When Birthday parties were simple

 

When Birthdays Were Simple: From Say Cheese to Selfie Please

A humorous look at childhood parties, family traditions, and how celebrations have changed in the UAE.

Childhood Parties: Simple, Small, and Full of Surprises

Remember your childhood birthday parties—the thrill of guests, the cake, the games, the laughter? Now imagine a simpler time—my birthdays as a child—small, homely affairs, full of surprises that seem quaint today. (Yes, I’m that old!)

Parties were held at home, with about fifteen friends and an adult nearby. They started at 4 pm on a Saturday, no matter the actual birthday. Friends arrived neatly dressed, on time, carrying gifts wrapped in shiny kite paper. Out came the box camera—“Say cheese!”

And the gifts! A “compendium of games” was a staple—Chinese Checkers, Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, and Chess, all in one box. Then there were cricket bats, tennis balls, badminton rackets, shirts, socks, and vests. I hated the clothes gifts—three white vests! Who on earth wanted that for a birthday? I remember, as a child, throwing them on the bed in a temper, calling the giver a fool. I was promptly chided. I probably wore one to school the next day.

The best gift I ever received was a carrom board. I played for years and became quite a champion. Once, my grandfather bought me an air gun. I came home thrilled—until my mother saw it. She nearly fainted. The gun was confiscated and “kept safely” until I was older. I never saw it again.

Games were the highlight—musical chairs, I Spy, Seven Tiles, Kings, and the khoi bag. For those unfamiliar, it was a paper bag stuffed with puffed rice, confetti, whistles, coins, and toys, tied to a fan or ceiling hook. When it burst, there was a wild scramble. I crawled on all fours, trying not to pick up anything, frustrated as friends collected it all.

The cake was usually baked at home. There were sandwiches, chips, patties, and plenty of orange squash—no ice for me, thanks to tonsillitis. By eight o’clock, the party was over. Everyone went home happy, and so did I.

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Birthday Parties for My Daughters

Fast forward a generation: when my daughters arrived, birthday parties had a very different rhythm. They joined in the planning, chose the themes, and insisted on printed invitations—about thirty guests. The cake came from a bakery, often shaped like a doll or castle. There were balloons, lights, and music from cassettes chosen days in advance. Adults sat indoors chatting while the children played on the terrace. There were return gifts, and the evening ended with dinner for close friends.

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Modern UAE Parties: Glamour, Gadgets, and Selfies

Today, in the UAE, parties have gone to another level. There are parties on dhows, in fancy resorts, or themed venues. Planning starts weeks in advance. Venues and DJs are booked. Stretch limos may arrive. Parents are often not invited. Clothes swing to extremes—either scruffy casual or head-to-toe designer labels.

Fast food and fizzy drinks flow freely. Cake is optional. Music is loud, tuneless, and impossible to dance to traditionally, yet the kids sway, spin, and perform acrobatics while glued to their phones—snapping, uploading, and livestreaming every moment.

Phones dominate every party. Candles barely blown out before every smile is snapped, filtered, and uploaded—duck faces, peace signs, sparkles… all in a race for likes. And what’s with pushing a person’s face into the cake? We didn’t do such things—it would have been unimaginable!

Gifts today are mostly PlayStations, electronics, or cash. Anything else would be met with polite horror. The munch—the endless snacks and treats—costs a small fortune.

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A Message to Parents

I don’t want to play spoil-sport—parties must be fun! But all this glamour comes at a price. Children often feel pressured to “compete” with friends, and parents aren’t immune. They don’t want to disappoint their kids, and the credit card bill is probably through the roof! Some children even feel left out or depressed if their party doesn’t measure up.

As parents, it’s worth pausing. Celebrations are meant to be joyful, not stressful. Focus on love, laughter, and togetherness. The gifts, the venue, the tech—they’re just icing on the cake.

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Looking Ahead

The contrast is striking: from small home parties with board games, homemade cakes, and family warmth, to orchestrated, high-tech, adult-free events. Yet the joy of being celebrated, the excitement of friends and gifts, and the laughter remain timeless.

