The Rearview Mirror: 5 Important Birthdays

The Rearview Mirror: 5 Important Birthdays

Of​ ​course,​ ​every​ ​birthday​ ​is​ ​an​ ​important​ ​life​ ​event​ ​and​ ​birthdays​ ​are always​ ​fun.​ ​ ​You​ ​are​ ​a​ ​year​ ​older​ ​and​ ​you​ ​get​ ​to​ ​celebrate​ ​with​ ​friends​ ​and family.​ ​ ​However,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​certain​ ​notable​ ​milestone​ ​birthdays​ ​that​ ​hold​ ​a special​ ​meaning​ ​in​ ​our​ ​lives.​ ​ ​As​ ​a​ ​parent,​ ​these​ ​are​ ​the​ ​birthdays​ ​you​ ​will look​ ​at​ ​with​ ​joy,​ ​pride​ ​but​ ​also​ ​some​ ​nostalgia.​ ​ ​They​ ​bring​ ​back​ ​the​ ​sweet memories​ ​that​ ​you​ ​have​ ​shared​ ​together​ ​with​ ​your​ ​kid​ ​as​ ​they​ ​wade through​ ​life​ ​and​ ​the​ ​sands​ ​of​ ​time.​ ​ ​So​ ​which​ ​are​ ​these​ ​birthdays?

Thirteenth​ ​Birthday

From​ ​now​ ​on,​ ​you​ ​will​ ​be​ ​dealing​ ​with​ ​a​ ​headstrong​ ​teenager​ ​who​ ​will​ ​be impatient​ ​to​ ​be​ ​an​ ​adult.​ ​ ​Thirteen-year-olds​ ​are​ ​often​ ​called​ ​the “backstage​ ​adults”​ ​as​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​discovery.​ ​ ​Throw​ ​a​ ​big​ ​party​ ​to celebrate​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​“Age​ ​of​ ​Innocence”​ ​when​ ​your​ ​child​ ​entrusted​ ​you with​ ​every​ ​little​ ​secret.

The​ ​Sixteenth​ ​Birthday

There​ ​is​ ​a​ ​good​ ​reason​ ​why​ ​it​ ​is​ ​called​ ​“sweet​ ​sixteen”.​ ​ ​For​ ​most​ ​teenagers, sixteen​ ​is​ ​a​ ​partial​ ​induction​ ​into​ ​the​ ​adult​ ​world.​ ​ ​Bring​ ​on​ ​a​ ​special birthday​ ​present​ ​that​ ​they​ ​will​ ​appreciate.​ ​ Impress​ ​your​ ​daughter​ ​with​ ​a special​ ​gown​ ​or​ ​your​ ​so​n ​with​ ​that​ ​skateboard​ ​he​ ​has​ ​been​ ​eyeing.​ ​ ​Spend time​ ​to​ ​come​ ​up​ ​with​ ​a​ ​creative​ ​present​ ​for​ ​your​ ​young​ ​adult.​ ​ ​Sixteen​ ​is especially​ ​a​ ​momentous​ ​occasion​ ​for​ ​your​ ​teenager​ ​so​ ​don’t​ ​take​ ​it​ ​lightly. They​ ​take​ ​it​ ​very​ ​seriously​ ​themselves,​ ​so​ ​enjoy​ ​the​ ​moment​ ​with​ ​them​ ​and savor​ ​it​ ​for​ ​years​ ​to​ ​come.

Eighteenth​ ​Birthday
At​ ​eighteen,​ ​your​ ​child​ ​has​ ​finally​ ​entered​ ​adulthood.​ ​From​ ​here​ ​onwards, they​ ​can​ ​now​ ​make​ ​their​ ​own​ ​decisions​ ​and​ ​do​ ​whatever​ ​they​ ​like​ ​and​ ​you can​ ​only​ ​be​ ​a​ ​moderating​ ​influence.​ ​ ​They​ ​can​ ​vote,​ ​live​ ​on​ ​their​ ​own​ ​and soon​ ​enough,​ ​they​ ​might​ ​be​ ​headed​ ​to​ ​college​ ​and​ ​away​ ​from​ ​you​ ​for​ ​an extended​ ​period​ ​of​ ​time.​ ​ ​Symbolically,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​now​ ​hand​ ​over​ ​the​ ​house keys​ ​and​ ​throw​ ​a​ ​wonderful​ ​themed​ ​birthday​ ​party​ ​to​ ​celebrate​ ​this important​ ​milestone.

21st​ ​Birthday

Age​ ​21​ ​bestows​ ​more​ ​privileged​ ​on​ ​your​ ​child,​ ​by​ ​allowing​ ​them​ ​the​ ​right​ ​to drink​ ​alcoholic​ ​beverages.​ ​ ​They​ ​will​ ​also​ ​soon​ ​be​ ​graduating​ ​and​ ​settling into​ ​their​ ​careers.​ ​ ​This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​age​ ​to​ ​celebrate​ ​these​ ​life’s​ ​milestones.​ ​ ​If​ ​you can,​ ​don’t​ ​forget​ ​to​ ​throw​ ​a​ ​birthday​ ​party​ ​for​ ​their​ ​21st​ ​birthday.

30th​ ​Birthday

When​ ​your​ ​kid​ ​hits​ ​30,​ ​you​ ​are​ ​already​ ​reminiscing​ ​at​ ​how​ ​fast​ ​time​ ​has passed.​ ​ ​At​ ​this​ ​age,​ ​they​ ​are​ ​not​ ​“kids”​ ​anymore.​ ​ ​You​ ​are​ ​operating​ ​at​ ​the same​ ​level.​ ​ ​Probably,​ ​your​ ​once​ ​young​ ​child​ ​has​ ​settled​ ​down​ ​and​ ​you​ ​are already​ ​a​ ​doting​ ​grandma​ ​or​ ​grandpa.​ ​You​ ​might​ ​not​ ​even​ ​be​ ​around​ ​when they​ ​celebrate​ ​their​ ​birthdays​ ​but​ ​you​ ​might​ ​send​ ​some​ ​thoughtful​ ​gifts throw​ ​an​ ​extravaganza​ ​with​ ​friends​ ​and​ ​family.

What​ ​other​ ​birthdays​ ​for​ ​your​ ​kids​ ​do​ ​you​ ​consider​ ​special?​ ​Of​ ​course,​ ​the parties​ ​don’t​ ​stop​ ​when​ ​they​ ​hit​ ​30.​ ​ ​Continue​ ​to​ ​throw​ ​parties​ ​to​ ​celebrate your​ ​child​ ​and​ ​thank​ ​life​ ​for​ ​its​ ​graces​ ​as​ ​you​ ​look​ ​in​ ​the​ ​rearview​ ​mirror​ ​on a​ ​life​ ​well-lived!