@marinelife Maybe you should try celebrating birthday month also? Some of my closer friends remember on new years day it’s my month, and they ask what special things I am going to do, and wish me a happy birthday month. I think it’s easier for them to remember on New Years than a couple of days after. My husband goes along with all sorts of things I want to do during that month. Last weekend we went kayaking for the first time. I don’t feel any pressure to go out on a Wednesday night if my birthday falls on that day, the weekend is fine. Even the weekend in the middle of the month is fine. I go shopping after the crowds are done and treat myself to some new things. I buy a couple things for my husband for my borthday too sometimes. I try to plan a trip during January, even if the trip isn’t going to actually happen in January. Kind of my month to list all my wants and fun things and feel entitled.
I do like all the phone calls I get on my actual birthday (usually around 5 or 6) and the texts (another 3 or 4) and all the facebook posts (probably over 50, but I barely know some of them). I remember thebfirst year I joined facebook I didn’t know about the birthday wishes and it was amazing to see all the well wishes flood in.
When I was little my family never forgot my birthday and we didn’t celebrate Christmas so that was less of a big deal. I can understand why getting birthday gifts wrapped in Christmas paper would be disappointing. Chanukah was more of the disappointing day(s) compared to Christmas. Also, Chanukah quickly became a money holiday as I got older, not so much a girft wrapped present holiday. We did go back to school on my birthday quite often, so I know how that feels. I don’t think any of my friends or teachers realized it was my birthday. I don’t remember them acknowledging it if they did. My mom stopped doing birthday parties after age 8, so I never perceived my lack of parties and multiple gifts as a Christmas thing, but rather my mom not wanting to bother thing. As I got older I realized my friends had trouble remembering my birthday because of the timing.
@ibstubro I understand people are low on cash around Christmas, but seriously, the birthday is not a surprise expense because your car broke down. The birthday is known all year long. I really don’t understand not having the money for the birthday gift just because it is December or January. I am not talking about the sweet thing you did for your sibling, I mean parents. Parents have no excuse. Especially if they have more than one kid and it is obvious the June child gets better gifts and the wrapping paper has bright colors and balloons on it and the Christmas kid doesn’t.