Happy Birthday

We had a great time celebrating Charles’s birthday last week. I think the best part for me is that this is the first birthday that Jack has somewhat understood. While Charles was away last week I told Jack that Charles’s birthday was coming. This prompted him to go around the house singing ‘happy birthday to Daddy’ at least five or six times throughout the day.

I told Jack that we would need to think of what to get Daddy for a present. I asked him if he had any ideas to which he quickly answered ‘a ball’ – ‘a green ball’ to be exact. I encouraged Jack with the idea and told him I was sure Daddy would love a green ball. I was unsure at this point whether Jack would forget this great idea or whether it would persevere over the next week as we waited for Charles’s actual birthday to arrive.

Not only did the idea of getting Daddy a green ball continue, but it was told to most of our neighbours. Jack would happily tell anyone he met on campus that we were getting Daddy a green ball which would then leave me explaining exactly what Jack had in mind.

We made our way to the toy store the day before Charles’s birthday only to get stuck in a traffic jam that was pretty severe. I wasn’t in the mood to sit and wait so I made the decision to turn around and head to the grocery store hoping that they might have some type of green ball in stock. As I turned the car around Jack started crying and pleading that we get Daddy’s green ball. I told him that we were going to go to another store to look for it. I prayed the whole way to the store for green balls to be in stock. Jack hopped out of the car and into the shopping trolley greatly anticipating getting a green ball for Daddy. We made our way down the aisle with toys and there they were – I spotted the cage with rubber balls in it. I quickly looked and noticed that there were four left – three blue Thomas ones and one green Diego one. I secretly thought to myself that our green ball plan was about to be derailed by Jack’s obsession with Thomas the Tank Engine. How dare I underestimate the perseverance and determination of my son! I asked him which ball he wanted to get for Daddy and without hesitation he declared ‘the green one’. One green Diego ball was thrown into the trolley leaving the other three blue Thomas balls for the next toddler on a ball hunt.

I explained to Jack that we should try to keep the ball a secret from Daddy until tomorrow (which is a very interesting concept for a 2 year old). He did amazingly well in keeping the secret. He presented the green ball to Charles (wrapped in a lovely Tesco shopping bag) right after breakfast on Charles’s actual birthday. The present was met with great appreciation by Charles and they even had a few kicks around the house before Charles headed off for work. The £3 I spent on that green ball were much more precious to me than most of the gifts I have bought for Charles in the past – and I have a feeling Charles thinks so too!