The First Birthday.

Your kid's first birthday isn't a milestone as much for them, as it is for the parents. One, very short, year ago, a new life was brought into this world and for one whole year you've managed to keep this tiny human alive and thriving. You throw a party to celebrate that. 

You brought a new tiny, squishy human into your family that needed so much love and attention you had to pull it from other places. This could've been your relationship with your spouse or partner. Or it could've been from your other children. Or it could've been from your pets. But those relationships survived and thrived still. You figured out how to balance nursing an infant and playing cars with a toddler. You figured out how to balance date nights with family game nights. All of these balancing acts made these bonds stronger because you did it together with another person. You throw a party, with these people, to celebrate that. 

But other relationships slipped, especially first time parents, because the time wasn't there. Maybe it was a college friend, co-worker, or neighbor that you just lost touch with. It doesn't mean you don't care, it means other things come first. You have one plate. You can't have all of the side dishes to go along with your main course. You have to pick out your favorite ones to have. This doesn't mean next time you don't order different ones, just not today. 

As the mother, the one who carried the child with her for nine months before you met them, you survived child birth, you survived the physical pain after child birth, and you survived the hormonal roller coaster. People talk about the hormones during pregnancy, but not after. You held that baby in the days and weeks after their birth and you laughed and cried for no reason at all. It's okay. Your body was beat up in ways that you couldn't imagine but you survived and became stronger because of it. You throw that party for yourself to celebrate this. 

As the partner to the woman that gave birth, you survived as well. You tip-toed around when things were bumpy, you tried to help when you didn't know how, you offered support when you could and you tried your best. You survived too. Throw a party for that. 

As the siblings to this new tiny human that has invaded their lives, you had to adjust to less attention from your parents, grandparents, people at the grocery store, and everywhere in between. People don't think a three year is as cute when a baby is around. You had to sit there and endure the ooh-ing and ahh-ing over your sibling, while no one cast a side eye at you. You had to entertain yourself more than you liked. You probably had too much screen time. Maybe you threw a tantrum to get attention. Maybe you colored on the wall so someone would look at you. But you did it to survive. Your parents are throwing the party for you too. It won't seem like it. It'll seem like it's always all about the baby, because it always does, but the party is for you too. 

No, the first birthday isn't for the child. It's for everyone around the child. For the village. It celebrates everything that it takes to get through that first year. The baby won't remember the party or the first year. But you certainly will. So go over the top and don't feel ashamed. Pinterest the heck out of that party because there is so much to celebrate when a child turns one. 

Throw that party.