Years ago I decided I was not going to give my kids Birthday presents. I gave birth, you are welcome. Instead I though having them experience something they have never done before would be far more interesting and exciting for the whole family. So each year, three times a year sometimes all of us, sometimes just the birthday boy, does something new. It is a fun process coming up with ideas, some are simple, some costly, all hopefully adding the memory banks of their fun.
Most recently Nick, my middle, spent his 14th birthday adventure camping out in the field under the stars behind out house. With four of his bravest or craziest friends. It was a right of passage of sorts for him. He was proud to have made it. Some of Nick's choices have been to go to a skate park, on a hot air balloon ride, which we managed to do before school one fall morning, have videos put up on Utube, have a surprise party, again pulled off before school. His friends showed up at 7:15, we had pancakes and everyone was to school by 9, It was pretty cool. Nick's first one was pretty funny. He wanted to take a plane ride over our house, luckily this can be achieved pretty easily at Danbury Airport, poor Nick feel asleep for the entire 20 minute ride, but Alex & their dad enjoyed the trip.
Alex's desires took us to a NBA game, unfortunately during a blizzard, but it's all good. He has gone ice fishing, had a whipped cream pie fight, silly string fight. I look forward each year to what they decide.
Michael had his first Big Mac one year, had ice cream for breakfast, met friends for ice cream for lunch, and an ice cream cake for dinner another. We went to a Monster Truck rally, had a surprise party yet another.
All in all, these traditions of new experiences valued over a gift, it's a good thing. I am approaching my 45th. What to do what to do......
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