Children’s parties are like metaphors for your entire life.
Whether you organise with military precision, casually throw together something amazing, throw something together (and doesnt everyone know it) or simply tell everyone to turn up at a venue and arrive late toting a store bought cake. None is better or worse, more or less ‘correct’. But boy isnt there pressure to succeed – more, I’m sure, than there was when my mum was arranging parties for my birthdays.
Due to illness we had to cancel Moose’s second birthday party, instead we did a morning outing to the wildlife park. Hubby and Moo ran about in glee, I walked behind doubled over in pain with a fake smile muttering ‘no, no, I’m fine, fresh air is helping’ – I’m not entirely sure what that metaphor says about me?
Her first birthday was nice but half our friends got the date wrong or couldn’t come, so it ended up being a couple of friends and 2 toddlers, not what I had planned but actually rather fun and decidedly stress free. Now that metaphor I have deciphered – it was a 100% reflection on my lack of organisation and overly relaxed attitude, fine for a 1yr old – not going to cut it when she wants a proper party.
I”m hoping that this year my more organised approach might result in a relaxed but fun part for Moo. Much like the party we attended today for her buddy R. It was a great party, organised, well catered, homemade accents, with loads of activities and neat little touches. It was a party definitely organised by someone with their life together. Jealous.com! Seriously the bar has really been raised in our toddler social circles, there is a benchmark to be achieved.
We are pretty laid back people, we roll with most things. Earthquakes, house rebuilds, living in motels (for 5 months, with a ill baby) and flying internationally to visit my terminally ill mum on a few days notice. They all culminated to make me stop worrying about every little thing, sometimes its about each moment, not the one that came before or the one to follow. Perhaps I am now to laid back, after years of being to stressed and wound tight, medicated and anxious I am now almost the reverse, I have given up writing lists. I usually forget to read/pack/take them with me anyway. I shop by wandering up and down the aisles and only forget a couple of things each week. I try to see a bigger picture.
I wonder what the picture will look like for Moo’s 3rd birthday?
