What do you do to make a birthday special? I mean other than the obvious party and presents. Do you have little traditions that make the actual day special?
I have one friend who takes photos of her children at the moment they wake up in the morning. Meaning that she sneaks into their bedrooms, camera in hand, and snaps a photo right as they wake up. One day they will love the photos, even if as teenagers they hate the tradition.
I have another friend who allows the birthday child to pick all the meals they are going to eat that day. Birthdays are spent eating lots of pizza and breakfast foods.
I have another friend who allows her child to stay home from school on their birthday. Obviously, this one doesn’t work if your child is born in the summer and I know she has told me that as her children have gotten older it has become more difficult because of tests and assignments that are due. Sometimes her children have had to “cash” the day off in on a different day.
We have a treasure hunt at our house. Each rhyming clue leads to another rhyming clue, all over the house, culminating in finding the hidden presents. The kids, even those who aren’t celebrating a birthday, love this tradition.
So what do you do? Do you have any sort of birthday traditions that all of you look forward to doing?
Gotta take that picture of the exact time of birth – regardless of what they are doing.
And have a doughnut tower with candles at breakfast time.
On the half-birthdays, we have a half of a round cake for dessert – yep, they sell these in half-moon containers at the local grocery.
Comment by Dave — April 1, 2009 @ 9:33 pm
When my kids were young, and I only bought “healthy” cereal for them, on their birthdays they were allowed to pick a box of junk food cereal. I think they remember this the best, more than any other present they ever got!
Their dad and I had to work hard to not eat the cereal!
Comment by Deb — April 2, 2009 @ 10:41 am
All mine are in school for their birthdays, so I pack a special lunch for them with brownie or cupcake and a card in their lunch box. They love opening up and seeing the special note when I am not around. It lets them know that we think of them even when they are not home.
We also joined the Geoffrey’s Club at Toys R Us, so they can shop with a attendant with a hat and balloon to pick out their present. TRU sends a $3 gift card in the mail, along with a wake up call from Geoffrey. The kids love it!
Comment by Claire — April 2, 2009 @ 10:42 am
God has a tradition for me – he makes my birthday the FIRST snowday of the school year. I graduated high school last spring and every year from 6th grade – 12th grade I had my birthday (Dec 5th) off as a snow day. Once I hit my 19th the tradition ended. Oh well, it was an amazing way to celebrate.
Also, started on my 18th birthday I sent my mom flowers to her work as a thank you for raising me. This year (year 2 of the tradition) I was away at college for my birthday and I know they absolutely made her day so special.
Comment by Karen — April 2, 2009 @ 11:11 am
I let them choose what we are having for dinner and I also pack them a special lunch if they are in school. If they are home that day I will take them out for lunch. I try to make the day about them as much as possible.
Comment by Heather — April 2, 2009 @ 11:29 am
Cake for breakfast.
e all look forward to it.
Comment by Sarah G. — April 2, 2009 @ 11:55 am
For my birthday we eat chocolate cake for breakfast. My oldest is a Christmas baby and gets cinnamin rolls for her special day. The next kid gets donuts for breakfast on her day and the last one gets to pick out a special ice cream treat for hers.
Yep, junk food breakfasts. It works for us.
Comment by dangitAnge — April 2, 2009 @ 12:57 pm
We make birthday posters for each family member’s birthday. Starting with a long strip of banner paper or a piece of poster board, we write Happy Birthday and decorate it with pictures of the person at all kinds of events and things during the previous year. Then we write comments to go with the pictures, like, “You’re a great violinist!” “You’re funny and fun!” “You’re a wonderful sister!”
Comment by Elizabeth — April 2, 2009 @ 1:14 pm
The night before the birthday, after the child goes to bed, I decorate the house – ribbons, streamers, balloons, confetti and such. I also make their birthday cake (they choose) so it is on the breakfast bar in the morning when they get up. We do a special breakfast, sing and basically start the day with a little family party. No, we don’t eat the cake until dinner time.
Comment by Deborah — April 2, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
My oldest was born in Japan, so we always have Japanese food on his birthday. Since my daugther was born in CA, we have Santa Maria Ribs and artichokes. My youngest was born also in CA and since his birthday is only a month after his sister’s we don’t want CA food again so we always have Itaian – to celebrate our favorite resturant in CA and because we’re part Itailain.
Another tradition is that they only have big birthday parties with friends at 7,10, 13, & 16. On the off years we have surprise parties – but the surprise in on the guest! They don’t know it’s in honor of a birthday till they get to the house and see the cake and decortaions. We feel this way we really celebrate the child and family and friends instead of what toys the child opens.
Comment by Kelley — April 2, 2009 @ 5:04 pm
I have three kids and each one has a special cake on their birthday however, they do not get to eat it for breakfast. I know I’m such a mean mom ;o) My oldest gets the Champagne Cake, Middle child gets the Fruit Basket Cake both from our…. I mean, MY favorite bakery. My youngest gets strawberry and chocolate cupcakes, baked by me our course. It’s been this way every year since their first birthdays.
Comment by Lisa Lisa — April 2, 2009 @ 6:05 pm
We have a four-foot-tall inflatable cake that you plug in, so I set that up and get it running before The Birthday Kid wakes up. We stack the presents around it, so it’s a little like Christmas morning when they come out! I always take a picture of them in their jammies with their presents, by the blow-up cake.
Then I randomly burst into “Happy Birthday” throughout the day. Plus they get to choose what they want for me to cook for dinner.
Comment by KarateMom — April 3, 2009 @ 12:21 am
The birthday person gets to pick the meal of their choosing- as long as its not take out. Regardless of day of the week Mom goes to the extra effort to cook that meal on their day. They also pick the cake of choice. On my birthday- I get takeout.
House rules on birthday- everyone has to be nice to the birthday person no matter what. Thankfully the youngest is 10 and no one takes advantage of that rule. If a birthday party is involved it is always on a different day than the birthday. Birthday’s are family days only.
Comment by Kathleen — April 3, 2009 @ 3:04 am
We always have a big cake and the traditional party on the weekend closest to their birthday, so on the actual day of their birth we have a more toned down tradition.
After the dinner of their chosing, each family member gets a cupcake with a candle. We sing Happy Birthday, then we take turns making our wishes for the birthday boy/girl, blowing out our own candle. Only the guest of honor is allowed to wish something for his/herself. My oldest daughter was about 3 when she came up with this idea, and we loved it so it just stuck!
Comment by Angela — April 3, 2009 @ 6:34 am
the birthday fairy comes during the night and leaves a little present. (She is the tooth fairy’s cousin!)
Comment by jenwith4kids — April 3, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
All 4 of our birthdays are within 2 weeks time (mine-14, husband-26, twins-28) , so I really struggle with “specialness”.
It doesn’t help that I am exceptionally gifted at being disorganized and procrastinating. triple
Comment by Anonymous — April 4, 2009 @ 8:23 am