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Think back to when you were young, do you remember any of your birthday presents? Chances are you may remember one or two, but if you think about those gifts, they are probably memorable because of the emotion attached to them. The only one that sticks out in my mind is a Snoopy radio I received from my parents. I loved that thing! It had terrible reception and a tiny speaker, but I loved it because I loved Snoopy, and my parents knew that I loved Snoopy. The radio was probably a cheap radio, but if I had received a sophisticated high-end radio with ten times the features and superior quality, I doubt it would have meant as much, or even have been remembered.
When I think about my birthdays as a child, the things I remember the most, are not the gifts that were given to me, but the things my parents did for me. My strongest memories are attached to experiences that evoked the strongest emotions. Things that made me feel loved, things that often didn’t require any money at all, are the things that have been warmly preserved in the cherished corners of my mind…and heart.
One of my fondest birthday memories is from my dad. He created a “Today is Christine’s Birthday” sign, and he would put it out in our front yard on every single one of my birthdays. Every birthday, I would get my photo taken by my sign. It made me feel special.
As I grew older, and became a teenager, I became a little less enthusiastic about the ritual, but even those years created important memories that I look back on with sincere fondness. I remember one year being embarrassed of the “Today is Christine’s Birthday” sign that my dad would put in our yard. Flexing my “independent teenager” muscle, I decided I would hide the sign before my 16th birthday so it couldn’t be displayed in the yard to announce to the whole neighborhood that it was my birthday. I can still recall how my dad looked as he searched everywhere for that sign.
As it turns out, I didn’t hide it well enough, because he eventually found it. I pleaded with him, “Please Dad! Don’t put it out in the front yard”. In what I momentarily thought was a very tender gesture, my dad agreed that he wouldn’t put the birthday sign in the yard… instead he marched up and down the street holding the sign and shouting “Today is Christine’s Birthday”!
As mortified as I was as a teenager, I am so glad my Dad took the time to make that sign and share with everyone that it was his daughter’s birthday. As I reflect on those birthdays today, I recognize, even more than I did back then, how much my dad loved me and how much he wanted to show the world that he was proud to have me as his daughter.
In addition to the annual “Birthday Sign” from my dad, I hold very dear birthday memories from my mom as well. Every year on my birthday, I would always wake up to a bud vase set next to my bed. My mom would cut some simple flowers from our garden and position them carefully alongside a written note that read “Happy Birthday Chris”. This was such a simple gesture, but it happened every birthday. I can still remember the soft scent of the flowers that were left each year letting me know that I was loved.
Every year, for my daughter’s birthday, I follow the wise example of my parents and focus more on some simple experiences, like those that created such a warm tapestry of childhood memories for me. I want to help create anchoring experiences born from simple, sincere, acts of love that will hopefully evoke emotional recollections of years gone by. This year, my daughter woke up to this:
I am not advocating that all gifts must be banished for birthdays, or that every present must be handmade or grown in a garden. But in today’s world where there are so many materialistic messages that persuade us to focus on “stuff”, to spend money to get the shiniest toy or the most expensive trendy trinket, it is important to stop and ask ourselves if we are giving the most important gifts; the gift of love, the gift of time, the gift of a home that is a refuge from the pressures of the world. These are the true treasures of life, treasures that will forge memories for the future, allowing us to remember the simpler days of our youth.
I think when my daughter is older she probably won’t remember the things she got on her birthday. Instead I hope she will remember the flowers she woke up to and the way it made her feel, a reminder that she was loved. Perhaps on a distant day, when life get’s somewhat stormy, these memories will provide a saving souvenir that in life, sometimes we need to do more than just “stop and smell the flowers”, sometimes we need to “wake and smell the flowers”.
(written by me with some MAJOR help from my husband Steve – Thanks Steve!)
Christina says
Thanks for sharing. It brought laughter and tears to my eyes. It is so true that the best gifts come from the heart. Trinkets and gadgets can break and become outdated but love and memories stay with us forever.
Thanks for inspiring me to do something “special” for birthdays and other special occasions for the people I love! : )
Jaime says
I love these ideas! It sounds like your family has really put a lot of thought into this!
Juliet Gerry says
Wow! this was awesome to read! Thanks for sharing. It makes me realize the important things in life! Those are some fun ideas your parents had too!
Jennifer says
good times, I am so thankful for our parents they are truly the best
Maddy says
Lovely post. My husband and I are lucky. We have money issues like most but we are stable. I have couponed in times that were hard as well as the good times but for me it has always been a sport. But it took my husband years to understand that I was not a woman who needed fancy gifts. YES, I want special days recognized but it is not about the dollar value spent but instead the thought that goes into it. He has given me two spectacular presents (and many very special ones). One year he gave me a hair dryer. It will always be my favorite gift. I looked at it and thought — how romantic. Not. And then he said I had commented several times that I hated bringing my hair dryer between our two places. And then he showed me the three drawers he cleaned out for me to keep some things and put the hair dryer into one of them. 🙂 This past mother’s day he made me shadowboxes with real butterflies. A few years ago I won a trip to Puerto Rico from work and we went to a store there with beautifuly mounted butterflies. We purchased two small ones that I really like. He was in a store in NYC where they had dried butterflies for projects and he learned how to mount them. He put them with Classic Pooh stickers (another favorite of mine). But the best gifts are always his time. Years ago Nestlea had a rebate that when you bought four products from a list you got a $5 prepaid Visa. I knew CVS was going to 75% off and the Wonderballs were included. We went all over town and bought 4 at a time at $.24 each and all of our friends submitted rebates. I took off the UPCs and donated the candy to his special education students. It was the first ever Maddy day. Maddy Days can be Target/CVS 90% off runs, trips to the market for killer deals. It does not matter but they are my favorite days.
Kelly Hickman says
Absolutely lovely post…especially since today is my birthday. 🙂 Your dad sounds like an amazing person, thanks for sharing the story!
SomeGirl says
That was beautiful! ♥ Michelle
Dollie Duckworth says
Christy-I truly remember jumping up in the morning on yours and Jens birthdays to see if the sign was up in the yard. I also remember your snoopy radio. The funny thing is I was thinking about your dad marching up and down the street on your 16th and wondering why he didn’t just put it in the yard as usual. That is hilarious. Great story and fun memories.
Debbie says
well you are quite the writer Christy lou when i grow up i want to be just like you
The Prudent Homemaker says
When i think back on my birthdays, it is what we did that I remember more than the gifts or the decorations. I remember my parents making me a special dinner, or taking me out to eat (and getting sung to at a restaurant).
The best birhday memories I have are what I did with my parents. There are some not so good memories, and they involve the friends I had invited to my parties (usually because of their misbehavior). I had fun times with friends, too, but the best times were with just my family. Because of that, our birthday parties are with just family. Grandparents are included. The children get to choose their favorite meals for the day.
I like the sign. I’ve been wanting to make a banner to hang up in the house for birthdays; I might, now! It sounds like a good memory!
Living So Abundantly says
Traditions that are sincere and heart-felt are incredible. What a sweet post! Thoughtfulness is one of the best gifts, right?
Christy says
I hope that I have made memories for my children like your parents did for you. I am going to take some time today and think about what we do – and how I can make it more memorable!