Comments on: The Best Part of Birthdays

By: mizwrite

mizwrite — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:00:28 +0000

Oh, Debbie, this story made me all misty! Truly. I’m over here trying to drink my early-morning Diet Coke with tears all in my eyes. …

Anyway, very sweet. I think when we don’t have tons of money when our kids are small, we tend to do “little things” for them to make the day special — even if it’s just a balloon waking them up in the morning, and homemade cakes. And I think our kids take this lesson with them, don’t you? That it’s not the big “important” gifts that mean much, it’s the little things to simply make the day “special” for someone they love. Then they do it back for us (and, presumably, will do so for all the people that come into their lives). Like Jeanne’s daughter’s baby blanket, it’s like they’re giving back what we gave them.

So sweet. … Now I need to go get misty in my Diet Coke again. … Great story! I love to hear this stuff.

By: Debbie C.

Debbie C. — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:18:28 +0000

Happy, happy birthday Laurie. Having kids you always hear that it is best when they are babies, it is best when they are toddlers, and they are right. But parents forget that it is also best when they are teenagers and older. My children now 17 and 19 years old, you would think that “mom” stuff is over…but it just keeps getting better and better. I still love being a mom and at birthdays it is the best!
Being a single parent, we did not have much $$. The kids were 10 and 12, my birthday was on a workday, I was in the shower getting ready for work, I usually woke the kids up after my shower for all of us to get ready for the day. To my surprise, when I came out of the bathroom, my bedroom was all decorated for my birthday, they hung red hearts from the ceiling, written on the hearts “happy birthday” “we love you” “you are the best mommy”. They put christmas twinkle lights all over the room and had a candle wrapped up as my gift, with a huge homemade card.
They were huddled in my bed just waiting for my shower to end. It was such a wonderful surprise and really showed me that I must be doing something right as a single parent. Of course, they were sad that I was crying when I saw all the hearts and lights. I had to explain that they were tears of surprise and happiness. To this day, the kids still make homemade cards and they are just wonderful.
I think I will go and give each one of my wonderful, loving children a hug and kiss right this minute and I will tell them it was all your fault!
Happy birthday again Laurie

By: mizwrite

mizwrite — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:37:38 +0000

Chris — Yes, I forgot Nate’s line in the letter saying he doesn’t give hugs and kisses “Wille Nille,” you know (which he so totally DOES, anyway!). … He’s hilarious.

By: mizwrite

mizwrite — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:36:19 +0000

Oh, my gosh, Jeanne, I LOVED your stories about your daughter! So sweet! I love that she wrapped up her baby blanket for you for Christmas! Yes, as if she loved that thing, and knew you loved it, and knew you were the source of it. … it’s all so sweet.

And it’s very cool that she’s 16 now, but these little details of affection are so readily remembered by Mom!

Thanks for those. … Made my day. : )

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:06:06 +0000

My daughter Alli always does stuff that makes me feel special. Some of my favorites are:

1. Wrapping up her baby blanket and giving it to me for Christmas. She was about nine when she did this, and it felt good, although I’m not sure why. Perhaps it felt like she was saying she was glad I was her mom and in a way handing me part of her babyhood back as she got older. Very special.

2. She fixed the frame one year on my favorite picture of her as a toddler. She bought the glue and whatever else she needed and made it perfect. Don’t know why, but it was so sweet to me. I guess she knew how much I’d loved that picture and decided she could fix it up. Just a really thoughtful gift that didn’t need to be expensive.

3. Giving me a coupon book she’d made and decorated with coupons for doing extra chores and for a couple of massages. So thoughtful.

She’s sixteen now and still really thoughtful. She always helps me with dinner and tells me how pretty I am, usually right at the time I need it. She’s going on 17 too, so her thoughtfulness in itself is surprising and so appreciated.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:05:05 +0000

I like that Nate also said that he doesn’t just give hugs and kisses”wille nille” but he really does. He loves to give his family hugs and kisses for any reason!
I think what was great, and has always been great, is that you are so “low maintenance” about your special days. You make living with you very easy and in return we all want to please you that much more!
Happy birthday sweetheart; you are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!