Birthdays on the Road

The only prime-time TV show Elias gets to watch is ABC's "The Middle." In one episode, the family was going on a road trip during the daughter's birthday, so they let her decide where to eat, when to stop, and what sights to see along the way. We thought that would be a good rule for us to adopt: If we're on the road during someone's birthday, that person calls the shots.

So a couple months ago--when things were still more hypothetical than they are now--we asked Elias what he'd like to do if we were on our trip during his birthday. His answer? Go to Las Vegas (or Lost Vegas, as he so aptly calls it).

Well, Elias's birthday is tomorrow, and we're not going to Las Vegas. Technically, we're not on the road yet, so that's our excuse. Things are up in the air, though, which has made it hard to plan a party. It takes all I have to keep the house spotless (in case someone wants to come see it) all day with just my own two kids. Add a bunch of other children and we might as well pull the house off the market.

I finally talked Elias into having his party away from home for the first time ever. We're doing a low-key party at the park, with just snacks and cake. The theme of the cake is yet to be determined as I still haven't ordered it. This is a far cry from the days that I would have the elaborate, homemade cake planned weeks in advance. But hey, things are up in the air.

The other challenge we faced was what to do about gifts. We're trying to downsize, of course, and getting a bunch of new stuff would be counterproductive. On the other hand, how do you talk a 6-year-old out of presents?

I found the answer thanks to the party my friend Ruth threw for her son a few weeks ago. Instead of regular presents, people were asked to bring a small "treasure," like a rock, marble, seashell, whatever. I played up the coolness of that idea to Elias, who finally acquiesced with the caveat that his grandparents still be allowed get him Legos.

So, this year will be the small-treasure-in-the-park party. Next year: Vegas! Or something. It's too far away to plan for the seventh birthday.