Being stuck inside has its ups and downs, and a big downside rears its head when birthdays roll around. Put simply, we need to find ways to celebrate birthdays differently. While these celebrations can be disappointing, adults at least understand why in-person parties need to be called off.
For children, it’s a different story.
Aria of Niverville turned six years old on March 31, an occasion which her parents, Joanne Fullerton and Damien Delfino, had been planning for since February.
“[The party] was going to be in the multipurpose room in the arena,” Fullerton explains. “Aria was counting down the days. Then the pandemic started and, not knowing what to expect or the seriousness of it all, we waited to see if we should cancel.”
By March 17, shortly after the Manitoba government declared that schools would be shutting down, the couple decided to cancel the party. For Aria, it was a big disappointment.
Since moving to Niverville a few years ago, the family has made many connections with new friends—and with the help of those friends, the couple decided to throw a different kind of party.
“Some of her friends left gifts on the doorstep throughout the day and Aria would wave from the window,” Fullerton says.
Aria’s four-year-old younger brother Daxton, along with her parents, celebrated by playing games, making crafts, spending time outside, and video-chatting with her two adult brothers who live in Winnipeg.
“Normally the [older boys] come out every other weekend and the little kids absolutely love it when they do,” adds Fullerton. “[The kids] keep asking when their brothers are coming, and not knowing what to tell them has been tough.”
The day of Aria’s birthday turned out well, and it was capped off by a birthday parade. Close friends of the family made signs and decorated their vehicles with birthday paraphernalia.
“It was really something special, and of course I teared up realizing how blessed we are,” says Fullerton. “Thanks to the amazing friends we’ve made in Niverville, her birthday ended up being one to remember.”