My birthday falls right in the middle of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Every year, my family and friends use this as an excuse not to help me celebrate my birthday. Although I understand it is a busy time of year, it hurts my feelings that I get put on the back burner. I cannot remember the last time I received a birthday gift. How do I get my friends and family to understand how bad I feel when they over look my birthday?
2007-12-04 16:20:08 · 18 answers · asked by foxygoldcleo 4 in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
choose a day in the middle of nothing else, and declare it your alternate birthday day - and host your first mid-year birthday party, invite your friends and family, and tell them you have chosen to celebrate your birthday on a day that's not so hectic, and hopefully they'll get the hint and carry it on! You could also hand out small calendars in loot bags like your parents did when you were small, and note your alternate birthday date in there, so people will know when it is the following year! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :-)
2007-12-04 16:24:54 · answer #1 · answered by Fluff S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a question that I ask about before my daughter was born. She was due right around Christmas - although she was born December 1.
The overwhelming response was to treat her birthday as something separate from Christmas and other holidays. I make sure that every year she gets a birthday present and a Christmas present - and the birthday present is not wrapped in Christmas paper.
I don't know how you can change your family, aside from telling them how you feel. Or maybe you can make a point by not giving birthday presents one year an then have the Christmas gifts say "Happy Birthday/Merry Christmas". It sounds harsh, but your family is being very inconsiderate of you by not treating your birthday as a special event.
Another suggestion is to ask them to throw you a birthday party in June so that it's not surrounded by the holidays.
2007-12-05 00:26:23 · answer #2 · answered by Justin H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My birthday falls on December 23, so I know where you're coming from. It always seems like no one is around on the actual day to celebrate, and if they are, they are really distracted. People get very anxious and sometimes even a little mean during the holidays, with so much to worry about-- it can be a stressful time. Unfortunately, it takes a little push for some people to realize that by ignoring something, they are hurting someone's feelings. The best thing that you can do is to treat your friends and family with respect and consideration-- step one of that is letting them know how you feel.
Good luck to you :) and Happy Birthday.
2007-12-05 00:27:12 · answer #3 · answered by M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe throw yourself your own birthday dinner. Don't call it an actual party, because then it sounds totally selfish, as if you are telling everybody that you want gifts. Ask people if they would be interested in going out to dinner on your birthday just to celebrate your birthday. Have them RSVP. Be grateful if only a few show up. Make a reservation at your favorite restaurant and eat and talk. Don't expect them to pay for your meal, although they might. But just in case they don't, then make sure you can pay for your own meal. Maybe emphasize in the invitation that they don't have to bring gifts. Or maybe host the event at your house and have a movie and cake night. Be the host of your own birthday. It beats sitting around by yourself.
If nobody comes, then start your own tradition. Do something either with one other person or just by yourself. Go to your favorite store and buy yourself something you like (don't go into debt doing this!) and then eat your favorite meal and go to a movie or rent a movie. As long as you are not sitting around the house, staring out a window, crying and saying, Why me? Why me?
Move forward. Be careful to not be selfish and expect things of everybody. Try to be humble and make the best of the situation. Move forward, even if your family and friends decide to not interact with you. If that is the case, then move forward and do something fun or peaceful just for yourself, and make it an annual treat. Good luck! And happy birthday!
2007-12-05 00:31:29 · answer #4 · answered by Zippy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just tell them. Open communication lines are key. Say something like, "Guys, I know this is a really busy time of year, and you're already buying a bunch of gifts for Christmas, but it really hurts my feelings when my birthday gets overlooked year after year. I'm not asking for a bunch of presents, but I would really love it if we could do something special to celebrate."
My birthday is on Halloween. Not the same thing, but you'd be surprised how often I get passed over. I feel your pain.
2007-12-05 00:24:57 · answer #5 · answered by Noelia 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can throw yourself a birthday party, and make sure that people bring gifts!! Provide alcohol/party gifts and that way people will bring feel obliged to bring you presents. My birthday was the day before thanksgiving and some of my close friends forgot to wish me a happy birthday...but did a few days later :) It is definitely a busy time of the year (if not the busiest) and it's understandable that people are busy...but make sure that you are a priority and no matter waht enjoy your birthday! :)
2007-12-05 00:26:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know how that feels. It's not much fun to get Birthday/Christmas presents. I'd have to go with the idea of having a party either earlier or later in the year. Good luck. (Happy Birthday!)
2007-12-05 00:33:46 · answer #7 · answered by Jesus Freak 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same thing applies to me, so I've generally tried to make the day less important to me...sort of. I'll usually celebrate a portion of the month moreso than the actual day. Presents aren't that important to me, but hearing "Happy Birthday" from people that are close to me is important to me. And I get rather irritable when they forget (and they certainly do). It's likely our birthdays are never going to be as significant to others as they are to us because everyone else is preoccupied with holiday preparations. So I recommend two things just for us (and people like us): celebrate whenever we can squeeze it in into the month, and make it a point to spoil ourselves conspicuously on whatever day we choose to be our celebratory day. Obviously December 25th is out. Good luck, and Happy Birthday!
2007-12-05 00:32:20 · answer #8 · answered by Captain S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a couple of friends who have their birthday on 25th December & I always make special note to say "happy birthday" before I say "merry christmas"! Your birthday is your special day, it's a shame when people are too absorbed in the other celebrations to remember you!
I got Valentines Day... =o)
2007-12-05 01:24:02 · answer #9 · answered by Jen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either start celebrating it in may or let your family know in a nice way that it hurts your feelings that they don't consider your bday important just because it's around the holidays. They could still buy you a gift, it's called black friday and there are tons of sales! Tell them to quit brushing you off or to start doing the same with everyone's bdays!
2007-12-05 01:45:13 · answer #10 · answered by myluv115 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