Happy Birthday, House

Start a new tradition! Give your house a birthday party. Plan it when you have a big cleaning job in mind or just when the family needs a good work project. Once you’ve set a date, be sure to begin preparations early in the month. Call a family council to discuss the clean-up, the party, and the selection of a gift for making the house a nicer place to live.

About a week or two before the party, start with a gigantic clean-up. The children won’t mind washing walls and windows, shampooing carpets, or putting a fresh coat of paint on the woodwork if they know it’s all part of the celebration. Plan to give your yard some extra attention. Trim the hedges, pull a few weeds, or consider putting a fresh coat of paint on the house or the fence.

Make sure the whole family helps to make the decisions on the party. Perhaps you will want to have an open house and invite friends and neighbors. Whatever you decide, let the children help with the refreshments.

The decision for the house gift will probably depend on the family budget and your needs. If funds are limited, there are still numerous possibilities. Perhaps you might take a trip to the fabric store to select some bright material for some new pillows. Or how about a new plaque for the kitchen or a portrait of the family?

In addition to the gift, have each member of the family write down a resolution that he will help make the home a more cheerful place in which to live.

When the celebration ends, you’ll have a cleaner house, a happier family, and a new appreciation for the little space on earth you live in! Candace Smith, Tempe, Arizona