I have a nagging feeling that I'm forgetting something important.
It's like an unpleasant tickle at the back of my brain - there must be something I am missing, some supporting piece of my life that is all wobbly and about to fall out, bringing the whole structure down.
My husband is away most of this week, so not much margin for error on my part when it comes to keeping life on-track.
My son's birthday is coming up, and his present is running late (with no estimated date of delivery). Also, I need to figure out what to do for celebratory breakfast and dinner (the birthday boy asks for the same things every year - Dutch baby for breakfast and beef stew for dinner... and while the beef strew can be made the day before as long as I manage to swing by a store to buy beef and potatoes, the Dutch baby would have to be made around 5:30 in the morning, and I am just not sure about that...). We are also having Carrot Cake Drama. We are having family over on Sunday, so I was planning to make a big carrot cake (his favorite) to celebrate E's 16. Shockingly (or not?), he also wants a cake on his actual birthday. I mean, I kind of get it... but also don't really have time to make 2 cakes. I guess I can buy something pre-made?
It's my own fault, really. I have set a precedent with other kids' birthdays and multiple cakes because we often have multiple celebrations with just us, the extended family, and with friends - but this week is a little extra stressful with the whole solo-parenting thing.
I think I need to simplify life as much as possible this week and, tempting as it may be, not be overly ambitious with juggling multiple pieces.
Do you have any birthday traditions that work well for you?
If it makes you feel better- I've NEVER made a cake for anyone's birthday. Every year it is store/bakery bought. I have never learned to bake, don't enjoy it, so I don't do it.
ReplyDeleteI think we will rein in the parties for the kids. Up until this point we have invited everyone and their mother but I think we need to build a fence around it. It's too much. Or, we can outsource it and have the party at the gymnastics place, but idk I like having them at the house...
It does make me feel better! Thank you!
DeleteAnd omg kids birthday parties at your house - I am so impressed.
I get so overwhelmed - we never host big parties for kids. We told our kids that we could do big parties for them, inviting as many kids as they wanted, when they turn 5, 10, 15, etc...We've outsourced those to gymnastics or ice skating or bouncy house places - just bringing pizza and store-bought cake. The rest of the time, it's just family and closest friends (and that has somehow recently turned into 2 separate get-togethers, one for all the grandparents and cousins and one for friends). But these are good challenges to have!