Growing up, my two brothers and I hung out with the Stantons, a family of eight down the block, who did the coolest things for birthdays…
Their mom, Heather, always welcomed my brothers and me into their bustling home with a huge smile and a “Come on in!” She was also the epitome of the ’90s granola mom. Whenever we stopped by, she was always whipping up a concoction: loaves of homemade wheat bread, jars of oat milk, or long strips of fruit leather. We knew we’d never find Lays, Oreos, or Goldfish on their kitchen counter.
There was just one exception: birthday cereal.
On each kid’s birthday, Mr. and Mrs. Stanton would drive the birthday boy or girl to the grocery store, where they got the honor of choosing whatever cereal they wanted. Fruit Loops, Cap’n Crunch, Cookie Crisp, Fruity Pebbles, you name it. Then they’d bring it home to share with their very excited siblings.
When I learned about this tradition as a kid, I thought it was the most special and thrilling way to be celebrated.
Ella with pan dulce on her first and fifth birthdays.
So, 20 years later, when I was planning my first daughter Ella’s first birthday party, I decided to create our own tradition. Instead of singing to her over cake, we plopped her first birthday candle into a bright pink concha, a Mexican sweet bread, then surprised our guests with a spread of pan dulce, or Mexican pastries. Everyone was psyched, and enjoying the leftovers with hot coffee the next morning felt like the best reward after hosting a children’s party. Since then, we’ve served pan dulce at all Ella’s parties, and she looks forward to it every year.
Another fun family birthday tradition? Photo garlands! Photographer Alex Steele makes these for her kids on their 10th birthdays. “When each of my daughters turned 10, I printed out a bunch of photos, attached them to ribbons, and hung them all over the house,” she told me. “Watching them wake up and walk out to find their faces everywhere is one of my favorite memories. Now I plan to do the same thing for my boys’ 10th birthdays.”
How cute is that? I’d love to save this idea for when my kids each turn 21 and cut out baby, toddler, school-aged, tween, and teenager photos of them. Sob!
Now, your turn: does your family have special ways of celebrating birthdays? Maybe it’s going to the same restaurant, or having the birthday kid wear a crown? I want to know!
P.S. A cool birthday present for kids, and 12 readers share their favorite birthday celebrations.
(Photo by Vradiy Art/Stocksy.)
