June is birthday month for my family. For the next eight weeks we have- six birthdays in my family- it’s insane. My sister and I are almost to the day- seventeen years apart. Yes, you read that correctly. Brooklyn was born right before I became a Senior in High school. With a family of my own living four hours away from my family and little sisters- I make a point to be there for Brooklyn’s special day. Sometimes I am there for the actual day, but whatever day we are together we go on a date. I believe adventure or experience is soo much better than a present. In fact, for Christmas I talked a lot about choose adventures over Christmas presents here– if you’d like some awesome adventure ideas and printables!
So, on my sister’s birthday I give her the control and let her pick the adventure. Last year, Brooklyn picked to go shopping with me. We spent the afternoon, just she and I looking and trying on clothes. We giggled and teased and talked about the important things. When I told her to pick out something, to my surprise she left the store with the same shirt I was wearing- she wanted to be twins. Before we headed home we grabbed some ice cream and bonded over delicious chocolate fudge.
Birthday celebrations do not have to big. Often times I think Pinterest is the coolest, yet worst invention ever! Mom’s tend to compare themselves to other mom’s fantastic blown-into huge production birthday parties and think they have to match that production. To each their own I say! Personally, I would rather avoid spending the money, time, stress and effort of planing a big production birthday party for a pack of crazy kids. Instead i’d rather spend the money on the birthday kid. Simply put- save everyone the hassle and do something simple and meaningful in honor of the birthday kid.
If you have any birthdays coming up for someone you love, I challenge you to “take the easy way out”. Simply ask the child what they would like to do for the day where all bets are off and see what you do for their birthday. I’m sure that day will be just as memorable and perhaps cost a little less too.
Happy Simplicty Birthday!
Morgan
