Every day is not your birthday

I love Pinterest. The ideas and inspiration make being a fun mom basically effortless. "10 ideas to make your kids birthday special", "Fun ways to show your kids you love them", "Surprises for your kids"... you see these pins all over (or ones like them, these were made up but you know what I mean!). And there are some great ideas! I love making my kids feel special, surprising them, and just having fun.

However, I think we need to remember that every day is not our child's birthday. Not every day needs to be filled with surprises, baked treats, lunches shaped like their favorite cartoon characters, eating out for dinner, etc. Our kids need to have normal days. They need to have days that aren't all about them and making them happy. Days where the meals are simple, they do their chores, read books, play board games, have family worship and go to bed on time. Our kids need to feel loved and affirmed and like they are an important part of the family. They also need to know that the world does not revolve around them, and that their happiness and joy is not at the center of every decision the family makes.

I think when we get too carried away with feeding our children's desire to be entertained and pleased we are raising a dangerous generation of children. One that seeks only their own pleasure. One that can't be satisfied in living a simple and quiet life but one that needs others entertaining them at all times and bowing to their every whim. We are not raising a generation that seeks not to serve, but to be served.

Simple days can still be filled with joy and laughter and fun. And raising our children to see simple days as joyful and fun is an amazing gift that we can give to our children. And I believe it makes days like Christmas or birthdays or the days that you do some extra special things as a family so special.  I think those special things lose their specialness when you do them everyday...

So how often should you have "extra special days" and how often should your days be routine. I don't know. I don't think there is a formula. I think your kids will make it obvious when they have had a few too many special days. I would venture to say that the majority of your days should be fairly routine and simple. And I know that my routine and simple will look very different from yours. We are all different and do things differently. But, if you are like me and your goal is to raise Godly children I think it is important to take a close look and make sure we are not "drinking the Kool-Aid" that society is trying to sell us. For our children to feel loved we don't have to act like everyday is their birthday...

*This picture is from an actual birthday last summer. You can see the details here.

I am linking up at Women Living Well.