Reason for celebration

Shortly after the news came that Kyle, one of our youngest playgroup kids, had been seriously injured in an accident, there was lots of discussion about what we could do to help.  The family was shuttling back and forth to the hospital so meals would have to wait, and relatives had flown in to help take care of the older boy Teo so we couldn't offer babysitting.  When I heard that Teo's birthday would be coming up just a week after the accident and the family wasn't sure they could go ahead with the planned birthday party at the park, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to step in and do something. And boy, did we. This playgroup has been the best thing that's happened to me as a mom, and it felt like we were all seeing it take on a new role. It was a go-to organizing machine with offers to bring everything we needed to the party and then some. We also had amazing help from family friend Ma Yan and neighbors Lindsey and Guy.  The biggest obstacle to our planning the birthday festivities was the will-it-or-won't-it-rain weather. But in the end, it didn't.  And the park was the perfect spot to enjoy an early summer evening among friends.

There was pizza and cupcakes, watermelon and cake.  There were sack races and parachute games.  There were puppets and a clown, and a piñata bursting with candy.  The kids ate and ran like they always do at these things. And us parents huddled around the tables enjoying the setting sun with good company.  I'm not sure Teo will remember this birthday party when he's older. And I really hope by next May this family has many more reasons to celebrate with both their boys in the park. But in the meantime, it's a wonderful feeling to know there are so many helping hands and warm hearts that are there waiting to come together and help. Sometimes in this city, you can feel awfully alone without family nearby, but not here. Not in Sunnyside. It's times like this you realize that "family" isn't just the kind you grew up with. If you're lucky, you get to make your own and sometimes friends are the best family you can have.