glad you posted!!
Sarah said,
April 24, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I can’t really add anything to what Mrs. Briana and Mrs. Danielle said. My Dad almost always wakes me up to sing Happy Birthday to me. My mom usually bakes whatever cake we want. We go out to dinner with my aunt and grandparents (not always on the day) to celebrate as a family. That’s all I can think of really.
As for the letter writing thing. I am very sentimental and think it’s a great idea. I’ve often considered doing that with my children if it’s the Lord’s will for me to have a family. However, I’m sure it could be a big task especially if you have more children and feel the burden to write to all of them. I’m sure God will give you the wisdom to decide what you should do.
Have a great time celebrating Will’s birthday!
zoanna said,
April 25, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Writing letters. Great idea! While you may end up doing the reality-of-life thing (skipping, which of course would make you a HORRIBLE AWFUL MOTHER) you could do an acrostic of his name and character traits/new adventures/memories. Dana did that for me and Bonnie on the retreat in a postcard (Zany-Hospitable, Opens Arms, Apt to Teach, etc). I’m sure you could come up with stuff for WILL or WILLIAM Or his whole name. We also give our kids off school (when homeschooling) or chores (every year). On the 13th birthday for Ben and Sarah, respectively, Paul took Ben on a Manhood Weekend up to Willow Valley with the Passport to Purity material (sex talk weekend, okay?) and I took Sarah a year later. Paul gave Ben a leather Bible, I gave Sarah a gold cross necklace. Poor Stephen, he’ll be 16 this year and still hasn’t had the Manhood Weekend. Guess we won’t get grandkids outta him! But there again, thirdborns get leftovers of everything from macaroni to sex talk energy.
bethyoung said,
October 24, 2007 at 8:56 pm
boring….
bethyoung said,
October 24, 2007 at 8:57 pm
that means it’s time for another post
Dorothy said,
March 28, 2008 at 11:51 am
I’ve always let each of my kids choose the theme of their choice for their birthday celebration then I buy (or make) decorations and a cake to match. We’ve done a beach theme with a sandcastle cake, Hannah Montana (of course!), a puppy party, and lots of other fun ideas.
I found lots of cool birthday tradition ideas at Cafe Traditions.
http://www.cafetraditions.com