I’ve been feeling lukewarm about birthday parties for my kids this year. I’ll only occasionally throw over-the-top fetes–sometimes simple is best so with my daughter turning 11, I hinted maybe it was time to forgo the big bash. She was horrified. It turns out you need to give a kid at least a year’s advanced notice because they spend the entire 364 days plotting it.
I finally relented with a casual spa/PJ/ebelskiver party and she invited 10 of her closest friends. If you haven’t been around tweens, there is a lot of giggling and silliness. The facials hadn’t even started yet and already, her friend (on the left) was covered in whipped cream.
The Spa
We crafted our own natural facial recipes and the girls had a blast giving each other face and shoulder massages before our summer pedicures. Related: I threatened Hadley’s little brother and friend that if they didn’t stop bugging the girls, they’d have to give them all foot massages. Not coincidentally we didn’t see them for the rest of the party.
With the boys out of the picture, we relaxed and focused on breathing techniques as Enya crooned in the background. Though I’ve known most of these girl since they were babies, I could not identify them in a line-up.
Nor would I want to.
The Best Birthday Surprise
A huge package had arrived the day before on our doorstep with a cryptic note:
Dear Hadley,
Don’t open until your party.
Love, J.B.
J.B.? Who was J.B.? For 24 hours, Hadley agonized over its contents, huddling with her friends once they arrived at the party. Could it be a secret admirer? An amazing gift that would be the envy of them all?
None of the above. It was a special “gift” I found at ARC Thrift Store and decided to have fun with it. I wrapped it in a beautiful bag, found six boxes in successive sizes and wrapped each in duct tape, to produce one huge present.
She saved it for the very last and her friends were bursting with excitement. “I’m sure it’s gotta be a cell phone,” her friend Kasey proposed. Rest assured, I work in social media and my kids will be the last of their friends to get one.
Suspense grew and finally, she had the final box and the big reveal of just what she’d always wanted: (Drumroll, please)
A Justin Bieber T-shirt.
The room erupted as hilarious and horrified Hadley melodramatically raced around the corner and dumped it in the toilet.
Being the nice mom that I am, I later rescued the rock star, laundered him up squeaky clean and surprised her yet with “J.B.” a.k.a. Justin Bieber on her pillow that night.
Me thinks he will be the gift that keeps on giving (and reappearing) for years to come.
Author: Amber Johnson
Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.
Christine
I’m sure she loved it! What a fun idea to do it in multiple boxes. I think I need to try something like that next time.
Julie
Wait. Does this mean the Biebs is out? The end of an era, I guess. For my kids, it was Hannah Montana who was all the rage.
MindyJ
Good thing your tween has a sense of humor. Mind would have laughed…and then said where’s my cell phone? 🙂
Sabrina
That is awesome. I might have to borrow that idea someday. My kids hate him!
Amber
Sabrina–You can even borrow the shirt. I’m sure Hadley won’t miss it until its next appearance.
Kristy
I love you. Please write a parenting book. You’ve got about 5 years til I need it.
Amber
Kristy– It would be the “What Not To Do But Have a Lot of Fun Doing It” parenting book.