When my son was in Kindergarten, a funny new friend of mine (the mom of his bestest bud in class) walked up to me one morning and slapped me in the arm.
A bit surprised at being hit before 9am, I asked: “Ummm….what was that for?”
She shook her head, pointed an accusatory finger and said: “You had to go and be That Mom, didn’t you?”
This made me grin and reply: “It was The Class Bear, wasn’t it?”
Now her brows were furrowed, arms crossed, and she muttered: “That damn bear…”
The kids in class got turns taking The Class Bear home, and were to write about his adventures. I took it beyond that, making a photojournalistic album of all he had done. Mr T was so excited to have earned the Class Bear, that I made it the most awesome two days that filthy Beanie Baby has ever experienced.
The reason I took her by surprise by doing so, is that my standards are usually pretty low.
I’m always behind on cleaning, we grab clean clothes from the piles in the dining room, most meals are microwaved, the TV is my most dependable babysitter and I am often found hiding from my children.
But I know how to have a good time. I know how to take something like Class Bear and make it memorable. I know how to play with kids, make them laugh, get them happy.
I know what it’s like to want to grasp onto joy and shake it til everyone around it can feel it all over.
I joke with my kids (and their friends), chase them, let them use me as a Jungle Gym, show them how to run dancy screamy laps in the basement, build kick-ass forts and celebrate Special Days with aplomb.
Like Birthdays.
Today my baby girl is Five.
She’s the one who drives me to drink, but is also adorable, smart, and makes me laugh til I hurt.
She made Potty Training into something worthy of a Reality TV Show, but that creativity blows me away in wonder, too.
She tortures me with her ability to make anything dangerous, but will take down a man double her size if he messes with someone she loves.
When it comes time for her Special Day, I’m gonna run out late at night to buy that crazy-big SpongeBob balloon she fell in love with. I’m gonna get up early to decorate the house with streamers and signs. I’m gonna find a way to pepper the day with little gifts wrapped in funny paper so she never knows when the next surprise will be. I’m gonna make tiny rainbow cupcakes to share with her class during snack time and send her to school in a fabulous “Birthday Girl” headband.
RUN birthday girl, RUUUUUUNNNN!!!!
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Sure, buying mini cupcakes & just using rainbow sprinkles would have been easier. But it's MY KID we're talking about here. Of course I need to make Rainbow Cupcakes.
~
Hug him tight, baby girl. He came all the way from his pineapple under the sea to be with you today.
I may not be That Mom when it comes to anything else many things, but I sure know how to celebrate my kids. I absolutely want them to remember their childhoods as fun, love celebrating their birthdays, and feel as special as I know they are.
So if that means I need to get randomly slapped by someone every once in a while for setting the Awesomely Fun Bar too high? I’ll take it.
Now, I gotta go. I have some celebrating to do.
d’aWWWW!!!! Happy Birthday to your little girl!
Thanks, Amy!
Happy birthday!! Hope she doesn’t need to shove anybody in the toilet today. But Spongebob’s got her back if she does, right?
Jester Queen recently posted..Memories Captured April: My Three Loves
LOL! She was shove-free all day. (I think)
When will Class Bear be made into a Blink Book? I REALLY need to see your mastery at work.
And a huge Happy Birthday to Miss A. I really, really hope that Supergirl makes it to 5 – at this rate one of us might not.
Heather Bush recently posted..A Hiatus, A Skirt, and Life
It’s on the list! I refer to it in my “Things Kids Bring Home From School” Brite, but there will be an expanded one probably next week.
Aww, love this! A clean house and a fresh-cooked meal? Anyone can do that. A mom who makes her kids happy by having fun parenting them? That’s priceless. Hope it’s a fun birthday day!!
Kathy at kissing the frog recently posted..Innocence
Love your perspective. Thanks, girl!
that’s really cute!
Thanks, Fadder!
Happy birthday!!!
I’m very seriously considering asking you to adopt my kids. And me.
hollow tree ventures recently posted..My Kid Is Doing Honesty Wrong
Birthdays may be fun around here, but I have an inkling that the rest of my Mom Resume would disqualify me in the adoption process. Sorry!
If I didn’t already love you, I’d dislike you. I’m “that other mom” who sees Flat Stanley and take-home teddy bears as a special parent torture.
Ninja Mom recently posted..Character Assassination Carousel: Hollow Tree Ventures and Babar.
No worries, I have a special hate for Flat Stanley. Does that make you hate me less?
I’m not going to let my kiddo read this because he will read about how I am totally not “that Mom.” I suck at parties and sometimes feel like my fun bone was an extra-special little something I left on the delivery room table.
I totally applaud your for making your kids days so special. You rock. They’ll always remember these moments.
Happy Birthday to your little one and cheers to all of you.
Vinobaby recently posted..When School Shootings Hit Too Close To Home
When I’m not doling out Time Outs, threats, ultimatums, or feeding them chemical-filled foods? I’m a real hoot.
I go crazy with birthdays too, but it’s because I’m neurotic being a twin with a birthday at Christmas. I think your excuse is better.
Very sweet post and I hope you all had a fun day!
just keep swimming recently posted..The Real Housework of Orange County
A twin AND a Christmas bday? Oy. I bet you make them ROCK.
Heck yeah! My mom was “that” mom growing up in that she didn’t work out of the house, but worked her butt off making sure we always had fun. She was the room mother other room mothers rolled their eyes at, but the mom that played kickball with us in the street and always made sure we remembered to be silly.
Plus, she STILL decorates the house with streamers and balloons for every birthday–I’m 30, remember–and even for our dog. Despite her many flaws and the fact she drives me insane at times, she made growing up fun. Your kids will remember these days!
Abby recently posted..Big Hairy Deal
I still decorate the house with streamers & balloons for my husband. The first year we were together and I did it, he found it both slightly horrifying/embarrassing and kind of awesome all at once. At least I now have kids as an excuse to do it, now.
Your mom sounds great – I love that she sent you those yellow flowers last week!
So fun and so great to be making memories for you and for her!
Thanks – I hope so!
Ha ha ha! That is awesome. Love those cupcakes. Happy birthday to your little one! I am following you now, I wanted to get to know all the ladies in the community on BlogFrog
Looking forward to getting to know you! And BTW…glad my kids aren’t in your kids class, mine never did get any rainbow cupcakes.
Kim recently posted..Holding Laundry Hostage
The rainbow cupcakes were a little insane, but I recently became obsessed with them. I need medical help in the cupcake part of my brain.
Nice to meet you!!
Let the slapper deal with her guilt! She probably makes home cooked meals and washes the kitchen floor every once in a while. It’s your day now (and your baby girl’s)!
The Slapper is such a great mom, so cool and smart and with it that I should start slapping her.
You are an awesome mom. I decorate cakes but my kids still seem to get the shaft in that department. I should be ashamed of myself. Love those rainbow cupcakes.
I think I’ve seen your cakes, which blow anything I do away.
I’m proud of my rainbow cakes.
Thanks!