A Seven-Year-Old
Hans will be seven on Saturday. He gets one friend over for the day and he gets to pick most of the food.
After swim lessons we stopped at the grocery store. I needed eggs and milk and then “birthday food.” We already purchased his birthday cereal of choice. On that trip when we entered the cold cereal aisle and I told him to pick whatever he wanted, he headed for the end with Jaeger, commenting: “I’m going to pick the giant bag of colored cereal so we can have it for two days!” Yes, it will only last two days. One box would only be enough breakfast for the three children alone. That’s why we don’t eat cold cereal.
So on our way in today I asked, “What would you like for your birthday lunch?” Here was his request, in the order given: “Fire chips. Red peppers. Jicama. Carrots. Turkey sandwiches.” On our way into the produce section he asked, “Oh! Can we have watermelon too, or would that be too much?” We got the watermelon. He also chose root beer to go with lunch. Fire chips are the children’s name for Doritos, because it has fire on the front picture.
He requested a train cake. His friend had a Darth Vader birthday cake a couple weeks ago, and he was pretty impressed. When I asked him what kind of cake he wanted he said, “Well, I was thinking a Star Trooper cake, but then I thought you probably couldn’t make that kind. So, I think I’d like a train cake instead. You know how to make train cakes.” I am going with the train cake. I think he’s right about the Star Trooper. Besides, Hans was able to add these requests to a train cake: “It will be a 3D train, not a drawing of a train. The cars need licorice connectors and can the cars be different colors?” The wheels will be Oreos and one car will have some jelly bean cargo and another will have animal crackers.
For dinner I said I was thinking of making a pasta salad with cheese and chicken in it and he said, “Oh, I love pasta salad! But, can you make the kind with tuna instead? I just love that one. It is so good!” Well, who can resist that sort of request? :)
Our grocery trips almost always are the “follow-the-list” sort, with few if any requests made and even fewer granted. So, after so many “yes” answers following a request, Hans’ face clearly communicated that he felt loved and special. I think I’m making progress in the “birthdays are special days” department. :) And, it also makes the normal-life protocol worth it; they appreciate being able to make choices and have extra treats. And, usually, after the birthday or holiday is over, they also begin to see why such things are not everyday things. A couple times a year sugar restrictions are lifted, and I’ve noticed that after such occasions on regular days they are likely to say, “I’ll just have one piece of candy and save the other because I don’t want to feel sick.” :) Excellent choice.
So, hooray for birthdays and special children and special treats and also regular, normal life.
