Harrison the social butterfly

I’m not sure why, but since we have moved to Utah (this past July), Harrison has been invited to over 400 birthday parties. I’m serious! We are at the toy store every other week picking out toys for kids I don’t really know. I try to include Harry in the decision process, but he always manages to tell me that each birthday child REALLY wants a construction vehicle. I calmly explain that not everyone is as fascinated with them as he is.

Last Saturday we went to a party for one of his preschool buddies. It was at a place out in the suburbs called “Jungle Jim’s Playground”. The name alone scared me. The entire place was a sensory bonanza. Lights. Noise. Rides. Games. It was truly amazing. The mother of the birthday boy was beautiful, skinny, young and super nice. I hated her instantly. I have always had body image issues, but since last year I have started to have “old age” issues. I have added a new adjective to my self-descriptor – OLD, big, fat cow. I know. I know. I shouldn’t care. I should just accept myself and then I’ll be happy. I know that, but it’s harder to live than to say.

Ok…I’ve digressed. Back to the party. The kids were given wrist bands which allowed them to ride any of the rides as many times as they wanted. Harrison rode one ride and was done. Neither of my kids are risk takers. He was fascinated with the video games, but I didn’t have any cash, so he just looked at them all. “Mom, can you lift me up so I can see this one??!!” - over and over again. The skinny, pretty mom (with appropriately attractive husband) had a table set aside and served the kids pizza and cake. Then there was the gift opening. All the kids need to watch as ONE child opens present after present. I was very proud of Harry. He was polite and never once tried to take any of the birthday boys presents from him to play with.

We left the party tired and content. Harrison was able to watch every game and ride he wanted and even came away with a plastic snake toy and a balloon. What could be better? Now, of course, the pressure is on. Harrison’s birthday is in May and I think I am going to have to succumb to the Utah culture of giving Harrison (and Ella) a birthday party that isn’t just with relatives. I did not enjoy the commercialism of “Jungle Jim’s” but do see the attraction of having a party outside of the house. This is just one more parenting pressure I wasn’t prepared for. What happened to the days of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey and dropping a clothes pin in a pop bottle??

(NOTE FOR SCRAPBOOK: Harrison has his first drink of pop. Root beer to be exact. He wouldn’t try it until after I did. I told him it was safe and then he took a cautious sip. After a second sip and then a pause, he looked at me and said, “Wow! This is sooooo great!” I felt pretty guilty at that point for depriving him from pop for his whole life.)