TFT: Celebrating Birthdays

Birthdays.  They come only once a year, so celebration is in order, right?? Once upon a time I would assume so, since birthdays were always a big deal in my family, but I have since encountered a few people here and there who don't give their own birthday and celebrating it much thought. So I guess I am just curious......
How big of a deal is your birthday to you? Is it a very special event that you celebrate as much as you possibly can? What kinds of things do you like to do to celebrate? Did your parents make a big deal about birthdays while you were growing up? Do you only celebrate milestones or is every birthday a big deal? Do you honor your birthday just once and then that's it? Is anyone willing to admit they try to avoid their birthday altogether or that they think birthdays aren't a big deal??

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Other TFT posts this week:

Denise in MN on celebrating Valentine's Day

Jenny C on tax preparation

Ang on HOW you use Facebook

Jenny P on how to spend extra $$

Dana Leigh on Vices

Comments

[Dana Leigh]

I like to be recognized on my birthday but the older I get, the less I care about it. I like low key birthdays and besides a few big birthday celebrations throughout the years when I was younger, I prefer just to go out to dinner or have a get together with my immediate family. My parents made me feel special on my birthday when I was a kid. I always got to pick what kind of cake I wanted and a birthday dinner and then a birthday party. And you're birthday is right around the corner!

[Jennifer]

My birthday is also my wedding anniversary. Since it's a two-in-one, I like some kind of recognition of it, although it doesn't have to be a big thing. My husband usually bakes me a cake and fixes a nice dinner for the whole family on the actual day and we try to go out sometime during that week for a quiet dinner, just the two of us. I am turning 39 this Feb. 10 (I know -- the day before your birthday!) and I am not feeling bad about it yet but I wonder if my feelings about my birthday will change as I get older.

[Ang]

I've always had the belief that my birthday should be a national holiday and everyone should like stop what they are doing and bow down to me. It hasn't happened yet and, the older I get the less I think it ever will.
Our birthdays were always an extended family get-together, so I've come to expect attention and stuff in my adult years. Now, as an adult, I like to go out for a night of drinking with my friends on the weekend and on my actual birthday, I like to spend the evening with my dad (generally dinner).

YAY for birthdays... how are you planning to spend yours next week?

[Kristi S (sweetsauer)]

Ang,
I haven't much felt like celebrating lately, so I ahve not yet decided if I
am going to do anything. I wouldn't mind tryign a new restaurant because I
am badly in need of reviews, but we'll see! Sushi still sounds wonderful!
Did you and Dana ever arrange a date for dinner next week?

[Kristi S (sweetsauer)]

That's cool to have your anniversary on your bday!

[Nicole]

My birthday has not been any big deal for as long as I can remember, and for most of the last 10-or-so, I have been working or in school! That being said, as I get older, I would like to have that day honored a bit more than it is . . . even if it just means having someone else make dinner and clean up. (Though to be fair, my birthday is May 8th - smack between Quinn's April 21st, Cooper's April 27th, and Mother's Day - there is always so much else going on during that time!) One of my goals for this year is to work harder to make the kids' birthdays a bit more special - though I have yet to figure out how!

[zoe]

birthdays were always i pretty big deal when i was growing up. now that i am older and have kids my birthdays are really not a priority. i usually have dinner at my moms and have lunch or dinner out with some girlfriends. the kids birthdays are a big deal. we may not have a big party for every year but we certainly celebrate and mark the occasion.

[anne]

My birthday is next week as well! I don't really get all hyped up over birthdays. I don't expect or want a party or anything. Last night my husband asked me if I wanted to go out to dinner with him on my b-day- and that sounds perfect! I'm a tad bit more excited about birthdays now that I'm a mom though, because Ryan gets WAY pumped about birthday hats, cake, candles, etc.

[Michelle]

I've never really had a big birthday celebration. Now that I have kids, my birthday is less and less of a big deal. I'm planning a big bash for Bri's 30th though, so be prepared!

[Dana]

I like it when people remember my birthday, but I really don't care about it. I make a bigger deal out of Jasmine's. I just threw Kev a surprise 30th, that was fun... but otherwise, neither he nor I make much of a deal out of it. A nice dinner and a relaxing night is enough for me!

My parents would throw us parties as kids, but as we got older, we really only did dinner. Now that both Dayne & I are older, and our bdays are a month apart, we end up celebrating them together.

One of K's uncles celebrates his birthday ALL month. K has a huge fam and it's difficult to plan things during that month because they are celebrating it. :)

What are your bday plans?

[Mel]

My birthday is celebrated for a few weeks before...and a few weeks after...which...claims the whole month of February...how special for me:) In exactly 7 days and 1.5 hours it will be my birthday (feb 15th for those that don't want to do the math)....and I LOVE IT. I'll be 23 and I know everyone says "when you get older it's not that big of a deal"...but I don't think that should be the case. It's the ONE day of the year where you don't have to share the day with anyone...just you:)