The Simple Things in Life

Earlier this month, we were invited to a kids' birthday party. The birthday girl turned 11, and her brother turned 6, (their birthdays are only a couple weeks apart and they have always had their parties together). Now that I'm a parent, I couldn't help but notice how different the birthday-present ritual was compared with how it is for Kira and Renee and compared with how it was for me.

Specifics: The birthday girl received DS games to add to her existing collection and a cell phone. Her brother received his own DS and a couple games. These gifts were from their parents. (We got them a scrapbook kit and a Spongebob camera, respectively.) Watching the birthday girl and boy open their presents forced me to imagine what it would be like when Kira and Renee reach tween age, and my thoughts made me nervous. At the moment, I'm having trouble getting my child to happily go to school. How am I going to fend off all the "I want that" moments? And as for what the birthday-presents ritual was for me when I was 11...let's just say I was never a "tween", I was just a "kid".

While the birthday girl and boy immediately islolated themselves with their new video games, Kira hopped onto her Yeh Yeh's feet and he bounced her on his legs. She was having a blast. And when we left, Kira got a balloon that kept her busy the whole 1-hour ride home. I'm writing this post because I just want to remember how easy it can be to please Kira at her age. Who knows how long it will last.