Ten years from now? Fully virtual? Underwater? In augmented reality universes? I wouldn’t be surprised. But one thing, I hope, never changes: the sheer joy of being celebrated, surrounded by laughter and love.

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Planting Seeds of Peace . How Classrooms Can Raise a Generation of Hope

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Planting Seeds of Peace: How Classrooms Can Raise a Generation of Hope

In a world filled with conflict and chaos, the greatest weapon against violence may be found in the hands of a teacher in a classroom.

The world today seems unrecognizable. From wars in one region to conflicts in another, from domestic shootings to the surge in nuclear weapons testing, violence fills our news. Countries race to build more weapons, and the possibility of global destruction feels closer than ever. The sense of fear and uncertainty touches every corner of the globe, leaving ordinary people anxious about the future.

Over the decades, it sometimes feels as if nations are ready to take the law into their own hands. “Might is right” seems to be the guiding principle. Treaties are signed, conferences held, promises made — yet it only takes a man or two in a moment of madness to do the unthinkable. The world feels fragile; sanity hangs by a thread, and the scale of human suffering continues to rise.

Lately, the tone of international talk is chilling. The way countries boast about new nuclear tests, advanced missiles, and deadlier arms — “anything you can do, I can do better” — is frightening. When will this madness cease? What will it take for humanity to realize that escalation only brings more grief?

And still, the victims remain the same. Children go hungry, small hands clutching empty bowls. Mothers bury their sons, faces etched with disbelief and sorrow. Families grieve for loved ones whose only crime was being born in the wrong place. Soldiers fight battles they barely understand, caught between orders and confusion. Headlines change, debates shift — but grief remains universal, persistent, and deeply human.

More violence. More senseless deaths. More innocent lives lost. The cycle seems endless, and yet, we must find a way to break it.

Anyone with an ounce of wisdom will tell you — this is not rocket science. More security, more sanctions, more armies will not solve this. The only way forward is to focus on the human mind — to teach, to nurture, to enlighten. Education is humanity’s most powerful weapon, offering a path out of the darkness.

We must catch children young. Teach them to think, to question, to see the shared humanity in every person — even those labelled as enemies. Schools and classrooms are where hope begins. Teachers shape understanding, empathy, and reason. Through education, children can learn the cost of violence, the value of life, and the meaning of peace. They learn that words, dialogue, and compassion are stronger than any missile or gun.

Imagine a classroom anywhere in the world where children from different backgrounds learn together. Lessons are not only in math and science but in dialogue, understanding, and compassion. A teacher shows that war brings grief, planting tiny seeds of hope that may one day grow. This is how we build a world beyond violence, one classroom at a time, one mind at a time.

Better schools. Better classrooms. Better teachers. Awareness programs that teach conflict resolution, compassion, and global understanding. These are not lofty ideals — they are urgent necessities. Education is the armor that shields humanity from itself, giving future generations the tools to choose peace over war.

The guns, the wars, the nuclear arms race — they will not vanish overnight. Conflicts are complex, involving many nations and interests; no single party can claim absolute blame. All sides must come to the table, all voices must be heard, and solutions must be sought with patience, wisdom, and a genuine commitment to humanity.

This is not something one man, or one country playing “Godfather,” can solve. It requires global commitment: dialogue, collaboration, and a readiness to listen. Practical steps are within reach — investing in education, promoting peace programs, supporting humanitarian aid, tackling poverty and hunger, and helping young people learn empathy, tolerance, and global citizenship.

Stop the blame game. Stop endless political debates that change nothing for the people who suffer. Instead, act where you can. Teach your children to value life and understanding. Support schools that nurture empathy and critical thinking. Demand that leaders prioritize dialogue over weapons. Encourage communities to solve conflicts peacefully. Volunteer, donate, speak, and most importantly — educate.

Education is not just a tool — it is our path to sanity, our path to peace, our path to love. If each of us — teachers, parents, citizens — commits to raising minds that think, question, and care, we can begin to change the course of history. Start today. Teach, nurture, and insist on understanding. The future depends on it.

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