Happy Birthday To Me

I get that having a baby is a lot about the mom. The chick either pushed or had sawed out of an orifice something the size of a watermelon. However, by the time the kids turns one there ought to be some focus on the child and less on the miracle of motherhood.

I have often given friends a congratulatory card on their child's first birthday that they "made it". No one died or suffered grievous bodily harm (and if you think I'm being flippant you haven't had those terrifying nights up with an infant who may or not be able to breathe). Passing that 12-month marker is huge; however, the focus and attention at a one year-old birthday party should be on the child or whatever topic of conversation the adults choose. It is not a mother-of-the-year ass-kissing party.

Apparently my sister never got the memo. My darling nephew turned one this month, and per family request I yanked my kids out of school and sports and flew the several hundred miles to attend the party. I did it for my daughter who adores her cousins and rarely gets to see them. I did it for my nephew even though he will never remember who was in attendance. I went even though people thought I was crazy to go that far for a one year-old.

My sister was a monstrous bitch the entire trip. Sitting like a queen in her chair, pointing and tell people what to do and how to do it better. I kept my mouth shut and chanted for the family, for the family but it chapped my ass that she refused to make eye contact with me. It was a slap in the face that she never thanked us for coming or told us it was good to see us. I still don't quite know what particular bug was up her ass that day, but needless to say I am back at my house safe and sound and very glad of it. I didn't expect her to fall over herself with gratitude for our presence, but a little common decency would have gone a long way.

I'm not being overly harsh here as someone else threw the party for her and cooked all the food to boot. All she had to do was show up. I don't know what she wanted from all of us, but she did her damnedest to turn a joyous occasion into a personal pity fest for herself. My kids didn't notice, and that's all I care about. Well, not really, but it sounds more enlightened that way.