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Actor Mariyam Nafees has offered followers a glimpse into how she marked her son Eesa’s first birthday, and in doing so, inadvertently put together a rather wholesome guide for parents wondering how to make the milestone meaningful.

Instead of a single party or an elaborate themed celebration, Nafees shared a carousel on Instagram documenting a series of moments that stretched across countries, family traditions and small gestures meant to last longer than cake and balloons.

“Our little guy’s first birthday was something we had been planning for a while,” she wrote, explaining that the idea was to create memories Eesa could one day look back on through photos and videos.

Photoshoot

The celebrations began with something very on-brand for the toddler: a birthday photoshoot in the pool. According to Nafees, water has recently become Eesa’s favourite place, so naturally, the family leaned into it.

Travel

But the birthday adventures did not stop there. Nafees revealed that the family also took Eesa to see not one but two new countries — Brazil and Paraguay.

Charity

The more sentimental aspects of the celebration, however, took place closer to home. Eesa’s maternal grandparents, along with other relatives, marked the day at an orphanage, celebrating with children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to do so.

The choice was deliberate. Nafees explained that she and her husband had also hosted their valima at an orphanage, and since then they have tried to mark major occasions by spending them with children who receive little attention or donations. She encouraged followers to consider doing the same whenever possible.

His paternal grandparents also placed a copy of the Holy Quran in a mosque in his name.

Keepsakes

Other gestures focused on preserving memories of Eesa’s first year. His tiny handprints and footprints were taken — a classic keepsake that many parents swear by.

Meaningful, not luxurious gifts

During a visit to Parque das Aves, a bird park in Brazil known for its vibrant wildlife, Eesa’s father picked up a blue macaw soft toy for him, a nod to the colourful birds the family encountered during their tour.

Funds for the future

Nafees also shared that the family is thinking long-term when it comes to their son’s future. Just as they have been investing his birth gifts and Eidi money, they made a contribution in his name on his birthday — another gesture meant to benefit him in the years to come.

Intimate gatherings

Back home in Pakistan, friends of Eesa’s maternal grandmother also marked the occasion during an iftar gathering, ensuring the birthday was celebrated across continents and communities.

The actor ended her post on a grateful note, thanking friends, family and followers for their prayers, messages and calls. “He is truly blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people,” she wrote, asking supporters to continue keeping her son in their prayers.

For parents scrolling through the carousel, the takeaway is simple, a child’s birthday does not have to be a grand party, it can include travel (if one can afford to), charity, and putting money aside for their future.