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Dear readers,

As all parents know, there is a state of emergency at least once a year, at least when the children are of nursery and primary school age. Later on, the celebrations don't get any quieter, but parental involvement is rather undesirable. So it was that time again for us, the youngest offspring was starting a new year of life, which of course had to be celebrated appropriately. Once on the actual birthday in a small circle. It goes without saying that mum bakes cakes for the nursery late into the night. The good thing about it: it was a Friday and the nursery didn't finish the cake, so the neighbours on the landing stage also got a slice in the afternoon. A perfect start to the weekend!

So far, so good. But the real event comes when the friends are invited. Not only do they have to make a new cake, they also have to work out a programme. This time, Dad is also more challenged, as a treasure hunt is on the agenda. So, during the lunch break, they scout out the area for the search and in the evening they work out possible riddles. It's fun for the grown-ups too, especially when you can already see the excited gang solving the tasks in your mind's eye.

Then comes the day of days. The youngest is as jittery as dad at the starting line and naturally infects the rest of the family crew. In the afternoon, the garden is boarded by a handful of pirates, the cake is eaten, the riddles are solved, the treasure is retrieved and there is lots of laughter and games. Finally, one by one, the little guests are collected by their parents, which causes a great deal of hilarity. Then silence returns - or rather, it falls. The sound level suddenly drops by 20 decibels. In short, an all-round successful afternoon.

Nevertheless, the topic of children's birthdays regularly prompts us to convene a family council. This happens whenever we receive an invitation from a friend's birthday child whose party has been planned for a summer weekend.

Maybe word hasn't got round among landlubbers yet, but as a sailor you don't have time at weekends during the season. At least that's how our boys see it. And to be honest, I find it hard to disagree with them. Nevertheless, as a parent you always have a guilty conscience when the children's social contacts, which have already been shaken by corona, are affected so that mum and dad can sail. That's why it's us parents who convene the family council to discuss how to deal with the invitation. This is sometimes met with a lack of understanding from the offspring and is countered with comments like this: "But, Dad, if I go there, I can't sail in the dinghy."

That's right, you think at such moments and immediately feel guilty again. Shouldn't you say: "No problem, we'll just go to the boat later and we'll manage the dinghy sailing too"? In fact, the son is right. The party on Saturday afternoon ruins any trip planning. Our highlight so far: a children's birthday party on Whit Sunday. It seriously makes you wonder whether the parents might not want any guests at all. In any case, we've been sailing and consistently organise our parties on weekdays or in the winter.

Hauke Schmidt,

YACHT editor

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