When Celebrities & Community Inspire - Normalizing The Quarantine Birthday

By Dave Mendoza

As families practice social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, kids are dealing with disappointment over canceled trips, school events, sports seasons and more. For children celebrating their birthdays in the coming weeks and months, the absence of a fun party with friends may also be a letdown.

Our daughter, Siena Blue, had a tough two years in a row; experiencing a traumatic divorce and then the early closure of school the following year and cancellation of her a theatre production that she anticipated with a lead role as an aspiring actress

Of course, parents are prioritizing health and safety right now, but just because we all have to stay home for a while doesn’t mean kids can’t have memorable birthday celebrations. Several online ideas are as relevant and worthy for families, be it online blogger, Passionate Penny Pincher offering her own "11 Quarantine Birthday Party Ideas for Kids (& Adults Too!)" or Mother Mag's "How to Throw a Kid’s Birthday Party in Quarantine."

Our daughter just celebrated her 14th birthday last week. We thought it was going to be a bit of a letdown having her birthday during quarantine, but thanks to our local community organization, Dad's of Castle Rock (DoCR) and the surprising response of my daughter's favorite celebrities ingenuity on behalf of others remains ever present. Amid the global Covid crisis and its prevailing "new normal" of families observing a long list of limitations placed on everyday life, parents can still endeavor to make powerful memories with creativity and a bit of audacity perchance.

In my case, it was personally uplifting as a dad, and as a human being, no less, to learn worthy role models in the celebrity world do indeed exist. When combined with support within our town of Castle Rock with a drive-by of dad's honking cheering and gift bags a video birthday greeting lifted our daughter's spirits I relished the broad smile of my daughter and I took pride, not in my own part in making her day - but rather what strangers, loose associations and others would do for a child.

Conroe Brooks, cast member of the Broadway sensation, Hamilton offered a lovely serenade to Siena and spoke to lift her inspiration to continue her focus in theatre and to achieve her life long ambitions. Siena was beside herself, as were her theatre friends as they watched his very personal approach to recognizing not simply a day in the calendar - but her dreams.

Siena Blue is a huge fan of Buzzfeed celebrity Ryan Bergara. Her dad managed to connect with Ryan and, what a terrific guy her celebrity hero turned out to be, indeed! Mr. Bergara generously gave a personalized "Happy Birthday" video greeting to Siena. I love celebrities who show their fans they are approachable and return the love!

Ryan Bergara is one of the two main co-hosts for BuzzFeed Unsolved along with Shane Madej. He believes in ghosts and other paranormal forces strongly, and fans that believe as well are called Boogaras. After building their careers as internet personalities at BuzzFeed, Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej have since launched Watcher Entertainment.

Covid has been a global economic and healthcare disaster with an unparalleled impact on the lives and financial status of billions. With the daily reminders of a vicious timeline with no end or relief yet confirmed, it is important that my small, insignificant tale offers a brief respite. The message is clear, that the human experience prevails in adversity. Moreover, that strangers unite in a manner we all forget; that in gestures of the generosity of time and spirit we offer more to humanity than in common desires of material aspects. We recall when technology became an excuse from in-person offerings of warmth and consideration with actual calories expended in efforts on behalf of others versus mundane clicks and the obvious disconnect. When we all offer kindness we can tale solace of personal gifting to ourselves, and when kindness resurrects itself and makes headlines within a daily media too often lacking and obscuring hope we need.