Happy Birthday!!

I hope you can allow yourself to do whatever YOU feel like.

I like Echoes idea because it puts you in the drivers seat. If not at your house, how about a trip to a restaurant? Or an activity together with Mom, like a movie or a visit to a park or something. Then maybe the tug won't be so strong at her house.

Echoes reminded me of my favorite birthday memory. Instead of waiting to be disappointed I took matters into my own hands and went out to the market, bought steak and birthday cake and goodies. I invited my husband and kids to my "party." We all had a wonderful time.

My second favorite birthday memory was just this year. We had a normal dinner and birthday cake and then we wrote poetry together at the kitchen table. (Not something the men in my family usually do but I was the birthday girl, so they had to comply!!)

So, I think the answer here is to get into the driver's seat.

Good luck & Happy Birthday.