for the really fun part!

My daughter's two birthday(5th) parties have been exhausting but it was illuminating.  The first one was with her school friends. These are the kids that will form the early part of her childhood.  The ones she will really remember. Although we will miss Ollie (Oliwier), his family are going back to Poland for good and he's our neighbor as well. 

The second party were with her parents' friends -- Godfather Paul, mum's colleagues and friends for more than a decade, family -- tito Babie, for the first time in London. 

For the first party, she loves running with all her friends. She sees them every day at school ( except weekends, obviously) and having them at our abode (with the mums and one dad) was like sharing our innermost secrets.  It was hard to handle a bunch of five-year olds. Some kids were not in the mood to play musical chairs.  Who wouldn't want to play musical chairs?  It was the fun portion of all past parties.  

This is the party I wouldn't give up.  Maybe I'll hold it a day before her birthday next year, a leeway before every Saturday party.  Or collate both parties into one?  The Saturday party, two days later, was dampened by the early rain.  Nobody moved outside, scared to get wet and my other rooms were too small.  Well, anaesthetists (the hubby's consultants), parties are hard to navigate specially if one has young kids. 

Who do we talk with in every gathering we attend? Maybe one or two people?  We got into Tyrone's fancy digs the next day at the Golf Club. The highlight was waiting for our turn to go get our food. There was free wine but the others have to buy their drinks. I didn't know a soul. I ran after the daughter most of the time. She just turned five. 

more thoughtful with a name

July is always hectic as it's my daughter's birthday. Our June (that's our birthday month) was kind of mild compared to our dearest "two birthday parties" month. 

I got really nice presents (examples above) on my birthday. At 43, it never gets too old to receive presents.  There's a small cake and sweet alone time for me.  I learned lessons not to order too much pancakes at Coffee Affair, my daughter could never finish a plate. 

And I'm trying to find  the logic behind greeting someone on social media outlets or direct messaging service with only  "happy birthday, " without mentioning a name.  I find it tearful when someone writes only "happy birthday" rather than "happy birthday, mia." It's always more thoughtful with a name. No matter how many emojis follow the words, the receiver knows it means she's not that important or you're a tiny bleep in his radar. Some people click "like," only with no comment. Even worse? You bet.  It would have been better not to greet at all or click anything. 

To each his own.  They might say, at least they greeted you, others may surmise.   But shouldn't they know your name? What's the point of those empty words? This year, I went out of my way to buy a card & chocolates (and leave it on her desk) for a colleague.  I greeted her as well on her way to work. There was no acknowledgment whatsoever.  Even if it's only a pound, that card cost money. So with that, I totally skipped greeting her on Facebook.  Or messenger. Or text. Even if I've known her for more than a decade, I got the message. No more wasting of my time.  

On my daughter's birthday and on Saturday the 15th, the guests, even those that didn't make it to the shindig had been so generous, way too generous.  And these are people that I barely knew.   My daughter's classmates parents for example. It means there are gems in unexpected places.  Even if my little one didn't get anything, the presence at the party is more than enough.  She was really happy.