Whoa!? Birthday what!? The case for celebrating the Birthee.

Okay.  So birthdays are on my mind right now.  Recently my wife and I were talking about the birthday party for our daughter who is turning 5.  She was telling me ideas for what she thought would be fun activities at the party.  She started browsing some websites to get some ideas...and all I have to say is that there are some ridiculous parents out there.  I mean really cakes shaped like castles; food and decorations that look better than the stuff at most weddings; activities so elaborate that they need their own special equipment?

Now maybe I am just overreacting here.  Maybe this all good for kids.  Maybe watching their parents grant every wish and more; being at their beck and call is a good thing.  However, I would submit that first, this all misses the point, and second, it only teaches our kids that parents are servants and they are the masters. 

I am not trying to say this in Stalinesque we-must-silence-all-dissenters sort of way.  What I am saying is--why are we essentially celebrating Disney characters and comic book heroes on our kids' birthdays.  Should we not be celebrating the life of the birthee?  I mean, really the day that is our kids' day turns into a day all about the food, decorations and activities.  How backwards and dumb is that.  Why are we not celebrating real tangible people that are great and special.  Instead, the birthday celebration becomes all about the stuff and the theme.  On your anniversary you don't make it a 49ers or Pottery Barn anniversary? (If you do, then your issues are probably deep and you likely need help).  You celebrate the fact that you and your spouse have been able to build enough love in your marriage that you are still happy to be around each other.  All the themes, characters, and stuff are just red herrings (just ask Jesus) and just like in a legal argument, these are meant to distract from, and minimize the real point, which is--we are celebrating the life of one our beloved children.

Finally, our kids don't need more friends--they need loving parents who are going to give them guidance and support as they make their way in this world.  Not sure it helps a young person to basically be granted everything they want.  See Veruca Salt..and oh, yeah, Justin Bieber.  I am not saying it is not bad to offer our kids opportunities and spend some money on them, but all things in moderation.  I mean what message do we send our kids when we put such emphasis on pleasure and happiness coming from the next purchase?  I think we have seen this story before and it does not end well.  

All the Disney characters already have giant multi-million dollar monuments to them--let's let our kids have their day in the sun without someone or something else stealing the show.