The birthday discussion

Braden, who is about to turn 5, was telling us that he loved his birthdays because he gets presents. Dalton quickly piped up and said "Braden, the point of your birthday is to celebrate the day you were born, not get presents." I think he was remembering why we celebrate Christmas but I can appreciate his thought. Dalton then went even further and said that he liked his birthday because it was special and didn't care about getting presents. I said "Oh, so you mean we don't have to buy you presents?" Dalton very innocently said "Oh, you can!"

Cute story, I know. But it makes me think. What do I want my kids to remember about their birthdays? Do I want them to focus on the piles of presents? Or would I rather that they make memories that last a lifetime? I love shopping for my kids. I shop early for all holidays and birthdays and sometimes forget what I bought until I start wrapping and realize I have purchased too many things and already have a head start on the next event. I think because of this, I really need to make a list--maybe create an excel spreadsheet for each of the kids and keep track of what I have bought so I don't go overboard.

I don't want them to only focus on the presents. I don't want some huge, over-the-top party. While I want them to enjoy their special day, I also want them to keep in mind what is really important. I want them to appreciate the birthday cake that I baked from scratch and spent up to an hour decorating. But most importantly, I want them to enjoy spending time with family and their friends. It's also a great time to remember why they are so special to me.