As parents you always wish that you can celebrate your childrens accomplishments. You want to be able to sing them, “Happy Birthday” and tell them just how special they really are. With a child who suffers from social anxiety these things are not quite the same. Up until this year most birthdays were face with trepadation. Would she be overwhelmed by all the people? Would her cousins outgoing and ambitious spirit be too much for her and have her sitting in the corner? Singing “Happy Birthday” would just be out of the question never mind opening up the presents. Too many eyes and ears on her.

Well, there has never been a prouder moment for our family than at Sydney’s party this year. She embraced every single moment of her birthday right from the get go. She had me put a calendar on her wall to mark off the days until her party. She asked specifically for her cake and wanted to help with the preparations. She was concerned when it started to rain before everyone came over that perhaps they won’t come because the car was in the garage and it was raining. She greeted the cousins at the door and promptly darted upstairs in giggles with the girls. She enjoyed every ounce of her birthday like nothing else I’ve seen.

When it came to the cake and singing her “Happy Birthday” she hopped up on the seat and waited patiently while we lit all the candles that spelled out happy birthday. She was watched by family and friends, she was in the spotlight and she was okay with it all. What a glorious day to celebrate Sydney. We sang her happy birthday and even paused a minute to take a picture and it made my heart melt.

To think that even a year ago we didn’t do presents, we didn’t sing, we celebrated in a very monotone way. It was a party without the glitz, it was quieter moments to appreciate Sydney. The thing is, we acknowledged that singing and the fuss involved would not be good for her at the time but we still wanted to celebrate the beautiful daughter, cousin and grand-daughter she was. But in traditional Sydney style when she was ready, when she felt that she could handle the attention she embraced it and what a party it was.

At the end of the day (very late I may add) she sat in her bed with her presents beside her and in her new journal that she bought with some birthday money she wrote down everything that she received. She thanked me for what she coined was, “The best party ever”. I would have to agree.