Today one of my sons turned 24 so I bought him a pair of wind up teeth

I put them into a happy birthday box that I bought at a discount store for $1.50 and added some chocolate and card with a heart felt message of love and best wishes. It cost just over $10.

I expect he would have preferred money.

but I don’t have any.

It reminded me of a time years ago when he was just a baby. My ex and I were living apart for a bit, and I went to stay in a house my mother owned with the three boys. There was no extra money and no TV or so I spent hours on the beach with the boys and we made our own fun.

There have only been a few times in my life when I have not had enough money for extras and yet I remember that Christmas as one of my favourites. There were no luxuries, no plastic toys, and no huge feasts; just me and my little family. I even made decorations out of plastic meat trays and photos.

I am not sure how I will remember this year. Even though it has been almost two years since my ex and I separated, the boys are still coming to terms with the new arrangements. I am not working and two of my boys finish work today and have no job to go to. It could be an unhappy time …. But it’s not.

Tonight we will make a nice dinner and tomorrow the boys are going to a family fancy dress birthday with their dad.

It may have only been a $10 birthday but I am sure it was a much better day for me and my family than it was for the people who live in developing countries and make the items we can buy so cheaply. 
It is such a privilege to live in Australia. I love it here.