This year I did it - finally dished out the birthday party that I could never quite get right for the last 6 years ! I started with doing my favorite thing - make lists ! Of all the things Ruhi loves - she loves the most to paint or that is what I like to think. So Color Factory it was, thank God for the malls to have opened next doors.
The next was to sacrifice our own social list so that I could get her friends to have fun with her. I invited her class of 25 kids - a majority of boys, but so what !!!
As expected, she wanted to leave out Raj from her invitees and grudgingly agreed when told how mean that would be and so one morning I splashed some paint on her as she got up bright, cheerful and really excited about her birthday, clicked some pictures and this became her birthday card. On the previous night, her doting grandfather (yup, thats right ! the grand old man) baked a couple of cakes for her and we cut them through the day for my mom, husband's cousins and more adults who feel obliged to visit us on Ruhi's birthday.
We have always made such a big deal her birthday that most don't even bother to check the POA with me. Guests just drop in! I knew I was expected to invite the family, their children and the neighbors and their kids and all those who've invited us last year etc but I stuck to my guns that this was going to be a no adults birthday party unless the adults agreed to sit there and paint !
We did up the Color Factory at City Walk in her favorite mauve & purple balloons, ordered junk food and ice cream cake. Its an outdoor kind of place with no music so I even got portable speakers for my ipod which I eventually forgot to play !
Her guests were there in full attendance and I love this age of theirs - they came dressed up as little menfolk (spiked hair & fashion jewelry on some) and ladies ! They behaved so well, they painted and had a blast ! After finishing the painting, they played girls against boys tug o war and Tambola and then their own games. Soon after they forgot the 'menfolk and ladies' bit and went on a rampage bringing down the balloons and stomping on them. I had a blast too since I'd love to do that myself if my daughter allowed me to !
The boys got her girly stuff and her favorite was a lovely pink Barbie pillow and I am just so glad that not one kid gave her a Barbie Doll !
Raj lives miles away in Greater Noida but he turned up as expected. A tall sullen kid who sat alone and painted and did not speak a word. I noticed the other kids do not speak with him either and I felt very sorry about the situation, though I am glad he came. He got her some Enid Blytons and while she opened her gifts out came board games, more books and craft sets and skateboards and Casios... after a bit I noticed she would fold her hands in a hurried prayer before she opened another ! Apparently she was praying for the next one to be a Barbie Doll. God didn't listen !
I also kept feeling teary for no reason at all and my heart ached as much as my feet at the end of a wonderful day. She's growing up way to fast and I feel years slipping by like sand through my fingers. I've never known myself to be the filmi types but Ruhi can usually bring out the worst in me ! Sigh :)
11 comments:
Happy Birthday, Ruhi !
If i am not mistaken i can make out from half of his face that it is Raj standing next to her where she is cutting the cake. So cute. Give her my belated wishes and kudos to you for araanging a party exclusively for the kids. Elders generally come, eat, burp and more often than not leave some nasty comment on the food or something else. Kids actually enjoy the party.
Belated Happy Birthday Ruhi...looks like your Mama threw you a lovely party!
Happy Birthday Ruhi and that looks like it was a great party!
Hi, first time here, and I loved your blog. Very real! :)
-childwoman-
happy bday to ruhi... have fun watchin her grow.. i wish my kids never grow beyond 5 :)
what happened to raj? y is noone talkin to him.. poor thing :( did i miss the story some where?
Awww, wish I had a daughter. She is so lovely, nazar utaro. They grow so fast.
Poor Raj sigh!!! Childhood can be a pain, the effort of fitting in takes so much out of a person.
Sounds like so much fun!!
Belated birthday wishes to Ruhi!
And is color factory the one where you can paint your own vases, mugs, tiles etc??
yup, the same place - think they have one outlet in Gurgaon - the other is in Citywalk, Saket
Totally unrelated comment, (altho' I must say Ruhi looks really pretty) but just wanted to let you know that I was 'inspired' by the alarm clock costume you made for Ruhi and made one for my shy poppet. Guess what, she won a prize for it at school as well ! Thank you so much for the idea :)
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