Tanishk's Birthday 2012

13 May. That was the day when Tanishk was born 6 years before. That was also the day when my mother was born. And this day was very special this year, because this day was also mother's day for 2012. 

Tanishk is now 6 years old. When his birthday was near we were wondering that how should we celebrate it this year, I went through last year's experience. I tried to analyze differences between him as of today and one year before. I was surprised to see that there was no major change. 

Tanishk still doesn't understand the concept of birthday. He wasn't excited much. But he has attended more birthdays at school and at other places. So, he knows only birthday means - cake, candle blowing, cutting the cake and eating the cake. He wasn't excited much about his birthday & celebrations.

Definitely, he has improved academically. He has skills of reading, writing, math, story comprehension, coloring, cutting and pasting, etc. And he is now more understanding and more aware of the environment. He has become more manipulative too. But his vocal stimming (scripting) and sensory issues are same. His social aspect is same. He is not interested in others until unless he is going to get any favorite reward. He has not any concept of getting and giving gifts. He is also not comfortable in crowds.

So, I thought we should celebrate his birthday in such a way that he is comfortable and more aware of the events. This time, I made this as a family event. I just called his grandparents and aunt for his birthday. I showed him excitement about his birthday. I kept telling him that we will celebrate his birthday and I will bake a special cake for him. I also told him that his grandparents and aunt will come. He is comfortable with them.

We decorated our living room a little bit to feel there is a special day. We let him to enjoy in bath tub. He wore new clothes. We arranged our dining table for food. He was aware that something special is there. He was not demanding any gadgets. But still, he wasn't talking much.

When his grandparents and aunt came, he was happy. His grandmother gave him a gift, but he was not behaving properly. I prompted him to take the gift and say "Thank you". I prompted him to open the gift and see what was there. I showed him excitement to encourage him. It was shirt and pant. I told him to say "Thank you dadi (grandmother), it's a nice shirt." He wore it when I prompted him. The best part of all that was, he wasn't resisting at all.

I had baked the GFCF nut vanilla cake and decorated it like an angry bird face. I bake two cakes - yellow and white. I layered the cakes with some pink buttercream frosting in between. I cut the cakes in shape of angry bird. I spread pink & yellow buttercream frosting on the top and sides of the cake. Then I used green sprinklez for eyebrows, apple and walnuts for eyes, gfcf wafer for nose.

GFCF Angry Bird Cake

We lit the candles on the cake and told him to blow the candles. He was nervous and upset while blowing the candles. His little brother Tanay was also trying to low the candles. But none was able to do that. At last, I blew the candles. Tanishk cut the cake and ate the cake. He liked it very much and asked for more cake.

I told Tanay to give gift to Tanishk and say "Happy Birthday". He was more excited than Tanishk. He gave it to Tanishk. Then we prompted Tanishk to say thanks and open the gift. It was his favorite cookies.

I was happy that I didn't let him get lost on his birthday like last year and I am hoping to do same to keep him connected with every one of us. :)