How important is your birthday to you?

[Anonymous]

I'd say 5 or 6, but I don't expect anyone to do anything for me. I make my own plans, including taking the day off work, dinner prep, cake, flowers and champagne That way I get exactly what I want, and my family can enjoy it with me.

[Anonymous]

I used to think that birthdays weren’t important and was happy with dinner and a.cake. When I had a milestone birthday come and go with no fanfare from DH and when DH forgot a birthday entirely, it hurt a lot more than I was expecting it to. It’s especially maddening because he was complaining that one of our children wasn’t going to be home for his birthday and made a comment about needing to celebrate birthdays more. Right.

[Anonymous]

1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not at all. I have a hard time with the excessive celebration of non-milestone birthdays or grown adults. I go along with it but whyyy

This!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:to me personally? 10. I always spend the day alone, doing something I enjoy. Sometimes I go on a solo trip around that time. I have zero expectations that anyone else (including my family) will acknowledge it, and I'm seldom disappointed. This year I got several texts from family, which surprised me because it's so so rare.

Had to look at the date to make sure I hadn't written it. This is exactly what I do! I'm a summer birthday so it always feels weird to work on my birthday. I take the day off and spend it doing something I enjoy-- going to the library, antiquing, biking.
Family usually takes me out for dinner, but that's about it otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Not at all. I ask my DH and kids for Chinese food and yellow cake with chocolate frosting. They usual make cards and also get me flowers. That’s more than enough for me.

[Anonymous]

I guess 5?

I would be upset if my own spouse did not acknowledge my birthday or planned absolutely nothing. For his birthday I always plan something, even if it’s just dinner with our family and a dessert he likes at home (sometimes more, it just depends). And it’s nice to get a gift or two from immediate family, though that’s not at all required.

But I don’t expect a blowout and I don’t care if my friends or other family acknowledge. It’s nice if they do but not necessary.

I will say that I really loathe Facebook birthday greetings. Hate sending them, hate getting them. There is nothing remotely thoughtful about people wishing happy birthday because Facebook prompted them to.

[Anonymous]

1

[Anonymous]

10....special night with the wife

[Anonymous]

Perhaps a -1. I just don’t care & the fact that my parents & siblings go overboard w/ bdays & Hallmark holidays irks me to no end.
And yes, we do parties for kids. I’m not heartless.

[Anonymous]

Maybe a 1.5. I like to go out with immediate family for a bday dinner (i pick the nice-ish place) and that's it. My 50th is this month and it will be like any other year.

[Anonymous]

Zero. It dredges up feelings of growing up poor and having crappy bdays. Plus, it is a few days after Christmas. I hated people saying..." this is your birthday Christmas/present".