How a kid's birthdays affects work

S. Mitra Kalita — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:31:00 GMT

I had today off. But I feel like I've worked like a dog. Any working mom will know why when I tell you that my daughter's turning 4 tomorrow. That means there are cakes to be ordered, return gifts to hunt down (why oh why do we do those?), menus to plan, entertainment and activities to organize, and husbands to order around (and then redo their tasks).

I am so exhausted and the party hasn't even started. I think the whole birthday phenomenon in India stresses me out more than when I lived in the US (and I had 75 people over for a homemade -- from the meatballs to the monkey cupcakes! -- birthday when she turned 2). Here, I am hoping that the water and power will remain sufficient, that the maids listen to my instructions, that people won't be too hot in our 2nd floor flat with no AC or even on the terrace... And what if 4-year-olds revolt at the husband's homemade pesto sauce? When people rsvp, does that include their maids? I am all about power to the little people but why do parents bring maids to parties? Will *they* eat pesto pasta?

Interestingly, my kid's school has set rules in light of parties in Delhi getting way too lavish. All they bring in for school celebrations can only cost Rs5 per child, which basically means just toffees. I wasn't thrilled about that because I wanted to see healthy carrot cake cupcakes but there's a ban on homemade items. I wonder what kind of message that sends. (I hope they aren't reading this - Happy Teacher's Day, Ma'am!) And so I found myself rushing home from work last night to get to the story before it closed. Ferrer Rocher? No, too expensive. Cadbury's. No, too cheap. Gems and wafers, it was.

Oh well, am just gonna have to hope all goes okay ... that by the time she gets married, I am already retired. Tell me, moms, how do you do it?

Share this post: email it! | del.icio.us! | digg it! | newsVine!

On The Job : Children

How a kid's birthdays affects work