Well, here I am a week and two birthday parties later—a small family party and a small kid party. Were they greenish? Sort of, even if I didn’t get to incorporate all the fabulous ideas from readers. We did make some simple choices and some green choices, and everyone had a good time! I learned, though, that if I really want to be thoughtful about things like green birthdays I’ll have to start planning them much further in advance. For example, as I was getting the pizza ready, I groaned, “Aiiiee! What about napkins? Do we have any unstained napkins that are clean?"

Hova was rummaging in the linen drawer, “We have four technically clean napkins, with spots.”

Six kids, several adults. There was going to be some hand wiping.

I had the slightest twinge of guilt while I asked, “Do we have any paper napkins?”

Hova, balancing one foot on the stepstool seat that says, “DO NOT STAND ON PADDED SEAT,” said, “We have four Powerpuff girl napkins and a few tiki cocktail napkins.”

I threw the guilt out the window. I rationalized: we make conscientious choices every day about what we use, where our food comes from, how our actions affect the environment, and if we need to use something disposable once in awhile we can. Next time we’ll plan better…

“Let’s just put out the paper towels—nothing says fancy party like a roll of paper towels! And grab those old paper animal cups while you’re up there; the kids can use those and the adults can use glasses.”

We had mini pizzas (prepackaged and not organic, but no plates needed!), organic juice, and homemade ladybug cupcakes, which were yummy and super cute if I do say so myself. (A warning, to get ladybug red you have to use a very, very powerful red dye which may have alarming results later on). We had brought home gelato cups to reuse for the no-RBGH ice cream, but then I forgot to get out the ice cream so no one got any. I made ladybug bean bags, Georgia painted flowers for each guest, and they got to toss the bean bag and win the flower on which it landed, which also had the very groovy ladybug wind-up I mentioned in the previous birthday post. They each had a huge, Shirley-Temple type lollipop, and they managed without “goody bags” to take everything home! We did the Hokey-pokey, Hova read the Grouchy Ladybug, and the kids got to wash off their swirly lollipop stickiness in the slip-n-slide.

 

At the family party, Georgia had become a little greedy after the last present was gone. “Are there any more guests coming to this party?” Afterward we had a little conversation:

“You know, if you ask for more presents when people have just given you presents, it makes you sound kind of greedy, like Edgar in the Aristocats. It’s so fun to get things, and it makes us want more, but you should appreciate the people who thought of you and wanted to get you a present, even if it’s something silly that you don’t like!”

“Mommy, just stop talking now.”

“Well, I want you to know before your next party that it’s wonderful to thank your guests when they give you something, and let them know you appreciate it. It makes people feel bad if you just ask for more, even if you really want more because it’s so fun to get things.”

“So at my next party, more guests will bring more presents!” she gleefully deducted.

“Yes, and you can say thank you to each guest, because they’ve made you happy just by coming to your party, and if they bring a present, that will be so nice you’ll want to make sure they know you appreciate it. Do you understand?”

“Yes! I get more presents!”

Okay, that was painful, and the number one reason I’ve always wanted to save the unwrapping for after the party (I get flak for that from some folks). But it turns out she really did understand. She was quite gracious at the kid party while unwrapping her gifts, and I was proud. I should tell you she got everything on her list, except the face paints, plus a fairy dress, a birdhouse, and more. She’s a very fortunate child. Someday she’ll be able to appreciate that, but not just yet. It was a simple party, nothing out of the ordinary; we battled greed and were marginally green. No one was enlightened, no real ladybugs were harmed, gluttony and joyfulness prevailed and now Georgia is four.