It’s not a real birthday unless someone gets kidnapped by ninjas.
I met Heidi Montondo and her husband Tim in June at a conference in upstate New York. Ever since hearing about the dreaded condition known as Adultitis, they’ve gone on the offensive. Their most recent adventure was teaming up with their 13-year-old daughter Rachel and dressing up in black to transform into birthday ninjas. Armed with party hats, party blowers, and streamers, they kidnapped Joe, the 16-year-old birthday boy, and absconded to his favorite restaurant. After dinner it was off to bowling, followed by the new frozen yogurt spot.
Sure, you can celebrate a loved one’s birthday by just going out to dinner.
But the extra step of adding ninjas and a good kidnapping turns it into a small rebellion that’s really something special.
We had a Kidnap Breakfast for our oldest son. I made invitations out of letters cut from the newspaper noting the date, time, place, and that it was a surprise. A couple of his buddies showed up at the house while he was asleep, woke him up, blindfolded him, and took him to the breakfast place where the rest of the party-goers waited. It was great fun with the Birthday Boy in a jackent, a tee-shirt, sleep pants and slippers. He was guided into the restaurant and un-blindfolded as we all yelled “surprise!” Instead of cake, we had cinnamon rolls from Cinnabon.
Wow, what a cool kidnapping! What a great inspiration on how to take things to the next level… well done!
I’m sure it was a birthday he’ll never forget!