Two for the Price of One
Dear Frankie,
My birthday is in mid-November. It was my parents’ idea to celebrate my birthday on Thanksgiving at our house with twenty or more relatives. Before dinner, everyone sings Happy Birthday and watches me open my presents. For dessert, we have a birthday cake that my grandma makes every year. On the day of my birthday or the weekend closest to it, my mom buys a cake and ice cream and invites a few of my friends.
No pony rides, trips to Chucky Cheese, or party games like at my other friends’ parties. When I told my parents I wanted a real birthday party with my friends, my mom said I should feel fortunate to have a family that wants to celebrate my birthday as part of their holiday.
I said I was glad I had a nice family, but I wanted a kid’s birthday celebration — cake and ice cream weren’t cutting it.
My dad said he was sorry I felt that way because celebrating my birthday on Thanksgiving was a family tradition. Besides, it would upset my grandma (his mother) because she loves making me her special birthday cake.
When I protested, he said, “Enough, case closed.”
I feel duped.
Zen
Dear Zen,
I understand why you feel duped and want to celebrate your big birthday with friends. It doesn’t look like your dad is open to negotiations. He seems to care more about what he sees as a family tradition and his mother’s feelings than he does about your feelings.
Parents make the rules for the family: Sometimes, they aren’t fair or considerate of everyone’s feelings. All I can say is try to enjoy the good parts of the celebrations, and remember you won’t always be a kid. When you are an adult, you can decide when and what kind of celebration you want for your birthday.
When you become a parent, you will also understand how a child feels when told how they should feel and what they should appreciate about their family and traditions.
Best, Frankie
© 2024 Geneva Woodruff
Comments and letters can be sent to Frankie at dearfrankiecolumn@gmail.com. The Fairhaven Neighborhood News publishes the Dear Frankie column. To receive a free online subscription, readers can email neighbnews@comcast.net, request their name be added to the email list or visit www.neighbnews.com to read the paper online or to download the latest issue.
•••
Click here to download the 11-28-24 issue: 11-28-24 Shopping
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal
