Birthday cake

It is a very old post but the feeling is still the same a year later...

 In this world, there are two kinds of mothers: the kind that bakes a cake for their child's birthday, and the kind that buys a cake. I am the later.

I can bake a decent cake, I can even make a relatively good apple and walnut cake, and if I try a little, my pineapple upside down cake is good enough. However for some reason, I can never make the perfect cupcakes and my brownies always come out dry. The first time I baked anything was for my 16 birthday party. My parents told me that I was free to host a birthday party as long as I took care of everything myself. Therefore I did bake a cake from scratch; I even beat the flour by hand because there was no power to use the mixer. The cake turned out great against all odds. I did some baking after that but I never considered myself to be an excellent one. And for that only, I never bake anything for my child's birthday.

What I do or what we do with my husband is going to a bakery we like and picking up a cake for a decent price. For my son's first birthday we had a cake from the Cheese cake factory my child could not care less about. I barely remember what we had for his second birthday, probably a similar cake from the same place. For his 3rd birthday, he was spoiled with three decadent cakes, one from my parents, one from my in laws and one from my husband (and two parties). For his 4th, we picked up a cake at HEB. And for his 5th, we had our favorite chocolate cake from a bakery in Yokohama (the same cake I had for my birthday and my other son's birthday as well. Yes we love that cake). I was never really disappointed with all the birthday cakes my son had and judging from the pictures, a part from his first birthday party, he was pretty happy with them as well. But sometimes I am thinking that he would be even happier if I can make a cake from scratch that is as great looking as this or as fun as this. He would see that his mother tried and did her best to make him a unique birthday cake, a tasty birthday cake that he will never forget (or at least I will have thousands of pictures to remind him of it).

I attended several birthday parties in the past, and most of them the Mother did bake the cake herself. Some had pictures of the kid in them, some were shaped like trains. I even have a girlfriend who makes amazing cakes every month during the first year of each of her children to celebrate their monthversary. Needless to say that I hate her. Those mothers are the kind of mothers who try, who will do their best to please their children. And it shows. But I am not that kind of mothers. It is not that I will not do my best to please my children. No. Last year for my first born birthday, I invited 15 of his friends, had a banner, balloons, made hot dogs and pizza (that the kids barely ate), and even hired a magician. No, for his happiness I would do anything and everything. But I know my limits. I know that there are less risks when it comes to buying a cake. Baking is just too tricky. What if it does not turn out to be the way I want? What if it does not taste as great? I will break in sweat just thinking about it. Buying is just hassle free. It is just another thing that makes the life of a mother easier. So why fret?

My son's 6th birthday is coming up soon. I had made plans to have another party but with more adults, less kids and no magician. I have been checking websites for ideas on what to do. And sometimes I just wished I was in the States so I could pick stuff from the party supply store (I love that place). But I am in Japan so I will check the Daiso 100 yen store again for party essentials and party favors. I want my son to have an original cake this year but I am not ready to bake it myself. What will I do? I have ideas: go to a special bakery and order an original cake (which may cost me an arm and a leg) or ask my dear friend (the same ones who makes cakes every month during the 1st year of each of her children) to bake me one. Either way, it has to be unforgettable (in a good way).