It was never going to be a big party, of course. I don’t think 3 is a year that people tend to throw huge parties like you do for a 1 year old, but we probably would have had some friends over. There also would have been a party at daycare (and of course more cake) and so none of that happened.
I debated for a minute doing a virtual birthday party for him (I even went as far as making up the invite) but then decided against it. Video calls with toddlers don’t work out that well. They run around and ignore the video, or they just stare at the screen. There’s a lot of screaming and it’s incredibly tiring and hectic.
I’m not sure that’s what E was looking for in a party, either. He’s pretty easy to please, and as long as there’s singing and cake, he considers it a success. So just because we couldn’t have friends over, didn’t mean that I wasn’t going to go all out. This is where I have fun, go a bit crazy, and love to make my little ones smile. And, oh boy do I think I accomplished that. When E woke up from his nap, before he even saw the decorations, he was shaking with excitement. I’d asked him what he wanted, and he told me “Cookie Monster coming down from the ceiling.”
Well I did that and more. Banners and crepe paper and balloons and Sesame Street everywhere. I knew I had to make a Cookie Monster cake, too. As always I think about a bunch of ideas ahead of time, practice none of them, and just make it work the day of. Which I think it did. E at least recognized the cake as Cookie Monster, and was thrilled to eat the eyes.
Who knows if a 3 year old will even remember their birthday party. Probably not? Or if they do, most of the memories come from pictures, I think. Either way, I think (hope) that when E looks back at this birthday, he’ll view it as one filled with fun, love, and cake.
And that’s all that really matters.
