Several folks have asked me about our birthday situation. Even with 39 children, there’s still me and my parents who live with us, plus 16 grandchildren and seven in-laws, it can mount up.

I hope I never see another sheet cake as long as I live, for so long we’d bake one and slap some candles on it until we all felt we’d barf if I ever served another one. Vanessa, my 17 year old, liked to add an ice cream layer but we weren’t fooling anyone – it was still a sheet cake.

Lately kids have requested ice cream cones instead or Krispy Kreme donuts because it is genetically impossible to ever tire of them.

But cakes aside, even the presents could get tossed out the window as long as I continued the tradition of taking the birthday kid out to eat.

I’m a retired school teacher who appreciates the FTE count and perfect attendance, but sometimes we gotta bend the rules and miss some school. I’ll sign a child out and write ‘family appointment’ in the reason for excusing a child. I’ll let them choose the restaurant which is a hoot in and of itself since they eat out so rarely as to never be up on current popular restaurants. They’ll suggest Mexican or Chinese, but that’s usually the extent of their knowledge.

Chuy wanted McDonalds. Yuck, I’d rather have sheet cake, but I smiled and gave in. Javy wanted IHOP and I initially balked, but had a right good meal there. Martin always wants The Mean Bean and CW never varies from a sandwich shop while my older kids have their other more epicurean favorites.

It’s getting harder to take some of my grown kids out as they have babies and toddlers and in April I like to take about four birthday daughters at a time. They’re grown and also enjoy this time together.

Usually afterwards I take the birthday child shopping quickly to choose what they want that day and they choose what they want me to cook for supper. We like to spread it out, call it a birthday week and that particular child gets extra computer and Nintendo time and privileges.

Just as my kids aren’t demanding at Christmas, nor are they so during their birthdays making it all the more fun to spend this special time with them.

Photo Credit