My daughter did a lot of debating over what she wanted her party to be like this year. She said the roller skating rink was out - given my past history - even though I promised not to go near a pair of skates. Then she thought maybe a party at the bowling alley, but ultimately decided on a slumber party with a group of her closest friends.
I have to say, I really like having birthday parties out somewhere. When you have a party at your house, you have all the food preparations, the baking, the chaos of other people's children running through your house and then, the mess to clean up after. A party at a venue, on the other hand, is worry-free. Other people set up, make the food, decorate, and clean up the mess afterward. (Thus the concept of Chuck E. Cheese was born. I have done no research, but I feel sure that the idea for that restaurant came after some parents' nervous breakdown after a party for kids in their own home!) So, I was keeping my fingers crossed for the bowling allley - especially considering the fact that the party was just days before Thanksgiving. But, she decided to have it at home and I went along with it. Thankfully, she is not that all into decorations like crepe paper and balloons anymore. But, you can't placate a group of 12- and 13-year-olds with games like pin the tail on the donkey. So, we had to come up with a party activity and Jessica decided she wanted to tie-dye shirts with her friends. Now keep in mind, we live in Virginia, so it is not warm enough to undertake this activity outdoors; especially when it is a sleepover and the party started at 6 p.m. after it was already dark. Against my better judgment, I agreed and we went out and got the supplies. To my surprise, it actually went well and there was very little mess. A plastic table cloth covered the table and the dyes have come a long way since I oversaw the activity with girl scouts back in my college years. Back then, there was vinegar involved, buckets of dye, letting shirts soak longer for darker colors, etc. etc. etc. Now though, the dye companies have come a long way. You simply mix the powder dye that is already in its own bottle with warm water and each child can wrap their shirt in rubber bands and then squeeze the dye onto the shirts section by section. Very little mess was made and what there was wiped right off the party tablecloth. They all loved the activity and couldn't wait to see the results the next morning.
The best part of the party for me, and I am sure I can speak for my daughter when I say it was the best part for her too, came when it was time to open gifts. I was so excited about what we got her, I could hardly wait for present-opening time!
My daughter has been begging for a cell phone for well over a year now. I told her she really didn't need a cell phone and I didn't think she was old enough at 12 years of age to be responsible with it. (In terms of loss, that is.) She tried to make a case that she could call her friends, but I told her she could use our land line. Then she said she could call to check in with me when they were out playing to see if it was time to come home or if she needed to ask me something. I told her she could do that like we did in the "olden days" and use her little legs to walk the 50 yards between our house and those houses of her friends. Behind the scenes though, as her birthday approached, my husband and I discussed the cell phone. It was a nominal additional cost to the plan we already have, the phone was free with a two year renewal of our contract, and now she was turning 13 years old and was proving herself to be more responsible. She earns straight A's in school and is very trustworthy. So, we secretly ordered the phone for her birthday.... call it a right of passage for her move into "teendom". Then I went out and bought the decoy present. I wanted this moment to be big - one she would remember.
I was out shopping without her one day and bought a purse I thought she would like that suits her age along with an umbrella. Her umbrella had recently broken, so I thought she might like to have a new one. (I chuckle.) When I got home, I charged her new cell phone in my bedroom with a pillow over it so she wouldn't see, set it all up, and then zippered it inside the front section of the purse. I wrapped the purse-holding cell phone and umbrella in a shirt box. My husband and I made a plan to call the phone after she opened the box and saw the purse and umbrella. I couldn't wait for her to open it because I knew how thrilled she would be once she found her "real" gift.
Finally the moment arrived. With her friends gathered around her, she opened each gift and read each card. Then she got to our gift and was sure it was clothes. You could almost read the word disappointment on her face when she first opened the box. But she played it well and said how nice it was and thanked us. Brad had the video camera and I had the still camera to catch it all on film. While she was looking at the umbrella with the purse still in the box, the purse started to ring - well sing, being that the ring tone sounded more like a song than a ring.
It was hysterical watching the faces turn from disappointment to bewilderment to hopeful to sheer joy! You could see it like a wave. Her friend nearest her heard it first and kind of cocked her head, wondering if she was hearing something or not. Then her other friend heard it and everyone started shushing everyone else. When it was really quiet, Jessica heard it and started to search for the source of the noise. She looked in the purse's main compartment and pulled out.... paper stuffing. Then she looked in the zippered compartment and pulled out.... a cell phone! You have never heard shrieks and squeals like the ones that hit the airwaves that day. Every dog in the neighborhood probably ended up with a migraine due to how high-pitched and loud they were! She practically flew out of her seat to hug me and her father and seven teenagers were literally jumping up and down in the living room. Even her friends hugged me and thanked me because they could finally call and text Jessica, who had been the last living girl in the county without a cell phone.
Immediately they started texting each other - though they were all sitting right there together, so I guess that's a generational gap that I will never understand, and entering each other's phone numbers and contacts. I made it to #3 on her speed dial. Number three? I would think that the gift alone would have warranted me the top spot of #2! (Number one dials voice mail.) But alas, I came second on the list. I would probably have been fifth if she could call her two dogs! Thanks goodness they don't have cell phones!
The rest of the evening was work-free. They all went off to the basement to text, chat, paint nails and slumber. Turned out to be a pretty easy party after all, and a lot of fun.
The best part though was her reaction to her gift. That's why I enjoy gift giving so much; seeing the joy on the face of someone I love and care for. That is something that is truly priceless. And for a moment I forgot about my graying hair and aching bones and the number of my age (no, I won't tell) and just relished in the moment.
