Grownups Need Birthday Parties, Too
Model celebrating yourself at any (and every) age
There’s a lot I get right in parenting. I’ve been breaking cycles since the first time I sat down in therapy and asked for help — long before I was a parent. But I can mess up just like anyone else.
I know that I’ve messed up when it comes to modeling what a birthday looks like as an adult. Before I had children, I would celebrate myself on my birthday. I’d plan a special day out — at a spa or to a museum. I’d do something that I’d been wanting to do. I was married for most of that time, and yet, it might be surprising to know just how many of those days I spent alone. But I wasn’t going to waste my time or be unhappy. I’d make my day special — because no one else was going to do it for me.
The Evolution of the Birthday Celebration
As a mom, I let that whole concept slip away. I became so focused on their birthdays and holidays that I let my early January birthday get lost in the shuffle somewhere between making a big deal about Christmas and hyping up Valentine’s Day.
Plus, some of those years were hard. There were financial struggles — and there was that time I was dumped right before my big day. It felt hard to celebrate when I was hitching a ride on the notoriously…
