Neighborhood-Kids All Local. All for Kids. All the Time.

Joy just turned seven!! We've been planning a sparkle birthday party at her request... with "no singing" - also at her request. Since she was old enough to speak in understandable sentences, she has made sure that no one sings the Happy Birthday song - she starts confirming this a week or two in advance. "Mom, make sure everyone knows not to sing." "You're going to tell people right?" "When people come will you tell them right when they walk in?" I think she's been traumatized by the Red Robin singing troupes... but I digress.

The point of my story is that I wanted to have a no-gift party. "Presence not presents." Because heaven knows we don't have space for more stuff in our little house - and does she really need more things, anyway? So a few weeks ago, before we sent the invitations, I broached this subject to Joy. She looked at me like I was sprouting a second nose right before her eyes. "MOM. The presents are the best part of a birthday party." The best part? The best part? Am I a complete failure as a parent? Have I taught her nothing about love and friendship and what is really important in this world?

Suffice it to say... she was blessed with both presence AND presents this birthday. And I am happy to report that although she was excited about the presents, I think she was genuinely more excited about the presence of the same small handful of friends and family that celebrated with her when she turned one year old. Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

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Cross-posted from singlesupermama.com

When you have little girls, they get invited to dress-up tea parties where you bring your dolly - who is also dressed up. And the table is set with real china and crystal, and the girls eat petit fours while their dollies watch (I actually had to google petit fours to find out what they were, apparently I wasn't much of a girl in my day). And their are gift bags for both the girls and their dollies...

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You can read more about Syd’s adventures as a single mom at singlesupermama.com

Someday I am going to have endless patience with my kids, I'll enjoy their company and not feel so short-tempered with them. I am going to be thoughtful and organized. I will remember birthdays for my friends and family (on time). I won't be stinking rich, but I won't work evenings or weekends, either. I am going to be in really super great shape, I am going to love a good run with a yoga class to follow. And I will wear my grey hair proudly. I will spend lots of time out in my garden, getting dirt under my fingernails. My little house will be quaint and tidy, not quite so upside down. It's going to be the kind of place where friends want to stop by for a glass of wine and a good laugh.

It's not going to be today. And it's not looking so good for tomorrow, either. But please, God, let it be soon.

First of all, anyone who says "chocka blocka" is just funny on principal alone. But this post from my friend Jo in England (also a single "mum" of a baby girl) cracked me up this morning:

I took a deep breath and we went into the church. It was full of people, most of them mentally disabled, singing "Ding Dong Merrily On High". read more >>