The first birthday party, who’s it really for?
When Serophina turned one, it was a big to-do in our house. We planned a huge birthday party for her and invited everyone we knew. We made great food, great drinks, had a gorgeous cake and decorated the entire house for the big event. I went out and bought her a first-birthday outfit which totaled around $100! Back then it was no big deal for me to spend that much money on an outfit that she would probably only wear once, for two reasons: 1) We could afford it then and 2) it was our FIRST child’s FIRST birthday! In my mind, no expense should be spared!
Four years and another baby later, times have certainly changed. For Saioa’s first birthday, I wanted an intimate (and inexpensive) family celebration with a couple close friends and that’s it. After all, she’s not gonna know how big or small her birthday celebration was. She’s not gonna care how fancy the cake was or how many people came.
I decided that we would have a playgroup birthday with cupcakes….sweet and simple.
Little did I know that there was a certain four year-old family member who was looking forward to a birthday party more than anyone else in the entire house.
The morning of Saioa’s birthday, Serophina excitedly went straight to the crib and started singing Happy Birthday to her baby sister. Saioa loved being serenaded first thing in the morning and was all giggles and smiles when I walked in. All day long Serophina chattered on and on about her sister’s first birthday and how excited she was that we were going to have a party with candles and cake and everything else. She’d ask me questions like, “when are we going to decorate for the party?”, “When was everyone going to be here for Saioa’s birthday?” and “Where are the hats for when we sing Happy Birthday?”
I thought it was so sweet that she was genuinely excited that it was her sister’s birthday and automatically associated that with having a party. During playgroup we had cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday to Saioa. When it was time to open presents (which Serophina suggested we do), I noticed a gift bag that was from our own gift bag stash. Serophina immediately rushed over to grab it saying she wanted Saioa to open her gift first! Inside was a “card”, a folded paper that she had colored and decorated with stickers, and some toys from her room. It was such a sweet gesture and made my heart melt.
I called Kevin and told him we had to have a real party the following weekend for Saioa, but really it was going to be for Serophina. Now I know that the first child’s first birthday is for the adults, but the second child’s birthday party is for the sibling! Happy Birthday Saioa!
How did you celebrate your child’s first birthday?
