A first birthday to remember: embracing simplicity in celebrations

As a mom of two boys, life has taught me a lot about what really matters — especially when it comes to celebrating milestones.

Recently, we celebrated my youngest’s first birthday, a day I had been looking forward to.

But as I sat back and took in the day, I realised just how much things have changed, not only in my perspective as a parent, but also in how we approach birthdays in today’s economy.

You see, when you have a baby, you’re faced with a lot of well-meaning pressure to throw a grand celebration — the kind where you splash out thousands of rands on a party that the baby won’t even remember.

I had done the whole “big first birthday bash” with my eldest, but this time, we decided to take a different approach, and I can honestly say, it was the best decision.

This year, we kept things simple and focused on what really mattered. We didn’t feel the need to invite everyone under the sun.

Instead, we invited only close family — his cousins and their parents, the boys’ aunties and uncles, and of course, his grandparents. It was a small, intimate gathering, and it felt just right.

For the gifts, we went with something thoughtful and age-appropriate. His big present was a set of cars — he's absolutely obsessed with anything on wheels — and a cute teddy bear in the shape of a dog.

The reason for the dog? He loves barking at them, so the idea of him having a cuddly dog to snuggle just seemed perfect.

We had planned a special trip to a local pizzeria, where he could make his own pizza. It was a fun way to celebrate, and surprisingly, he seemed to enjoy the experience.

There was no grand entertainer or lavish venue, just a simple afternoon enjoying pizza together.

Now, we did make sure to have a cake, because, let’s face it, you can’t skip that tradition. But instead of going all out with a huge, elaborate cake that would feed an army, we made a mini cake just enough for the adults, and had cupcakes for the kids.

I won’t lie, I did feel a little “meh” when we made the decision. After all, we had gone all out for his big brother’s first birthday, so it felt a bit odd to not follow the same route.

But when we asked our eldest about his first birthday party, all he could recall were the pictures — and, well, some balloons.

That’s when it hit me: the big parties weren’t really about the kids, were they? It was for us, the parents, and sometimes even a bit of pressure from society.

Speaking of balloons, I’ll admit they were an unnecessary expense, but the joy they brought was priceless.

The kids had a blast with them, and Dad and I couldn’t resist joining in the fun, making our voices sound like Mickey Mouse with a bit of helium.

Laughter filled the room, and I realised in that moment, the party was exactly what it needed to be — simple, fun, and full of love.

In hindsight, I’m so glad we made the choice we did. We still celebrated our little one in a meaningful way, but without the unnecessary splurging.

The world has changed, and in these times, it’s about being mindful of our finances, not just for ourselves but for the future of our kids as well.

So, looking back on that special day, I can honestly say that although it was quieter and more intimate, it felt a lot more real.

My baby won’t remember any of it, but he’ll grow up knowing that birthdays don’t have to be about the money spent, but about the memories created. And that’s a lesson I hope to pass on to both of my boys.

tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za 

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