Birthdays

BIRTHDAYS!

That time of the day and year when everyone concerned, parents, family members, friends, get busy and excited about the Birthday of someone they love. The usual thoughts that come to mind is what to give to the Birthday boy / girl, where to hold the party, who should be invited, and of course the affordable budget for the event. When it comes to kids, age becomes the consideration for the kind of presents to give them. These days, the choices are a plenty and the price range could be anything from Three Ringgit to Thousands. At most departmental store, when it comes to toys, one is simply overwhelmed with the choices available. We remember the early days when we used to let our children choose for themselves of the things that they fancied, bearing in our minds of course the budget that we had set aside for the occasions. More often than not, they simply could not make up their minds !

Fortunately, when they did, the choices met our budget ! Of course, I cannot deny the occasional times when I did on my own spoilt them with something really expensive at that time and this had to do with toys from Star Wars ! These days, toys from block buster movies are a plenty and they come with shirts and shorts and complete suits too. These toys merchandise could easily burn parents pockets and the worse part is, kids these days are very demanding !

To the rich parental kids, birthday gifts might not mean anything to them when they get expensive presents or they themselves could afford what they wish for any time they want to, without having to wait for the Birthday occasion. Therein comes the dilemma whenever we are invited to birthdays of these well-to-do very rich parents. Just what do we offer to the kids ? Might what we give be simply thrown to the trash bin later ? May be it’s not toys that suit them anymore ? These days, they get hand phones, electronic cameras, game boy, PS/2 , laptops personal computers, and many others that my generation cannot comprehend or identify. Thus we are in a lost world for these kids interest ! We are warped in "time" ! To come back to the basics, just what is a birthday for ? Is it not just to remind ourselves that the kids or we ourselves are another year older ? A good wish as a kind or remembrance should do or just a simple birthday card should do, don’t you think ? That way, it will not cause undue hardship and financial woes to parents and those who cannot afford the occasion.

I cannot recall any occasion when I was a kid that any birthday party far less any present was given to me or to any one of us seven siblings. My late dad ( May Allah Bless him always ) never believed in birthday celebrations, to the extent that when it came to any birthday invitation, he would turn it down with some sort of excuses. Thus I grew up without any bother for such occasions until much later in my life when I got spoilt ! My dad used to say, Birthday parties are western created and will corrupt the society besides causing hardships to families. On looking back what he said is indeed true. With a family of seven children and a small income that he earned then , and to support another few relatives who stayed with us, there must have been no room for stretching the income ! Poor dad, how he must have suffered ! As for us, what we did not know did not bother us ! Hence I come to the conclusion myself that we should not have bothered ourselves about all these celebrations like Father’s and Mother’s Days, Valentine Day, Anniversaries etc. These have become commercial gimmicks and exploitation . But then others will say, you’re "kedekut kut" !

One thing for sure, I do get bothered and feel stressed having to go out to choose a present for anyone. Thus, I leave this chore to Ainul. She is very good at it and has the patience for the task and very good at budgeting too to the extent that more times than not she did not buy a deserving present for herself, knowing that I would not choose or buy one for her simply because I do not know what to buy for her. Thus for Ainul, she has to buy her own birthday present and she would discreetly inquired my budget for it !

Just over the weekend, on the 15th September, it was Omar’s 5th Birthday. Izzat and Aida had a modest birthday party comprising of guests from amongst our immediate family members and his neighbors. Thus present on this occasion were Halim and Azizah ( Aida’s dad and mom ), her brothers Ashraf and Abdul Azim and her sisters Hartini , Haliza and husband Suffian Mahmud and Najya ( their one year old baby girl ), Farahat, Mazuin, Maisarah and Muhammad, Nuruani, Mahatun, Ghazali Nichol and his children, Zharif and Adzri,( Faiq could not come. He was seriously studying at home for his Form Three exam ) Saroji and other friends of Izzat’s and Aida’s.







It was a wonderful occasion for those present, to see all the kids having a good time themselves and the adults of course enjoying the delicious food served.

However, the most exciting part was the later event when Omar started to open the presents. He was in such a joyous mood and full of excitement. The covers of each present were excitedly ripped open to the cautionary remarks by the grandparents that certain wrappers were just too beautiful to be torn apart. That was of no concern to Omar.




He was just very eager to see what’s inside the wrapper. Each time he opened one, he would yell with excitement and showed everyone present what the gift was. Next he would go to thank personally the giver of the present by shaking hands or hugging them. Thus he was busy opening and hugging the concerned giver. I had never seen any child who reacts so excitedly like Omar. But of course it was Emir who more often than not would rush in to claim some of the presents that he fancied as being his. With his shout and cry, it took quite a bit of work for Aida to calm him down and made him understand that this was not his Birthday and that his would be forth coming. Indeed Emir’s will be on 26th December.

Oh yes, less I forget, Muhammad was anxiously waiting for me at Omar’s birthday do to show me the other tooth that needed to be pulled out. This I did with the help of a handkerchief. I immediately gave him Ten Ringgit, so as to overcome having to surprise him with the fairy thing, to which Farahat expressed his disfavour in the whole idea which he said is un-Islamic . Muhammad was so happy that he showed me another potential tooth . I told him that would have to wait for another month or so. Of course at this point, Omar came running to me to show me his teeth. I told him, his would be next year, and he exclaimed, "Next year ? Wow !"

Birthdays? Are they not exciting?

Yes, I must say, if only I could relive the occasion for myself ! However, despite it all, my reservations as mentioned earlier, remains! It’s about time that we put a brake on the gifts aspect less they become a bane to the occasion. With the help of the PC, you can create your own birthday wishes and cards which are truly personal and more meaningful. Agree ?