said. Adrianne Wagner, Yuma Sun


marketing manager, says that her family has traditionally celebrated birthdays at a favorite restaurant. “My grandma always tells me


about when she and my grandpa first moved here, all her boys were under nine years old,” she explained. “Not long after adjusting from Hawaii (relocated, thanks to the United States Army), they found a nice little place called Chretin’s Restaurant. They loved it so much, and going out to eat was such a treat, that they only went on a birthday. So, growing up, my father and his brothers went to Chretin’s every year for their birthday dinner.” She noted that the tradition was


such a huge part of his childhood “that my dad implemented the tradition when I was younger. My dad is the only one of his brothers that lives here now, but when they all come back, they go to Chretin’s. It is not the same as it was when they were younger, but I think it’s all those birthdays spent killing nachos that still gets to them.” Birthday celebrations in the family of Jim McNair, Yuma Sun


circulation district manager, also involve “great food.” “We hold most of our birthdays at home really, but also at Olive Garden and at Famous Dave’s. They both have great service and great food, too.” Roxanne Molenar, Yuma Sun


assignments editor, said growing up, her family would sing “Happy Birthday,” followed by “Happy Birthday to you, you belong in a zoo, you look like a monkey, and you smell like one too!” “Sometimes, depending on


which kid it was, ‘smell’ was changed to ‘act.’ In fact, I called my mom this year and sang it to her, just because. “For my daughter, I take a picture


of her each year by the same sign. When she’s older, it will be really cool to see how she’s grown and changed from year to year.” For more ideas, visit http://


w w w . k i ds p a r t ie s . c om / Fami lyBi r thdayTraditions.htm, which offers a good sampling of family birthday traditions.


Mara Knaub can be reached at mknaub@yumasun.com or 539- 6856.


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Start your own birthday traditions According to Mothers of


Preschoolers (www.mops.org), families can give their child a sense of belonging and security by creating and keeping a few family birthday traditions from year to year. They suggest the traditions might come from a parent’s own growing up years, be an activity their child enjoys or be an idea borrowed from a friend. They suggest these ideas


shared by moms across the country:


In the morning • Sing or play a special


birthday wake up song. • Decorate a doorway with


a “streamer curtain”. As the birthday child runs through the streamers, cheer “Happy birthday, now you’re five!” • Attach a piece of yarn to the


end of the child’s bed and wind it throughout several rooms. At the other end attach a birthday surprise.


At mealtimes • Serve the birthday child a big donut while other family members


eat a regular breakfast. • Invite the birthday child


to sit at the head of the table as king or queen for the day wearing a birthday crown and special clothing. • Serve a specially selected


birthday meal on a decorated birthday plate.


Memory makers • Press the child’s footprint


into a stepping-stone and add to a backyard path. • Take a picture of the


birthday child standing back to back with Daddy (or Mommy) and compare growth from year to year. • Create a journal or photo


journal of the birthday child’s favorite things each year. • Ask grandparents to


add to a charm bracelet or commemorative coin collection each year. If possible, take a picture of this event. • Audio or videotape yourself


praying for your child each year. Include things about the child you are thankful for, character traits to be developed and a blessing for the future.


Raise ‘Em Right!


A product of Raising Yuma 15


Photo by: Bill Butler


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