Yesterday was a day of celebration. Not one, but two birthdays—because why keep things simple when you can double the party and the chaos? My husband’s birthday is tomorrow, and my daughter’s just happened, so naturally, we turned the whole day into an excuse to eat too much and laugh until our stomachs hurt.
The day begins ( sort of?)
My oldest son arrived around noon, ready to eat and chill. The youngest? Well, let’s just say a 17-hour shift is a valid excuse for sleeping through a part of the day. Eventually, we all ended up together, sitting, talking, and just being. Nothing spectacular, no big plans, just us, which is honestly the best kind of day.
Side note: Have you ever noticed how time flies when you’re just enjoying each other’s company? One minute, you’re sipping coffee, and the next, someone suggests, “Hey, let’s go eat again!” And because we are who we are, the obvious answer is: Yes. Absolutely. Immediately.
Dinner time: where good Intentions go to die
At 5 PM, we went to a world kitchen buffet, which is basically Disneyland for food lovers. Every plate was a battlefield of “Should I eat more? Yes. Will I regret this? Also yes.” There were jokes, some of them a little over the top (but that’s just our default setting). And, miracle of miracles, we actually remembered to take pictures!
Listen, this is a big deal. Normally, we’re so busy talking, laughing, or stuffing our faces that photos are a forgotten concept. But this time, we made the effort, because birthdays need proof. Future Us needs something to look back on and say, “Yep, that was a great day.”
A roller-skating mom and a life lesson
Earlier in the day, I saw a mom and her little girl, maybe five years old, rollerskating together. Well, Mom was walking, Daughter was skating. And it hit me, how many times did I do this with my kids? Holding their hands, letting them find their balance, knowing that one day, I’d have to let go.
And there it was. The big parenthood metaphor.
We hold their hands when they practice.
We let go when they’re ready.
And we are always there, just in case they need us again.
That’s what this whole day was, really. My kids are growing, moving into their own lives, working 17-hour shifts, or coming home just to eat and laugh with us for a while. They’re skating on their own. And I’m still here, ready to grab their hands if they ever need me to.
But also, ready to grab another plate of food because wow, I definitely ate too little dessert.
Final thoughts (if you can call this organized thinking)
Birthdays aren’t about big gestures. They’re about being together, sharing jokes, watching someone nearly set the restaurant on fire with a sparkler candle (not saying who, but you know who you are), and just appreciating the people around you.
So here’s to chaotic family moments, unfiltered jokes, and letting go, but never really leaving.
Also, I should probably drink some water because buffet-induced dehydration is real.
