Celebrating our little girl’s second birthday

Last weekend, on Saturday, our second born daughter turned two. The tradition in our house is we do not do big parties for the children until they are old enough to understand what a birthday is. Of course we have a small celebration with cake and once in a while a few friends or family.

Our first born had a proper party with schoolmates when she was five. Because her birthday falls in the holidays, she had celebrated the fourth birthday at church with her Sunday School friends.

The reason we keep the celebrations for years later is because frankly, it saves us the money but also, the little ones never really understand what is going on. We prefer for them to enjoy what they really want to enjoy. If at that time in their lives, grandma’s home is the coolest place to be because she makes wonderful chapattis and has a double-storied house whose stairs they can run up and down all day, a week at grandma’s place is part of the gifts and celebration they will get.

So last Saturday, we decided to give the birthday girl and her sister a treat by taking them to the children’s park near home. They ogle the place every time we pass by it because they do not go there often. Call me conservative or backward, but I want them to have a sense of excitement and appreciate the good things in life. When we were children, we did not go for events such as parties, shows or plays that often, but when we did, we had the time of our lives.

It was such fun and to this day I can remember a good number of those parties we went to because they were few but memorable. This is what I want to give our children, the ability to appreciate all these “small” things. I also want them to understand they cannot get everything they want, sometimes because it is not the right time, but other times because there is no money to spend on what they want.

But back to the baby, she is a big woman now. I look at her every day and marvel. Unlike her sister, she is bigger and really light-skinned. You would not think they are sisters. My mother teases me that if she got lost and I finally found her, the police would not believe she was my daughter because she looks so unlike from me.

I think I see a little of me in her. Like her sister and father, she likes to have fun, run around and do some shouting. But unlike them and very much like me, she needs to have some time alone, usually at bed time. She will ask to be put in bed, and then lie down looking around, and sleep about 20 or 30 minutes later, perhaps after reflecting on the day’s events, just like her mummy does. When she gets offended, even at that young age, she can easily keep a grudge for pretty long, even the whole day, again like her mummy, something we both need to work on. But if she likes you, you will be friends for life.

She is also a strong woman. She has had her fair share of illnesses, some really bad ones, but she will not fuss, whine or cry so much. She will get on with life.
We are so proud of her and our prayer is that she will live many more years in happiness and with the Lord’s favour. Happy birthday baby girl.

[email protected]