Graded Birthdays

Sometimes I wonder what it would look like if we recieved grades for the things we did as parents. Serving nutriuos meals: B-;  teaching alphabet:  A;  helping with homework:  C+ and so on and so on.

After this weekend I am gald that we don't.  I am even more glad that there is a good chance that Caleb won't even remember his 7th birthday.  Or will he?

Party 1:  Thursday, Cupcakes to his class room.  Two dozen cupcakes, iced and decorated.  No napkins.  No juice.  No treat bags.  Grade:  C-

Party 2:  Friday, Friend Party.  Inviation had wrong date and no address.  Stayed up all night making BINGO cards with Super Hero stickers.  Boys played BINGO for 10 minutes.  Bought each guests a Super Hero costume.  Most liked the costume they recieved.  One little brother that came didn't get a costume and had a fit.  The boy that loves Star Wars got the Star Wars costume and complained about it the whole night.  Other games were a bust.  The boys didn't want to play them.  No cake.  Served left-over cupcakes from school party.  Grade:  D

Party 3:  Sunday, Family Party.  One third of guests actually came.  One seven year old very disappointed.  Lasagnas turned out great (I'm glad because that is what we are eating the rest of the week.)   Caleb got some gifts that he has been asking for which is wonderful.  He was even willing to keep the pink Leapster just so he could have one.  Everyone watched football.  We forgot to tell his birth story.  I had scrapbooks done and ready   No one looked at them.  Again, no cake.  Left-over cupcakes.  Grade:  C

As a mother of four, I am really, really glad we don't get judged or graded on how well our birthday parties turn out.  We don't have to keep score or tally marks on which ones were great and which ones weren't.  We just keep on learning as we continue down the road.  And maybe, just maybe, if we ar lucky by the time we send them off to college or down the aisle, we will have all this figured out.  But I'm  not holding my breath.  Because my luck is that I will buy the wrong college sweatshirt, or the wedding inviations might have a wrong date or soemone is going to want to watch a football game instead.