Do you have a child with a birthday smack-bang in the middle of the festive season?
Kids with birthdays over the December/January period can really feel like they’re missing out.
I should know – my birthday is just 13 days after Christmas (first world problem I know, but bear with me!).
Although it doesn’t worry me these days, it’s not much fun for a child.
Having a birthday close to Christmas means that you never get a fuss made of you at school on your special day; and it is almost impossible to have a birthday party, as everybody is either knee-deep in Christmas madness or away for the holidays.
Three hundred and fifty-odd days is a long time to wait for Christmas and your birthday to arrive all at once, and then be over in the blink of an eye – especially when you see other kids get to have TWO big occasions throughout the year.
But there is a solution! Why not celebrate an un-birthday?!
I must have whinged a lot as a teenager about the raw deal I’d been dealt in the birthday lottery, because when I was in Year 10, my friends celebrated my birthday on April 1. Yes, April Fool’s Day.
Now I don’t know if that was particularly significant in what they thought of me, but anyhoo … I was spoilt at school for the first time in my life. It was great! I loved the presents and the cake and all the other excitement that a birthday brings. I even got to wear a badge that said “Birthday Girl”!
My friend has a son with a December birthday, so once he hit school age, she began a tradition of celebrating it exactly two months earlier so that he could enjoy it with his friends. The family still celebrated the actual birthday, but with a party two months earlier, he didn’t feel like he was missing out or getting “lost” in the build up to Christmas.
How do you handle Christmas birthdays in your family? Have I inspired you to try celebrating an un-birthday?!
Janet blogs at Middle Aged Mama, where she shares her passion for fashion, looking good and living well – no matter what your age – or budget! She has been married to the hubster for nearly 25 years and now that their children are 20 and 18, they are enjoying the freedom of an “almost empty-nest”. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
5 Comments
Flat Bum Mum
July 2, 2015 at 7:39 pmHi Janet,
I loved this post! My hubby has his birthday on 27th December and even as an adult he is often left neglected. People give him a birthday pressie on Christmas day and friends are often away for the holidays and so we don’t catch up. Such a great idea for kids who have school holiday birthdays too. Bron x
Janet aka Middle Aged Mama
July 2, 2015 at 9:02 pmHi Bron, it’s bad enough having a birthday less than 2 weeks after Christmas – I really feel for your hubby. When we were trying for baby #2, I swore that I would do my best to make sure I didn’t have a Christmas baby. I only just whistled in – Miss 18’s birthday is exactly 5 weeks before Christmas!!!
Carolyn
July 3, 2015 at 1:43 amWe are going to a party in Saturday to celebrate a nursery friends half birthday as he was born on Christmas Day. I think this is a fab idea as he gets spoilt half way through the year and his parents probably need things for him which he would not otherwise get. I think it is a winning idea.
Janet aka Middle Aged Mama
July 3, 2015 at 12:47 pmLove the idea of a half-birthday! Maybe I should try that 😉
Samantha Sullivan Independent Phoenix Trader
December 12, 2016 at 8:32 amMy Dad still has this problem as his birthday is mid-December. I have always tried to remember to send him a birthday card before the Christmas card. Even when we lived in New Zealand and sending cards to the UK were expensive I was never tempted to put them in the same envelope and save on postage.
As a Phoenix Trader I have a supply of greeting cards on hand all year around. Even during this festive season I still post on my facebook page and blog about everyday cards for customers. I got married on the 29th December, we usually forget until our parents send us a card – usually in with our family Christmas cards!
Our 4 children are nicely spread out throughout the year: May, June, August and September!