Far-away Birthdays - How Can We Help our Kids Celebrate?
For any of us with college students, how to celebrate their birthday when they’re away from home is a big, often-discussed topic. When all we really want to do is cook them their favorite meal and give them a big hug, what can we do when we’re too far away to do just that.
Our twins’ birthdays are December 24th, which brings its own challenges, but means they’re always at home for their birthday. But that makes them a little sad because they are unable to celebrate with their college friends. Luckily, my girls’ friends celebrate them in early December, before they head home for the holidays.
What can we, as parents, do to make our kids’ birthdays even more special when they’re on campus, or otherwise away from home?
On most campuses, there are businesses, often mom-owned like mine, that will hand deliver a cake, cupcakes or cookies directly to your student, sometimes with balloons or a teddy bear. (I don’t hand deliver though – I ship.) There are also bigger companies, like Tiff’s Treats or Insomnia Cookies, that will also deliver directly to your student on campus.
At the College Care Package Company, we have Birthday boxes that include microwave mug cakes (specifically important to those in dorms who only have microwaves), a special mug, with the saying THIS IS MY BIRTHDAY CAKE, to make them in, with a lot of other birthday cake flavored surprises. We also include 4 tiny, wrapped boxes with trinkets, or always-appreciated cash, inside. I’ve sent cash for the birthday kids to take a friend to their own birthday dinner, with enough money left over for some ice cream for dessert.
You can let us do the work, or you can put a package together yourself. But shipping means you must think ahead.
Another option is to coordinate with your student’s roommate or another group of friends to surprise them with balloons and goodies sent (or at least ordered) from home. Most friends are more than happy to help make their friends’ birthdays fun and exciting.
You should also join your student’s Class of 20XX Parents, or State Parents Facebook pages. I’ve joined both of my daughters Class of 2026 Parents pages, as well as the Texas Parents pages. I’ve seen a lot of posts about how to have personal deliveries made to students, with tons of great advice.
And shout out to the Care Packages 4 Our Kiddos Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/300238597955107), and also Grown & Flown Parents (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1506637529662997). Follow them both now. There’s always someone on one of those sites who can help with an early-planned or last-minute gift idea.
Of course, you can always contact us at the College Care Package Company. We’ll send something out to surprise your student right away, or whenever it’s needed. Our Birthday boxes are one of our most popular boxes, for both guys and girls. And we even have a 21st birthday box for that special milestone.