Ever since I hit 35, time is on fast forward. I’m usually getting down the Easter decorations while I’m on the ladder putting away the Christmas ones. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve uttered the sentence, “But I just paid the mortgage, how can it be due again?” I’d be able to pay the mortgage.
But as a kid I remember thinking the time it took the clock to go from 3:00 to the 3:15 dismissal bell seemed like 4 lifetimes and the time it took for your birthday to come around might as well had been in the next millenium.
I am reminded of this phenomenon 362 days a year. The other 3 days? That’s Halloween, Christmas and Nate’s birthday. The destinations of his eternal journey through time. “Mommy, how many days until Christmas? What comes next, my birthday or Halloween? When is it going to be August, my birthday is in August. If today was Dec. 1. Is Christmas tomorrow?” And that was during his bedtime story tonight.
Then it hit me…both Nate and Zeke’s 1/2 birthdays are only a month apart and they fall in Feb. and March. Two months that don’t have a lot going on. We could celebrate their 1/2 birthdays each year! No parties or anything like that, just one extra day where each of my boys get to feel special and I don’t have to answer the “How many days until…” questions.
We woke up and told Nate,
“Guess what today is?”
“The day you write your blog and I have to find something to keep me quiet?”
“ehem..uh…no, Nate…it’s your 1/2 birthday!”
“WHAT?!!”
“You’re 5 and 1/2 today!”
{grabbing his face in disbelief and joy} “I’m 5 1/2 TODAY? Right now? Right this minute, I’m 51/2 years old? If someone asks me how old I am, I can say I’m 5 1/2?”
“That’s what I’m saying. What would you like to do today to celebrate your 1/2 birthday?”
“I can pick anything I want?”
“As long as it’s within 30 miles and legal.”
{Thoughtful, careful pacing ensues} “Mommy, Daddy…I know what I want to do today! Since I’m 5 1/2 now, I am brave enough to…I’m finally ready to…I want to join the Jedi Training Academy and fight Darth Vader! Only Darth Vader…I’m not brave enough to fight Darth Maul. He has 2 light savers.”
“Wow, Nate…that’s huge! I’m so excited for you. Let’s pack the backpack and head out to Disney’s Hollywood Studios so you can become a Padawan!”
Nate told EVERYONE in our path (including the car next to us at the red light) that it was his 1/2 birthday so he was joining the Jedi Training Academy to fight Darth Vader…NOT Darth Maul…NEVER Darth Maul.
I have to tell you that while Nate was given his uniform and herded into a group to get “debriefed” by the Jedi “drill Sargeant” Master, I had a mini panic attack. Flash forward to him joining the military to go off to {?} to fight {?}. Note to self: Have a moving-to-Canada party for Nate’s 17 1/2 birthday.
Then we all went home and had 1/2 a cupcake and sang 1/2 of “Happy Birthday”. As I was tucking Nate into bed he was still bubbling with pride and excitement:
“Mommy?”
“Yes, Nate.”
“This was the best 1/2 birthday I’ve ever had!”
“I’m so glad, Nate. I had fun, too.”
“How many days until my other birthday? Does Halloween come first or Christmas? It’s so hard to wait…”
No Comments “Nate’s 1/2 birthday…”
yay!!!!!, what a fun Celebration:)
Love the 1/2 birthday idea. And love Nate’s idea for celebrating. But you’d be surprised at the number of young ladies that would love to be “padma” to his “annikin”.
Ha! Well, Estela, I’m taking applicants for the job of “Nate’s future Ex-wife!”
I am so jealous! YOU are a great mom! Nate is sooooooooo lucky!
I’m not speaking with my mother until she sends me there TOO!
(Er, what’s the upper age range for fighting Darth Vader???)
And darn you, for your targeted opinions…I didn’t date until college either…God bless Veronica!