Adults who over-celebrate their birthdays?

[Anonymous]

I feel the same about adults insisting on dressing up for Halloween.

[Anonymous]

I knew someone who had a 'birthweekend' celebration with a sleepover and planned activities for every hour of the day. It was hilarious because they made a Facebook event, and when people tried to 'gracefully' decline "Sorry, I have a dinner to go to" the birthday person would respond "but the party lasts all weekend! You can come before or after!"

They also sent a list of suggested gifts. I am not kidding about this.

[Anonymous]

I have always celebrate birthday month. I have lost many loved ones the past few years and it makes me appreciate my birthday even more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever, lots of folks didn't make it see another year and I will celebrate every year that I am able to mark living in this world. You can just live and die if that's your thing. No birthday cake for you.

Yeah, pretty much what she said. Every year, we have a big group of people for our birthdays. We feed them, ply them with booze, and have a great time. No one has complained yet or declined the invite. We also do dinner with a couple of our close couple friends.
So needy, so narcissist of ourselves to throw a party and get people together, i know. Of course, we throw several other parties throughout the year, including a Halloween party where the kids AND adults dress up. The horror, I know.

[Anonymous]

It is silly to me. I like to go to dinner with my fiancé and maybe to the local corner bar, but I don't even drink that much. One year a few friends came over and we played Cards Against Humanity. That's ideal for me. I don't like a lot of attention. The people who insist on "birthday week" and "birthday month"...all I hear when they say that is "ME ME ME ME ME ME ME"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. Most of my friends either only celebrate quietly at home with their families, or occasionally invite a group to dinner or to their house. If it's out to dinner, it's a modest place we'd go anyway just for fun, and it's understood you pay your own way (though almost always everyone splits the birthday girl's tab among the others, which is nominal and fine with me).

I almost always just celebrate at home, but about every 3 years I'll get a group together, or let a friend send a casual invite for me. To be clear, these invites are akin to "Hey, does anyone want to get together for dinner on January 1?" It just happens to be a birthday. No decorations, gifts, etc...

I come from a family of birthday celebrators too, but I get what PPs are saying - many adult birthday celebrations have a definite photo op vibe these days. I like to celebrate at home, but I don't say no if friends want to go out to dinner. I do feel weird ASKING other people to go out for my birthday, though.

[Anonymous]

On my thirty-fourth birthday, I was recovering from a serious illness after weeks of being touch and go in the hospital. I celebrate lots of little things all the time now. My friends and family remember that time and are happy I'm here to celebrate with them. Anyone who wants to rain on my parade probably wouldn't be invited in the first place.

I also celebrate things like when I re-learned to ride a bike. I called a friend, told her about my achievement, and we went out for dessert and a drink. I throw parties for minor holidays and events, like derby day, or Girl Scouts anniversary with my kids' Girl Scout troop. Basically, I like to have fun and have get togethers with friends.

If it's ok to go out to dinner and drinks on some random day in August, months away from my birthday, why isn't it ok to get together with them the weekend of my birthday? I don't demand gifts, I don't post birthday craziness all over Facebook, and I'm not inviting the same people to multiple events. But I have a little celebration with my family the day of my birthday. I have a traditional outing that started in high school with an old friend and we try to do that during my birthday week. I see a different friend for dinner sometime that month. I usually try to be the one to host my book club that month and if it falls within a day or two of my birthday, I'll serve cupcakes. And if I go somewhere that has a free birthday dessert, I'm damn well gonna enjoy my free cake. I don't see the big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it's casual, like "come over if you can on Saturday...we're using my birthday as an excuse to have a BBQ" or "we've been dying to try the new sushi place, so we'd love you to join us Saturday for Ted's birthday," that's fun, and fine.

If it involves complex logisitics, hints about gifts, drawn-out celebrations, or command performances? Eff that.

Exactly this. The simpler, the better.

[Anonymous]

Maybe I'll outgrow it (I just turned 26) but I definitely overcelebrate my birthday and my bdays have been some of my best memories!! My friends do it to so it's not strange in my circle at least.

I'm not complaining about another reason to celebrate / something else to look forward to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's casual, like "come over if you can on Saturday...we're using my birthday as an excuse to have a BBQ" or "we've been dying to try the new sushi place, so we'd love you to join us Saturday for Ted's birthday," that's fun, and fine.

If it involves complex logisitics, hints about gifts, drawn-out celebrations, or command performances? Eff that.

Exactly this. The simpler, the better.

So no choreographed dance, karaoke machine or photo booths. Taking notes...

[Anonymous]

In the year preceding her 50th birthday, my sister in law planned a celebration on the 16th of every month for 11 months, culminating in her big 5-0 party. I could not believe it. I attended one thing because it was a backyard BBQ but I was so turned off by her "whole year of celebrating me."

By the time she turned 50, I was like "who cares".

[Anonymous]

I like to travel for my milestone birthdays with my DH and kids. People in DC are really uptight, boring, and get bent on even the slightest whiff of fun.. or at least the ones I have met. DC is the Mecca for the pedantic.

[Anonymous]

I agree, OP.

But actually, I do like to invite my close friends to a birthday dinner at my house - know why? Because then I know I'm eating exactly what I planned on eating

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On my thirty-fourth birthday, I was recovering from a serious illness after weeks of being touch and go in the hospital. I celebrate lots of little things all the time now. My friends and family remember that time and are happy I'm here to celebrate with them. Anyone who wants to rain on my parade probably wouldn't be invited in the first place.

I also celebrate things like when I re-learned to ride a bike. I called a friend, told her about my achievement, and we went out for dessert and a drink. I throw parties for minor holidays and events, like derby day, or Girl Scouts anniversary with my kids' Girl Scout troop. Basically, I like to have fun and have get togethers with friends.

If it's ok to go out to dinner and drinks on some random day in August, months away from my birthday, why isn't it ok to get together with them the weekend of my birthday? I don't demand gifts, I don't post birthday craziness all over Facebook, and I'm not inviting the same people to multiple events. But I have a little celebration with my family the day of my birthday. I have a traditional outing that started in high school with an old friend and we try to do that during my birthday week. I see a different friend for dinner sometime that month. I usually try to be the one to host my book club that month and if it falls within a day or two of my birthday, I'll serve cupcakes. And if I go somewhere that has a free birthday dessert, I'm damn well gonna enjoy my free cake. I don't see the big deal.

Some of us have had life or death scares and still don't that. It must be your personality. Not criticizing, just pointing it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had brunch at a restaurant for my birthday (today!) DH got me the lotion and bath oil I specifically asked for. I am feeling very.....introspective today.

I posted this yesterday:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/637074.page

My birthday is NOT public on facebook

Happy Birthday