Another Birthday...Oh My

Today is Kalisha's 32nd birthday. Yikes. I find that hard to believe but the numbers don't lie, so I guess it is true. She approaches birthdays in her own unique way. She invariably wants a party and thinks of various ways to make that happen.
This year, I first knew she was planning one when I saw the invitation on Facebook.

"Ka li shaaaaaa, what does this invitation mean? When and where are you having this party?"
As she comes down the stairs, "On my birthday and we can have it here."
Me, sighing..."Geez, Kalisha, do you think we might have talked about this first?"
"I'll take care of it, Mom. I will make all the plans and buy the stuff, okay? It's my job."
Me: "Okay. This is your baby. I am not going to do anything. I might vacuum but that's it. If you already made plans, go for it." (What was I saying????)
She changed the date 3 times because the one person she REALLY wanted to come was not available several of the first choices. We did talk about the problems with that and trying to please every one. I suggested she choose a date and stick to it, no matter who could or couldn't attend. Okay, she agreed.

She did really well. She bought the ice cream, soda, and some candy for the treat bags. Speaking of treat bags, I did talk her out of the huge brown paper lunch bags. She would have to buy a bushel basket of candy to fill them. She is using regular party treat bags. She is going to order pizza delivered for the food and she bought a cake mix and frosting, that SHE is going to make.

THEN...(did you think she was done with her plans? au contraire.) she sent me an email. In case you don't know, we live in the same house. She wanted a 'package deal' the local Minor League Baseball team was offering for Valentine's day. It consisted of having the mascot arrive at our house, delivering balloons, card, cake and 2 tickets to the first game of the season. I told her I would split the cost of that with her for her birthday gift, but it wouldn't be on her birthday because it was a Valentine's promotion. She told me she would call and ask them to deliver it on her party day and make it a birthday promotion.
Me: "Kalisha, they are going to be very busy for Valentine's Day. I don't think they are going to change days and celebrations for you."
Kalisha, about 30 minutes later: "Hey, Mom, I called and they said they would come on Monday instead and make it a birthday thing."
I'm pretty sure she missed her calling. I've said it before; she should be a negotiator of some kind.

So, let's recap. She has 5 friends coming. They will have pizza and pop. They are going to play UNO or Sorry, (her choices) 'Johnny' of the baseball team is showing up in my living room and bringing all kinds of stuff with him, they are going to eat cake and ice cream.

Perhaps I will go to the local tavern and have a drink while this is happening; that way I won't be tempted to jump in and "fix" something.

Hello Kitty...chapter 2

I realize I have written about Kalisha's new fascination with Hello Kitty before, but I thought it might run its course. Silly me; what was I thinking?
She has definitely not given up her Colts love; she has branched out. I suppose it is a 'growth' thing to have more than one obsession. I would never have thought Hello Kitty would be the choice. She didn't even look at HK when she was a little girl. All that really doesn't matter because this is now and Hello Kitty is the 'thing.'

She attended a Halloween party as HK. She asked if she could buy the wig for it. I agreed. Little did I know it was a child's wig. Some times, I don't think too far ahead. Of course, it was a child's wig. Getting it to stay on her head was a trick, but we persevered and here she is.

 

She also decided to hedge her bets for Christmas. She typed a list of items she wanted, printed them off (obviously from the size of the font, she thinks all relatives are nearly blind) and sent a copy to all siblings and her father. I helped her with addresses and put the stamps on. Am I enabling her? Of course, I am; but I think it's only fair this obsession be spread around to other people besides me. Right? Okay, don't answer that.

 

 



Kalisha is on a mission to obtain all things Hello Kitty. Her budget does not allow that, but that fact doesn't keep her from talking about it.
I have given up on the idea Hello Kitty is for children. If that were true, would they make t-shirts in size 2X with Hello Kitty on them? I think not. Kalisha does remind me of that fact occasionally.

Today, in the mail, she received a newspaper clipping from the local newspaper, sent to her by my cousin and good friend, Mary.

According to this, I guess Kalisha is not the only Hello Kitty groupie. I should be happy; there are a lot worse things she could be addicted to, me thinks.

Kalisha's Birthday Party

Kalisha had a birthday last week. The actual day was a great success. She started her day by volunteering at the food bank, where the nice ladies gave her a dozen cupcakes. I was surprised when she got up willingly and went without a complaint. I thought she would surely use her birthday as a reason not to go.

Then we went to look for a new Indianapolis Colts stocking hat. One of the ones with the 'braids' hanging off the ear flaps. We found two: one had a 'mane' on the top. I let her pick and thankfully, she chose the other one.

Our next stop was a local Mexican restaurant where we had the best server in the world and where the entire wait staff came out to sing to her. That evening, I made her favorite dinner. All in all, a great day.

Yesterday, however, was a totally different story. It started with her not wanting to get up. She was scheduled to be a greeter at church and since that is a 'commitment' it qualified for losing all electronics and phone if she didn't go. After a text to her BC, who agreed with me, she got ready and got in the car. As we are going, she tells me, "My commitment is only to greet. When I am done, I will go sit in the car. I can hear pastor's sermon and the music from the parking lot." RIGHT!

The situation digressed from there. She told everyone who would listen all about her troubles. Part of me doesn't care that she tells everyone and part of me, (if I'm honest) gets really ticked off when she does that; especially to people who may not understand the situation very well.

She was supposed to have a 'family' birthday party in the afternoon. I had baked a cake and we had ice cream, etc. She had all of her Colts plates, forks, napkins, etc from another year to put on the table.

Because she was being bullheaded, she didn't help with one single thing. She didn't put things on the table, get the cake out, put candles on it, nothing.

Then she invited her friend, who I was sure was only invited because Kalisha wanted a McDonald's gift card and this friend had said she would get her one. She was chronologically celebrating her 29th birthday, but emotionally, it was still all about the gifts and she was being 10 or 12. When she thought her friend wasn't going to come through with the gift card, she called her dad and told him she wanted a McD's gift card. By this time, I was thinking she might not live to see another birthday. (Just kidding, ok?)

Well, all things come to an end and so did her obstinance. We had a good laugh at her attempts to blow out the candles. I'm not sure if that qualifies as a small motor skill or not, but it took at least 25 trys to blow out 18 candles. Obviously, blowing just air is not something she does well. She can't whistle either.

It was, at best, an emotionally draining day for me, and probably for her, too. I really dislike it when we are at odds with each other. She never yells (unlike me); maybe it would be better if she did. She just becomes totally obstinate and unreachable. No matter what you say, she has these 'blinders' on and only thinks in the moment.

We do not go to bed angry with each other. We usually talk about the situation and both ask for forgiveness and go on. That's what it's all about, isn't it? Just keepin' on, keepin' on.