I remember birthdays. I can’t remember significant historical dates to save my life, but if I’ve ever found out your birthday, chances are that I’ll never forget it. I also like to make a Big Deal out of birthdays. Not by spending a lot of money on presents or planning big parties or doing anything fancy; just by doing little things to make people feel special.

I think Oliver, who takes after me in every other way, has this in his genes too.

My mother’s birthday is October 12, which just so happened to be Grandparents Day at Oliver’s preschool. He was so excited about GRANDMA AND GRANDPA COMING TO HIS SCHOOL!!!!1!! that he could barely eat breakfast that morning. My parents had a total blast watching the class talk about the sun and moon, work with different learning tools (Oliver picked the thousands abacus that day), and sing songs during music class (apparently my Former Painfully Shy Kid really belts it out!). One of the teachers took pictures of each child with their grandparents, and all the kids and grandparents decorated picture frames together to later use for the pictures. (MY DAD USED A GLUE STICK. I don’t think my dad ever used a glue stick before! heh) When I picked him up later that day, Oliver said, “Mommy, I want ALL the days to be Grandparents Day!” So all in all, it was awesome, and my mom said it was a Perfect Birthday. I am grateful that my parents are healthy and able to do things like this, and it means the world to me, seeing how much my son loves being with them and vice versa.

But to top it off, there was today.

George and I were attending a memorial service for the wife of a friend (a former college professor), and my mom was watching Oliver and Andrew at her house when my sister and her husband stopped over. My mom wanted to cut the birthday cake I had baked for her and send a couple pieces home with my sister before she left, but Oliver stopped her: “Wait, Grandma, before you take a bite…!” Then he stunned everyone by CLIMBING UP ON A CHAIR and SINGING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HER. All by himself.

Yeah. She cried.

He helped me make the cake on Friday, and when he asked to have a piece afterward, I told him we had to save it for Saturday and sing Happy Birthday to Grandma first. But I would have never expected him to THINK of singing to her on his own, let alone actually SING by himself, and I am incredibly proud of him. HE’S MY SON, this thoughtful four year old boy. And he gave my mom The Absolute Best Birthday Gift Ever.

He’s already talking about singing Happy Birthday to Andrew in a couple weeks. I don’t know if my heart can take it.