Happy 7th Birthday, Nicholas!

Leading up to Nick's 7th birthday, as I was cuddling with my baby before tucking him into bed for the night, I asked him how he would like to celebrate his upcoming birthday.  He tells me that he wants to have a party for his entire class at Pump It Up.  This is one of those warehouse locations filled with bounce houses and the like.  Children of all ages (Shawn!) are able to bounce, slide and navagate the obsticle course to their hearts content - or at least for the 90 minutes you get in the "play" room.  These parties, while fun for the children, are quite costly and, this soon after Christmas, money is pretty tight. 

I did my best to re-direct him to another more cost-efficient option - what 7 year old wouldn't enjoy taking a best friend to the movies, right?  He's not buying it.  I then try a more direct approach.  I explain to Nick that he does not need to invite his entire class to his birthday party because, this soon after Christmas, he does not need 30 children bringing him presents when he still hasn't even played with all his new stuff from Christmas.  Nick gives me a disapointed stare. He then explains to me that his wanting to invite his entire class is not about the presents - he simply wants all of his friends there.  How can I argue that?

After a few more minutes of discussion it is decided that Nick can have his super expensive Pump It Up party.  Why did I cave?  Simple - my son is amazing!

On October 29, 2012, about 3 months before Nicholas' 7th birthday, Superstorm Sandy wrecked havoc on the New Jersey coast.  During this superstorm a large portion of the boardwalk in Seaside Heights was destroyed while other sections were simply swallowed by the ocean.  Nick, believing this to be "his" boardwalk, was deeply effected by the tragedy.  We all were - it was devestating.

Nicholas decides that, in order to be able to celebrate with all his friends, he will forego receiving birthday presents.  Instead, he would like to take up a collection of money to donate towards the shore clean up efforts - specifically the re-building of his beloved boardwalk!  He reasons that there are many agencies that are helping the individuals who lost their homes and other to help locate missing animals and others yet to assist with the debris removal - he wanted his party to be about helping to re-build the boardwalk itself.  How could I say no?

My children make me incredibly proud on a daily basis - they don't even need to do anything extrodinary to accomplish this task - it simply happens just because they're them.  However, the day that we were able to mail $250 to the Seaside Heights Administrator (and my uncle) that my little boy collected and generously donated was one that I won't soon forget.  Not only did he donate monies given to him for the purpose of donating, but he also generously decided to donate all money given to him by family/friends who did not know about his endevor. 

February 2, 2012 may very well have been the day that my little boy turned 7-years-old, but it was also the time when I realized, again, what a gift he is and how lucky I am to have him in my life.  I was also assured that, no matter how many mistakes Shawn and I have made as parents, we have done some things right if our little man is generous and loving enough to forgo his own birthday presents to give in a way that, in his mind, would be giving to the masses... everyone who can and will walk those boards for many, many years to come!

Happy Birthday, Nicholas!