It sounds almost like you haven't acknowledged his kids since the first birthday.

Anonymous wrote:

OP,

They did not acknowledge your child's birthday in any way? In that case, they probably forgot. Which is really not cool, since they're parents themselves and know that the first birthday is important. They're probably really busy with their lives, work, kids. But it doesn't excuse them.

There's nothing you can do but let it go. However, I would be offended.

OP here. Nope. My brother got defensive when I mentioned it after the fact and argued we weren't that close and I never bothered with his kids birthday (literally not true, there are pictures of me with those kids when they turned 1. I was elated for them.).

I am guessing they forgot as well. I just wished they apologized genuinely instead of arguing.

I think this is the concerning part. If that's the way things are you should figure that they don't want big birthday celebrations on either side and let it go. Or you can tell them that this is really important to you to try to get them to see, but you can't make them care sadly. And it's easy to say your close. Ignore the words. Listen to their actions, which are speaking quite loudly here.

OP,

They did not acknowledge your child's birthday in any way? In that case, they probably forgot. Which is really not cool, since they're parents themselves and know that the first birthday is important. They're probably really busy with their lives, work, kids. But it doesn't excuse them.

There's nothing you can do but let it go. However, I would be offended.

OP here. Nope. My brother got defensive when I mentioned it after the fact and argued we weren't that close and I never bothered with his kids birthday (literally not true, there are pictures of me with those kids when they turned 1. I was elated for them.).

I am guessing they forgot as well. I just wished they apologized genuinely instead of arguing.

OP,

They did not acknowledge your child's birthday in any way? In that case, they probably forgot. Which is really not cool, since they're parents themselves and know that the first birthday is important. They're probably really busy with their lives, work, kids. But it doesn't excuse them.

There's nothing you can do but let it go. However, I would be offended.

My DD is two years older than my son.

Your DD is a few weeks younger than your son?

We had a family party and my parents traveled down. It's not the gift so much as a lack of even a phone call (they knew it was happening because of our parents' traveling). We have a family culture of at least calling, if not sending a card, on the kids' birthdays.

What was the oddest thing was that they ignored my son's 1st birthday but made a big deal of my DD's a few weeks later. My guys are young so they didn't notice, but if they were older, I worry about the picture that sends (I am probably not making sense).

I am going to let it go.

Anyway, I am going to let it go.

Oops sorry sis! I didn't mean to forget it!

I would let it go. I am a God mom to 4 kids and have lots of nieces and nephews. I would love to remember everyone's b-days (and yes, I know I have a calendar) but it doesn't always happen. Did you have a family celebration? I can assure you, I bring a card and gift to every birthday party I am invited to!

Let it go. People forget sometimes, or have other things going on.

I am not a gift or card person. I don't expect or particularly care to receive them, and I'm really bad about sending them. I would not be offended at all.

I'm sure somebody that considers you family and thinks of you like a sister would love to hear you making fun of her since she loooooooooves you like family

Let it go. You don't know what may be going on with them.

Let it go. I don't have kids, but have godchildren and nieces/nephews. I figure when they're 1 or 2 they don't get excited about getting cards in the mail. So sending a card is just for the parents. I make sure to send cards/gifts to older kids.

Please let it go. No one but you is keeping track of your kid's birthdays.

If your brother or SIL (who looooooooooooooves to call you "just like a sister) didn't send a card or call on your son's first birthday, particularly when you've either traveled to celebrate his kids' birthdays or sent cards/presents and called? I am trying to get a gut check here about whether I should be offended or should just let it go.