This is the story of adopting my second daughter from China. I grew up with two sisters. I always told people that God knew I was going to need more than one, so he gave me two. I want my daughter to have the same opportunities of knowing the love and bond between sisters.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
To have a birthday party or not?
Annabel turned 11 on 7/24. We arrived on 7/27. I am trying to decide if we need to have a birthday party. Does anyone have any thoughts about it?
I have a book on Celbrating Birthdays in China....just a few notes that I read. Families do give Birthday parties and they prepare for many days. They clean the house and cook special foods. People buy the birthday person new clothes and shoes. It is important for the birthday person to wear new things to show that a new year has begun. Chinese people eat long noodles on their birthdays...they stand for long life. Chinese don't eat many sweet foods they may have a birthday dumpling instead of a cake.
Maybe a small celebration at a Chinese Restuarant where they can communicate to her that it is a birthday celebration.
I vote for a small party. I think that when she looks back in time in the years to come it will be far more meaningful than it really is in today's context. Go for it! Do you know how to sing Happy Birthday in Chinese? It is readily available on-line. She will love this honor! Go for it! Love from Colorado (the state, not the street) -Holly (mom to 3 from Jiangxi)
I would definitely have a party of some sort. When A came home last year at age 10 all she could talk about was having a birthday party...she had to wait months until her birthday but we did have a party and it was a big success. She has told me recently that she was very hurt that we didn't have a welcome home party for her (I was afraid of overwhelming her)...now I wish I had done one.
3 comments:
Jerri,
I have a book on Celbrating Birthdays in China....just a few notes that I read.
Families do give Birthday parties and they prepare for many days. They clean the house and cook special foods. People buy the birthday person new clothes and shoes. It is important for the birthday person to wear new things to show that a new year has begun.
Chinese people eat long noodles on their birthdays...they stand for long life. Chinese don't eat many sweet foods they may have a birthday dumpling instead of a cake.
Maybe a small celebration at a Chinese Restuarant where they can communicate to her that it is a birthday celebration.
Mary (GRaces' mom)
I vote for a small party. I think that when she looks back in time in the years to come it will be far more meaningful than it really is in today's context. Go for it! Do you know how to sing Happy Birthday in Chinese? It is readily available on-line. She will love this honor! Go for it! Love from Colorado (the state, not the street) -Holly (mom to 3 from Jiangxi)
I would definitely have a party of some sort. When A came home last year at age 10 all she could talk about was having a birthday party...she had to wait months until her birthday but we did have a party and it was a big success. She has told me recently that she was very hurt that we didn't have a welcome home party for her (I was afraid of overwhelming her)...now I wish I had done one.
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