The Birthday Rule

We had a wonderful birthday breakfast with Zoe on the 7th. Birthdays are anticipated by everyone in the family as we all love the morning festivities. This year, however, Zoe was so excited about her birthday that she began celebrating the day after Christmas. What I mean by that is she declared herself certain privileges each day since her birthday was coming up. "I get the first bagel, since it's my birthday. I get to pick the color bowl I want, since it's my birthday. I get to go first, since it's my birthday." And on it went. Emily, bless her heart, finally could take no more and told her, "When it is your birthday, you can take your toys upstairs and play with them, but that's it. Your birthday will be over." It was so funny, but Emily was on to something. Thus, our new family rule....When you fall asleep the evening of your birthday, your birthday is officially over. Yes, it is actually a rule, now. And it worked beautifully.