Real Life: Children’s Birthday Celebrations - 9 year old twin boys

Who is in your family?

My partner and I, 9 year old twin boys and two daschunds who’s mischievousness definitely keeps us on our toes.

What did you do to celebrate on your child’s birthday?

The boys celebrated their birthday this year in lockdown which presented its own challenges as we wanted to make it a special day for them. We decided that because the boys couldn’t see family and friends that we would include them by creating a treasure hunt where they had to phone their family to find clues to find their presents. The day started with the boys receiving some presents from us and a letter receiving their mission. The first part of this was to go to the gargoyle at the front door to receive a birthday rhyme and have their annual photograph taken at the front door.

As you can imagine they were very excited with the anticipation as to what would come next. They were asked to kick off the mission by phoning their nana and grandad to get the first clue. We did this using video phone so the boys could see them and their grandparents could wish them ‘Happy Birthday’. Their clue was to look under one of the boys beds. As they raced off nana and granddad were delighted to be involved as they watched the chaos unfold before them and be able to see the boys open the presents that they had sent them on their birthday. After the boy had opened their presents they had to ask nana and granddad for the next clue which was to call granny and grandpa.  This continued all morning as the boys discovered all their presents from their family.

The final present was off their aunty and was hidden in the back garden in the shed. We had done this deliberately as they would pass their super surprise present in the garden. As the boys went outside they discovered a large paddling pool filled and ready to dive into. This really was quite a mission to arrange and we had been creeping around the garden trying to fill it ready for the boys to get into in the morning. It was a real shock for them and they kept asking ‘whats that doing there?’. They just couldn’t understand where it had come from and why it was in their garden. It was really funny. We were lucky on their birthday with the weather and it was really quite nice and warm. I had been watching the forecast and at times it was looking quite dodgy.

Two of their aunties arrived with the birthday cake and we all had brunch outside. They stayed and sat in the garden and joined us social distancing. We sang happy birthday and had some cake while the boys rushed to get their trunks on and jump in the pool. The boys had great fun shooting mama with the water pistols and playing pool games with some other presents from the family. Naturally, with 9 year old boys we had to let them enjoy some screen time as they had received some new games for their Switch and Playstation.

Later that afternoon our neighbour came over to enjoy some drinks with us and the boys jumped back in the pool. We finished the day with a chippie tea delivered at their request. The boys went to bed at 9pm that evening absolutely shattered after having a fantastic lockdown birthday.

What kind of presents did you give them?

The paddling pool was a present both of the boys could enjoy. Lloyd got a new skating helmet and Hughie got some merchandise from his favourite You tuber. As well as the main presents they also got some other bits and bobs including some Lego kits.

Do you have any birthday traditions?

The boys have their photographs taken every year at the front door with the happy birthday banner. The boys also have their own fairies that support them all year long who get them a present each. We also play ‘you’ve gotta have faith’ by George Michael when the boys are opening their presents because that was playing when they were born.