Smash Cake

When I announced an invitation to a baby's first birthday party, my daughter looked truly perplexed.  "How old was the baby last year if this is his first birthday?", she asked.  "Was he a Zero?" The simple question made me ponder on why the first birthday is a big deal. No one celebrates a zero ... sounds like nothing has been achieved (we know that's NOT true).  The number one is a whole different story. It holds tremendous value.  A 'first' of everything is really special.  First inventor, first place in a competition, first baby, first tooth, first steps.... and of course a first birthday. A first birthday marks a special beginning that holds the hope and wishes of many more to come.  Besides, no one wants to celebrate a zero, unless several of them come after a numero uno dressed in the color green.

Many parents are hesitant in 'wasting' a whole cake on the birthday child to play with.  Hence the discovery of the "smash cake": a small cake that the child can have and (s)mash around (gleefully).  Here's wishing one-derful Aashneel many happy returns on his special day.  May his cheeky grin continue to warm our hearts in the years to come.