Let’s take a trip down memory lane and discuss each of Charlie’s birthdays up to this point. He’s about to be six, so don’t worry, there’s not too many yet!

First Birthday
Charlie’s first birthday was pretty emotional. I was very unsure of what to expect. A few weeks before Charlie’s first birthday, A called me and asked if I’d like to go shopping with her to choose the décor for his party. We met for lunch and went shopping and I helped her choose a bright and fun first birthday party set. That was very special that she asked me to do that and something that I will never forget.

Because first birthdays are typically so monumental and so many people need to be included on the guest list, A ended up having two separate parties; one in the late morning and one in the late afternoon on the same day. I’d asked her ahead if of time if it would be ok if I brought the little cake for Charlie to dive into as most children do at their first birthdays and she said yes. So that was something else special that I was able to do on his first birthday.

Honestly, I don’t remember a whole lot of the details from that birthday party.

Second Birthday
Everyone at Charlie’s first birthday party already knew me, but everyone at the second birthday party did not and by the looks I received, I don’t think that they were aware that I was coming. When A introduced me to party guests I didn’t know, I received a few of those side glances from people who may not be privy to the workings of today’s open adoptions. The glances did make uncomfortable but I tried to ignore them and just focus on Charlie’s day.

Third Birthday
This is the party where my Noah misbehaved! As most children with special needs tend to do, Noah can get over stimulated pretty easily when there is more than a handful of people in one room and that happened at this birthday party! I was very embarrassed and uncomfortable. Once again, when introductions were done, I received a few glances and odd looks.

Fourth and Fifth Birthdays: Change of Plans
Charlie’s birthday parties are always on a weekend and when his birthday was during the week, we’d still get together on his actual birthday too, just my immediate family (me, J, and Noah) and Charlie’s (A, S. and N.) So by the fourth birthday, I decided to skip the big party and just do something with Charlie and his family on his actual birthday. That’s when we decided to move the birthday dinners on his actual birthday to my house.

At first, I was a little unsure about doing this at my house – but I ended up loving it! I was able to decorate my dining room with streamers and balloons and make Charlie a small cake so it was like having a small party for him at my own house! I’m still welcome at the big party but I’ve just been evaluating whether or not we will go each year depending on how everything is going with Noah. We have decided though that that we really enjoy this tradition of Charlie and his family coming to my house for his birthday dinner and although there are a lot of changes going on in Charlie’s family at the moment, this is will not be changed. He will be coming here for his birthday dinner and cake on Thursday.

I have no clue what I’m making for dinner yet though! When I asked Charlie what he’d like for supper he said chocolate cake. Silly boy!

We did learn some things from the birthday parties, so in my next post, I will share some tips!

--
Related Posts:
Birthday Candles
Your Child's Birthday
The Emotional Side of Birthdays

For information/instructions on how to subscribe FREE to your favorite AdoptionBlogs, please visit this link.