The Party Hat

Have you ever been too embarrassed to ask for directions? For a second serving at a dinner party? For the teacher to repeat the question? Anything like that at all? I know most of us have remained quiet at some point in our lives and later regretted that, even in a seemingly insignificant situation.

Even though most kids are not as corrupted by society as most adults, so as to become doubtful or reserved, I have seen many children shy away when approached by adults or other kids. I have also seen so many others who beg their moms to order for them at a restaurant or be their voice in other similar situations...Not Elizabeth, no, not her at all.

She is outgoing by nature, shares a cheerful personality with her dad, and is not afraid to approach a "new" kid and ask "do you want to be my friend?". But even knowing this, she still manages to impress me at times. Being the terrible mother that I am, I tend to get exasperated by her stubbornness and I have convinced myself that she is the one child that will NEVER tire of asking the same question again and again, and again...And ... Again.

But as of Saturday, I have decided that this is one of her best qualities and she will eventually accomplish what she sets out to accomplish in life if she continues to be this way. At one of those heaven-for-kids-pizza-buffets on Saturday, there was a birthday party being celebrated next to our table, complete with balloons, cake and party hats. The second we walked in, Eli said she wanted a party hat too. We explained that this was not a party she was invited to, so she couldn't have one.

When we walked past the birthday table, she mentioned the hats again, and even began walking towards that table, and I had to remind her she couldn't take one. She mentioned this every time she got up for pizza, and every time she looked towards the party and remembered the hats, and every second in between that. Then she did what she does when we stop paying attention her repeated requests: she made up a song of what was going on, and it went a little like this: "I want a party hat, I've never had a party hat, I just want to wear a party hat because at my party, there were no party hats...I want a party hat..."

This is enough to drive anyone nuts, so I, in my terrible-mother-exasperated-voice told her that if she wanted one so badly, she should just go ask for one, but I also warned her that they'd probably say no. She did not hesitate and crawling under the table, happily went and asked the lady who looked in charge if she could have one.

Her disappointed look and empty hands when walking back made me feel terrible. Even when I told her she wouldn't get one, I was hoping she would. But it turns out she asked the wrong person, and the mom was busy somewhere else, so she decided to sit patiently and wait for the mom to appear. She did, and before Eli could walk to their table, the lady had explained to the mom and the mom brought Eli her hat and a cup with party favors. You should have seen the look on Eli's face, it was a Kodak moment (and I didn't have my camera! !@#$%^). Her face lit up, she put on the hat and the happiest smile I have seen, said thanks in her sweet voice and turned to us with a triumphant look in her face. But it doesn't end there, the mom came again and asked our permission to have Eli sing Happy Birthday along with the other kids so she could have some cake.

So, what started out as one of her many nagging moments, turned out to be a lesson for me, I will never stop her from going for what she wants. And Eli, well, she got her cake and ate it too.

P.S. I wish I had a picture of the ride back home, Eli with her party hat on, slouched over, asleep in the back of the car.