Birthday Parties...

Today, I took my kids to a birthday party for one of their cousins. It was a great Sponge Bob party with lots of sit down games, a pinata, and food. Lots of kids, and few parents who decided to stay for lunch...hamburgers, chips, and soda. I am writing about this because these are the types of birthday I currently attend and throw for my own kids. They are 2 or 2.5 hours of fun for the kids, presents, and everyone goes home.

In contrast, the birthday parties I use to attend when growing up and since getting married have been very different. It seems like everyone comes because they know it is the place to get food and booze all day long. It seems like the party will start at 11am in the morning and go to the midnight or longer. By the time, you feed everyone and booze them up, it can be pretty pricey, but this is how everyone does it. Now, in the middle of all this entertaining, where is the birthday child? It seems like they are always lost in transition, from greeting the guest to entertaining them. Although there is a happy birthday here and there. Presents usually are not exchanged, just birthday money, and where does most of this money go..in the pocket of the parents to help pay for the birthday party. Birthday parites are social gathering of friends and family, but it seems it is more for the parents, which is okay because reason to invite everyone over to their house. If the kid is lucky, he or she may see most of the money, but you never know because it cost a lot to feed people who hang out all day long. Food has always been the cornerstone of how people in our culture get together...if there is no food, we ain't comin'. If you go to a party, whatever it may be, and there is not an assortment of items, like a buffet like, you can expect to get some complaining from the guest, but it is just the norm because most Lao people tell you how it is without you asking for an opinion. Now, don't get me wrong, this is all in good fun and humor. No one ever talks about the cost because it is just a great way to stay close to people who matter most. Sometimes I miss these types of parties living away from home, but then again, its nice to have everyone go home after 3 hours; not that I don't love you.

***Blog is not intended to offend. It is just my perspective on how I see my life now and what I experience growing up*****