Birthday Wishes: It's Not About the Money, Money, Money

Birthday Banner For Jorgen

Made by The Kids

Today, my husband turned forty-three.  The children and I planned a small family party for him and decorated the house to create a festive atmosphere.  He works very hard everyday to support us and he deserves to have a wonderful birthday.  However, the budget for his shindig constrained what we were able to do.  I knew quitting my teaching job three years ago would limit our income, but with the economic recession hitting right on the heels of my decision to stay home, I never realized that it would be reduced so drastically.  My husband owns his own business, and while he has not lost much business, it has not grown at the rate we expected it to grow. Everything we do now is done with an eye towards making the experience or situation as good as possible for as little expenditure as possible.  We have to get creative in our financing of almost everything we do.  This income restriction provides both frustration and many opportunities for thinking outside the box.

The children decided to draw their father a banner wishing him a happy birthday and expressing their love for him.  They drew and colored the banner as well as hung streamers around the house. It pleased me to see them decorate the house using only items from our craftbox.  It is a large 20-gallon tub filled with odds and ends I pick up at yardsales that provides the children hours of creative entertainment at very little cost.  I also made him a special Swedish dinner that he appreciates (as he is Swedish) and baked and decorated a cake for dessert.  We bought him black licorice, hard caramels, and two books for his birthday presents, and he couldn't have been happier.  All of this, including the presents cost less than forty dollars.



My father, my sister and nephews, and my friend came to dinner and to share cake and icecream with us.  Jorgen enjoyed himself, and I consider this evening a successful birthday.  It may not have been an expensive one, but he knew at the end of the evening that we love him, respect him, and wish him only the best.  Hopefully in the years to come, the economy will improve and after the youngest of my children starts school I will go back to work.  I am certain our income will increase and be sufficient for us to spend money freely on the things we want and not necessarily need.  On one hand, I look forward to this because the lack of financial stress and fragility will be a relief.  On the other hand, I hope that having more things and more stuff in our lives does not provide too much distraction from what is really important.  The time we spend together playing games and doing crafts, conversation just for entertainment, and being truly present in one another's lives are wonderful and necessary ingredients for a healthy, connected family.  Knowing that we are all well-loved and that we love well is the most important lesson I want my children to gain from their childhood.  Being financially challenged right now remains difficult at times, but I do sincerely believe it is helping my children understand what is truly valuable--family and love.