Since my twins turn ten tomorrow, I thought I’d share some birthday traditions. All day today I’ve been getting in my last nine year old hugs. I do this every year, it’s a fun excuse to hug and kiss the kids. I make a big deal out of their last whatever year old bath, and breakfast, and bedtime. It is just a bit of silliness that adds to the excitement of the coming birthday. And on birthdays I am quick to get in that first birthday hug and kiss, too.
We’ve been busy with cakes today, too. I’ve always let my three children pick out what cake they’ve wanted to make and I’ve let them help with it, too. Some years we get beautiful creations and some years – well, at those cakes taste good. But it’s all fun. We’ve had a pirate ship, Pooh bear, ocean themed, a Harry Potter quidditch field, a treasure chest, a zoo, a snowman cake, and several panda bears. We’ve learned how to bake cakes at Colorado’s high altitude. And we’ve learned that while edible glitter may be beautiful, it doesn’t taste good.
Every year we let our children pick out a birthday dinner, either a homemade or a restaurant meal. This year, the boys are going to have to wait a little bit to celebrate their birthday. One of the boys has been sick this weekend. Monday and Tuesday night have activities.
One family I know of has a tradition I wish we’d adopted. Each year on the birthday the child gets a new privilege and also a new responsibility. The privilege might be staying up later, or getting a pet, or getting to walk to a neighbor’s by themselves. The responsibility might be taking out the trash, walking the dog, cooking dinner once a week, or mowing the grass. I love this idea, I’ve just never been able to figure out to how to manage it with twins.
What other birthday traditions have you heard of?
Also See:
Birthday Traditions From Around the World
Make Birthdays Fun With Traditions