A birthday. The day we celebrate a person’s life and the fact they have reached another year older. It’s obvious that’s what it is. Isn’t it?
Today, I learnt that my fiveyear old had no idea what a birthday actually is! Just as a bit of a backstory, his birthday was last week and mine was 8 days before his, so birthdays have been high on the discussion list for a good while now. This is how that conversation went:
O: Mami, how do you remember when my birthday is?
Me: Because it’s your birthday, I’m a Mami it’s my job to remember.
O: But how did you know it was my birthday?
Me: Ermmm……Do you know what a birthday means?
O: It’s the day I get presents.
Me: Do you know why though?
O: No.
Me: Your very first birthday was the day you came out my tummy.
O: Whhhhaaaaaaaattttttt!?!? When I was borned?
Me: Yes!!! On July 9th every year means you are exactly a WHOLE year older from when you were born. So it’s been 5 years since you were born. That’s why we celebrate birthdays, because you are bigger and we are happy.
O: Well wow! I did not know that! He said shaking his head
This conversation happened about 10 minutes into a 20 minute car journey with just me and him in the car. I spent the next 10 minutes tittering to myself as he occasionally muttered under his breath about how cool that was and how he did NOT know that before! It was like I had blown his little inquisitive mind!
It is funny the little things we just presume kids know, when actually they might have no idea at all! Do your kids know what a birthday really means?