Happy Tenth Birthday, Isla!
Every year, my daughter requests a homemade card for her birthday.
It must include a word game, and it must be at least as good as last year’s.
Every year, in the run up to the special day, I ride the emotional roller coaster from — “What’s wrong with Hallmark?” — to — “Hmmm, this might work . . .” — to — “Eureka! I can’t wait to crack out the felt tips and glue!!”
A non-extendable deadline, and an expectant smile are a great spur to the imagination.
This time around, I took my inspiration from Boggle.
I re-purposed a small jewelry box and glued it to a piece of folded card stock.
Fortunately, the jewelry box tied up with a ribbon. In a pinch, I could have made do with a small envelope instead.
Then I cut up some card stock into small squares and drew letters on them. I checked first to make sure they’d spell out some quintessential Isla-flavoured adjectives.
The card reads:
Open the box, and use the letters to make words about isla!
Even better — take turns with a friend. The last one to come up with a word wins!
Happy birthday!!!
We love you!
Xx – Mum, Dad & Ally
After she opened her card, we took it in turns to make Isla words.
“This is also a spelling test isn’t it?” she queried.
Rumbled! Shame I didn’t include the right letters to spell out, “Getting Savvy.”
So – another birthday, another challenge completed.
Homemade card?
Check.
Word game?
Check.
As good as last year’s?
According to Isla: “Mum! You’ve outdone yourself!”
(That may be a line from Malory Towers, but I soaked it up, all the same.)
Looks like I’ve raised the bar.
I wonder if ten-going-on-eleven year olds still want homemade cards. 
Postscript: Isla’s twelfth birthday brought a Wordle card, with links to customized Wordles I made using The Word Finder Wordle Maker. I didn’t understand the Worldwide Wordle addiction until then. Now, I’m on board. So this has been a gift to us both, as we now bond over the daily Wordle puzzle.
No comments yet.