By Cheryl Bac
E-mail Cheryl Bac
About this blog: I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, home cook, marathon runner, and PhD. I recently moved to the Silicon Valley after completing my PhD in Social Psychology and becoming a mother one month apart. Before that, I ran seven marathons incl...
(More)About this blog: I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, home cook, marathon runner, and PhD. I recently moved to the Silicon Valley after completing my PhD in Social Psychology and becoming a mother one month apart. Before that, I ran seven marathons including Chicago and Boston. Exercise is an integral part of my life. I hope to one day go back to long distance running and tackle the New York City Marathon. Right now I run after my one year old son. Although I am a stay-at-home mom, we are rarely "at home." My mom also stayed at home with my brother and me. She warned me that, although rewarding, it can be isolating. So, with her help, I learned the importance of getting out into the community and meeting other mothers. On the rare occasion when I am at home and have a hand or two free, I squeeze in time to scrapbook. As a new mom, many challenges are thrown my way. I hope my opinions, triumphs, and struggles help experienced parents reminisce, new parents cope, and parents-to-be get an honest glimpse of what the first years of motherhood can entail.
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As we prepare for our daughter's first birthday, I'm realizing that this celebration is mainly for her older siblings.
Our son's first birthday was mainly for me. I knew he wouldn't remember it, but I was excited to celebrate his first year and my first year as a mother.
Our daughter's first birthday was similarly for me. Our son was starting to choose his own birthday themes and decor. I realized my days of choosing our daughter's decorations and cake were probably going to be similarly limited to one, or possibly two, birthday parties.
Our baby's first birthday has turned into a celebration for her siblings. They are a little sad that she will no longer be a baby, but they are happily choosing the theme (an ocean theme) and are having a wonderful time making and putting up decorations. Baby won't remember this birthday party, but I hope her siblings will. I hope they remember just how much fun it was to celebrate their sister's first year. And rather than be sad that it is over, be excited to celebrate the years ahead.
Maybe next year baby will get a little more say in her birthday party. But now I'm convinced that my days of choosing birthday themes are officially over. And this year, when baby and her friends are still young enough to nap through the festivities, I'm happy to let her older siblings take control and plan a fun party for their sister.
