Happy birthday to me.

So, another year just flew by and I am crossing the fine line between the mid and late thirties this week.

For someone else, that might be a fun time. For me, my birthday is a complicated issue that needs approaching very carefully. You see, my mother is visiting at the moment. Which means, I have to be careful about what I do when it comes to celebrations.

Normally, I would just go out with a bunch of girlfriends. It is easier, as nobody needs to book a babysitter, and I don’t need to make a large party booking with deposits and other ridiculous complications.

But not this year. This year, my options were:

a) I go out with girlfriends, as usual. That means leaving my mother and husband at home, on the night of my birthday, while I go out. That would be weird. Not a good plan.

b) I take mother along, since she is technically a girl. That would work as far as mother is concerned. However, husband would be left at home, alone, sulking. Not a good plan.

c) I go out with husband, leaving mother at home. Husband is happy, mother would say it is OK, but feel used and abandoned. Not a good plan.

d) Take them both along to a girls night out. Hmm.. Too weird. Not a good plan.


Do you see how hard it can be to be me???


I, of course, could have a party at home. But, considering how many children my friends tend to have, I would end up in a house full of screaming babies and rummaging toddlers…around 20. Not my idea of a relaxing birthday.

In the end, having almost given up, I decided to do the following.

In the morning, mother and I, plus a couple of girlfriends, are going to a posh hotel for a nice breakfast.

In the afternoon, I have booked a massage-to have some me time.

Finally, in the evening, I am going out for dinner with husband and a few other couples.

That way, everyone gets to celebrate. Everyone, but one very important person.

‘Are we having a party?’ She asked, her eyes big with excitement. ‘Oh, crap.’ I thought.
I forgot that there is someone else in my family who would want to celebrate with me, and who, by the end of my careful planning, got left out. Now, I will have to squeeze in a special tea with a chocolate cake and a few candles in the middle of the day. Somewhere between the posh breakfast and the dinner.