April first is one of my favorite days of the year. I have always loved having my birthday on April Fool’s Day.

Like anyone else, every year I spend my birthday with friends and family. But this year my birthday didn’t go quite to plan. Due to COVID-19 this year I had a birthday under quarantine, and as much as I love being home. Not even having the option to go out was awful, so I went into my birthday with preconceived notions that it was going to be the worst birthday ever. My mom made sure to prove me wrong.

My favorite part about any birthday is cake. I love baking so for the past 4 years I have made my own cake. Every year my mom offers to make me one or even buy one. But my birthday is never complete without me making my favorite strawberry cake. 

On top of my cake tradition, this year we celebrated my birthday doing four new things I plan on doing every year forward.

The first new tradition was waking up to flowers, lucky charms and sour s’ghetti. My three favorite things. I could go on for days about why sour s’ghetti is the best candy ever created. 

The second new tradition was making homemade pizza for dinner. Pizza is a staple dinner in my house, especially when my dad is cooking. It’s one of the few things he can make, but making it on my birthday was extra special.

The third new tradition was having a  family movie night. Despite my whole family being stuck in one house together, before my birthday we had not had a movie night. And who doesn’t love a good movie night?

The fourth new tradition and quite possibly my favorite was a dance party with my sister. During quarantine I have learned the power in a good dance party. It immediately clears my mind and brings my spirit up. We danced to everything from Elton John to Harry Styles.

In the end my mom did prove me wrong. My birthday this year was one of my favorites to date. It was filled with dance parties, food, and love. This birthday under quarantine has taught me that all you need for a good birthday is love. 

If you have a birthday coming up in the next couple of weeks, don’t worry. It’s probably going to be your best one yet.